It’s finals season, so you know what that means: exams, papers, and everyone’s favorite, group projects! As a marketing major, 4 out of 5 of my finals this year are group project presentations, and it’s been this way for about 3 semesters. However, I actually prefer it this way. I’ve been around the block a few times and have learned how to make these projects slightly more bearable, and I want to share some of the tips that have gotten me through the years.
MAKE THE GROUP CHAT ON DAY 1
I know it feels so forward and a little awkward to immediately ask for your group members’ phone numbers, but getting that group chat made is a little win for day 1. Rather than having to track everyone down a few days before the project is due and scrambling to set a meeting, having everyone’s contact makes that first meeting much easier to plan.
PLAN THE MEETINGS AT THE MEETINGS
My least favorite part of group projects is planning meetings, and don’t even mention trying to schedule meetings over text. The first meeting is always hardest to plan, but scheduling the next ones while everyone is in-person makes everyone’s lives easier. Set benchmarks for what you want to get done and when, holding everyone accountable to a deadline.
WHAT DO I DO WHEN NO ONE IS DOING THEIR PART?
Trust me, I know no one wants to be the annoying person bothering everyone to do their work. But honestly, it’s way more annoying when people aren’t carrying their weight. Don’t be afraid to remind everyone to do their part if the deadline is coming up. If it’s getting to a point where no one is doing anything, an email to your professor doesn’t hurt either. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself!
LET THEM!
Group projects bring lots of personalities, and sometimes you won’t always see eye to eye on things. It’s important to take a step back and recognize the hills worth dying on and the things that you can let go of. Maybe the slides don’t look how you wanted, but all the information is there, so that’s a win! It is one project, in one class, in four years of classes. IT WILL BE OK!