Group projects are an experience that every college student has. Especially as a student in the school of mass communication, group projects are a part of practically EVERY class. Whether you love them or hate them, they all seem to go a certain way.
1. Hearing the words “form your own group”
Picture this: it’s the first day of class and your professor tells you that you have to find your group for a semester-long project in a week. Everyone seems to know each other in the class except for you. Anxiety fills you as you realize that you have to find your own group and are not assigned to one.
2. Awkward introductions
You’re relieved that you have finally found a group and didn’t have to go through the mortification of having the teacher add you to an already formed group. However, you don’t know any of these people so the time you spend with them is full of awkward conversations about school. Yikes.
3. Exchanging numbers
Group chats are either silent or constantly blowing up your phone at the worst time. Even worse is when you’re the only one without an iPhone in the group and are responsible for messing up the iMessage.
4. Finding a time for a group meeting
Susie has a formal at her sorority, John has two jobs and no free time, and where even is Gina? The hardest part of a group project is finding a time that works for everyone’s schedule to meet up. When you finally find a compatible time, it’s practically a miracle. However, when you actually meet up, sometimes you still get nothing done.
5. Having to be the one person who keeps track of everything
In my college experience, I’ve found that if I’m not on top of things and delegating tasks, then nothing gets done. In every group, there needs to be the one leader who keeps everyone on track and mindful of deadlines. It’s a bummer that it has to be you, but if you don’t do it, literally nothing will get done.
6. Realizing that there’s one person who does nothing
There’s always that one person who never says anything in the group chat or never does anything to contribute to the assignment. After a while, you finally realize that they are just along for the ride and are the slacker of the group.
7. When the deadline is approaching and you realize you have nothing done
As a diligent student, you try to work on the project as often as you can. A part of you dies inside every time you go on to the Google Doc and see that no one else has added anything. When someone else finally works on it, you cry tears of joy because a miracle has happened.
8. Peer evaluations
Saying, “I’ll give you a 100% if you give me one.” Peer evaluations are the time to roast the people who never helped out. Teachers have now taken into account these evaluations when giving everyone their individual grades. Thank God.
At the end of the day, we have a love-hate relationship with group projects. We love that we don’t have to take a test, but we hate how stressful they can be at times. However, all is right in the end when we get a good grade in the class.