Group projects are intended to develop our leadership abilities, to teach us how to work well with others, to show us how to effectively manage time, and to teach us how to equally divide up work. However, hearing the words “group project” could either be a blessing or a curse depending on the members you have in your group.
You may choose them because they’re your friends or you may get stuck with randoms. Either way, here’s a list of the different types of group members you’ll likely meet at some point along the way.
1. The over-promiser but under-deliverer. This student is likely to promise that they’ll do the majority of the work since they’ve “had the most experience” with the topic. They seem confident, so the group agrees. The day before the presentation, this student tells you that “something came up” and they were unable to finish their portion of the project.
2. The incompetent one. This person will text you 78 times a day asking how to double-space the paper, or how to change the font…since those were the only jobs you trusted them with. The rest of the group subconsciously wonders how this person got into college.
3. The invisible miracle. This student has not met with the group, and has not answered any texts. But, don’t be fooled. A few days before the project is due, this person finally answers saying they completed almost the entire thing.
4. The control freak. You can’t complete a single aspect of the project without this person breathing down your neck and constantly asking you for updates. They’ll often take the bulk of the workload simply because they don’t trust anyone else to do it correctly.
5. The procrastinator. They do offer to take on tasks, but meeting deadlines is definitely not their forte. This member is often extremely frustrating for the rest of the group because they don’t follow through until the very last possible minute.
6. Already besties. Getting stuck with a pair of best friends will certainly be an obstacle. These people will spend 95 percent of their time gossiping and the other 5 percent Snapchatting people on their phones.
7. The distracted one. While the rest of the group is proactively working on the project, this person is laughing at videos online, surfing Facebook, and texting. No one wants to be the “Mom” of the group to tell this person they need to get their sh*t together.
8. The complainer. Are you “SOOOO done” with this class? Are you “SOO tired?” “SOOOO stressed out?” For the 176 time, we f*cking get it.
9. The one with a list of excuses. “Sorry guys, can’t make it to our meeting for the eighth time. This time I have to go help my grandma’s boyfriend’s sister’s mother-in-law build her new garden.”
10. The try-hard. This person will likely volunteer your group to present on the very first day. This person will make your group stay after to class to ask the professor if there's anything else not on the rubric that you can do to improve your grades. This person goes a little TOO above and beyond.
