[SusanLynn]

Also be careful about saying it's ok to let your grades slack for care of the dog. At this point, your grades should be #1. Remember what your goal is for being there.

JClark's post, all of it, is spot-on. I also want to add a strong second to this piece of advice.

I'm presently on a hiring committee for a teaching position, and we rejected several candidates because they had spotty academic records. It didn't matter if an applicant got a "C" in a water polo class, but it did matter if they got a "C" or a "W" in one of their major classes or their GPA went below 3.20. You really should strive for a GPA of at least 3.50 to be highly competitive.