Assessing your cohort

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Specializes in student; help!.

I've been watching my fellow students with interest these last two weeks. I think I can already spot those who won't be here second semester, the ones to study with, the ones to avoid, etc. I like to think I'm in the "study with" group but I know my style of humor probably turns some people off.

It's interesting that there are already a few who saunter in whenever, spend a lot of time on their phones (volume off, at least), and talking. The teachers so far haven't really brought the hammer down, but I think I can see it coming. I'm trying to keep my head down, but I'm nosy enough that it's horrifyingly entertaining to eyeball my classmates while they do what they do. I'm the one who eats all during class, for sure. I'm probably going to be the one who brings a hole-punch, but really, WE NEED ONE. :lol2: I do the random pop-cult references (Simpsons, movies, whatever) and there's another guy in class who does it too and zomg he's annoying. Guess I get to see me from the other side. :eek: I've toned it WAY down just in the 6 class days we've had, so I consider my tuition well worth it already. I'm the "non-trad" student who asks a lot of questions. I annoy the teacher. Visibly. So I'm trying to learn to control my body language so I don't insult people the way she is.

It's a very broad learning experience, this nursing school. Which student are you? Talking in back? Coming in late every day? Homework done this summer?

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Specializes in Hope to be in the NICU.

LOL! I'm the brown noser who has the homework done WAAY before it's due. I'm really not a brown-noser, just extremely worried that something will happen and I could've already had the material finished. I too already see the ones that come in literally 1 minute before theory starts- and I'm the one who is there 30 minutes early reading my lecture material for the day.

:thankya: It's just the way that I am!

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I am the "resource" person...you need to know something or need a book I am the person to go too. I try to be on time..but I have 2 kids to get on two different buses( primary and high school) and drop 2 kids off at daycare so I am really pressed for time usually but I am trying to manage my time more wisely since they started the lock you out of class to 1st break policy.:D

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

My class is all over the place with personalities.

We have only one small clique that makes dividing up for group projects a bit more difficult than it should be because they always argue briefly with the teacher to allow more in the group than she wants. They have yet to succeed, btw. Other than that, the clique is completely harmless.

From my observation, we have only one leech. You know, the person who wants everyone else to give her the answers and do the smallest amount of work possible in group projects? I think she'll be gone soon.

Everyone else is just there to get along with classmates and work hard. If long-term friendships form, it's a bonus, but not a goal.

All in all, everyone seems to get along pretty well, and we are EXTREMELY supportive of each other. Except for the leech, I genuinely like everyone in my class. I have a rather strong personality, so I might get talked about a bit, as there are a handful who gossip a tiny bit about other classmates, but it's not a constant thing from what I've observed. As long as no one is stupid enough to say it to my face, it's all good. I've received some favorable (and favorably surprising) comments from a handful of my classmates, too, so it can go both ways.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I'm another non-traditional students, I certainly fall more on the anal-retentive side of things. I did all the summer reading, I've outlined all the assigned reading chapters, taken the chapter-end quizzes, and I've been finding extra (free ) resources for testing. Our class is really good so far. I have little patience for those that can't be on time, but after the first couple days everyone seems to be good about that. We have a few people with hospital experience and most of them seem very confident, so they'll be good resources as we get further along. I feel quite old sometimes (I'm 36), and I'm one of the only people that isn't texting someone during every break. (I don't have a phone that can text.) I can't really see anyone that doesn't seem to be pretty committed, so I hope we're all together for two years. Statistically speaking I know that's not likely, but I hope everyone does well.

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Every one in my class is for the most part there to succeed. There were a few people who failed the first semester of classes but I think we're all caught up now. There's one group in particular that always sits in the front and asks the most questions. I've tried to get close to them, but I can't. Besides, I do well studying alone.

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I don't know what I would be classified as, but I'm the one that always sits in front [because my eyesight is bad and hate wearing glasses], listens intently and takes lots of notes on lecture, asks a lot of questions, I always have my assignments done, very methodical with how I learn and study, and generally dislikes being called on, but I, too, watch other people in my class and observe their interactions with other students as well as with the instructor--It can be very interesting.

I've been told that I'm a bit anal retentive when working towards any goal I set for myself; so, maybe that's what kind of student I am.

I enjoy only working with other students who put forth the same effort [or more] as I do.

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I'm glad that our cohort is very well put together. We did lose about 7 or so people though since the first semester; it's the third semester now.

As far as the type of student I am is concerned...well I get by pretty fine. I must have been doing something good since I've made all As and 2 Bs so far in NS. I try to read my chapters (I should be reading now!) and take detailed notes in class. Having a laptop helps so much with that! Usually if I read, I have less to study for test time and can manage a mid B-low A. I am a procrastinator, so I wait a while to start my projects/papers, but I do pretty well on them when I get them done. My clinical performance is about average I guess. I get nervous, but if I try to pump myself up before the day and make sure I need to know what I should for the day I should do fine. We'll see if all the past work is effective this year too! It makes me feel good when my patients tell me I'll be a great nurse someday and that some little thing that I did made them happy. That's a start! :nurse:

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You know, watching those people saunter in late all the time or sit in the front row then spend 90% of class hammering away at their phone, it is like watching a car wreck in slow motion. I go to a private college, so it is none too cheap. Where do these people find money to just throw at the school? You know that these are not the people you will see next semester. How do they not know? Its just too gory/sad/mystifying to turn away and not secretly keep tabs if they show up to the final. And you know they're ******* off the teachers too. The very same teachers who grade their papers. I guess I'm too much of a goody two-shoes and this stuff shocks me. Honestly, a secret part of me gloats when they crash and burn because then I'm right about not being a screw-off. Yah. Am I going to NS hell for that? :devil:

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Well I am the sit in the back, procrastinating, type B personality student, lol. My class had all different types of students but I would say the majority were the type A competitive types.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

Never judge a book by its cover. I've have every type mentioned in my cohort and we are only down student 1 in two years. This summer we sat for the NCLEX and all passed and we graduate this December.

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