Why are my classmates so competitive?????

mariedoreen · May 31, 2004

No, as I explained - I'm already a straight A student, but I still join study groups - the benefits don't always have to be higher grades! I got some great study ideas, and ideas for mnemonics from the other students (one was a B student and the other two were struggling to retain a C), I got social interaction, made some great friends who I still keep in touch with, AND got the satisfaction that I had helped a few people who were struggling with certain concepts. The ONLY slightly negative aspect was that I have a certain personal study schedule, based on Tony Buzan's ideas, and I use mind-mapping also, which didn't always fit in with what I was studying in the groups, so occasionally I was a bit pushed to fit both schedules into my day, but the benefits of being part of the group far, far outweighed any negatives. I got to munch on lots of Pecan Pie & Ice-cream too LOL!
Paint.

i've been to too many study groups where recipes were being swapped and weekend plans were being discussed... no thanks

Jill1215 · May 31, 2004

The only thing I have found to help with the competitiveness of my classmates is to disclose very little about my grades to people. If someone asks how I did on a test I simply say that I did fine (even if I aced it). I never give a number and rarely will I give a letter grade. I never let myself come out of a test saying, "Oh...that was so hard! Or, that was the worst test ever!!" I don't want to voice my opinions about a test being really difficult just in case someone sees the mark I make on the test and it turns out to be really good.

I think nursing school would be a better experience if people would keep more things private. Telling someone I made an "A" does them no good. They get nothing from my grade. I would rather not let the negative feelings someone may have even surface.

People in my class know I study and that I try my best. They do not know what I make on the assignments or the tests. Therefore, people don't seem to be catty with me.

That's what I think anyway.

Jill

jemommyRN · Jun 2, 2004

Well, at the school that I'm going to, it seems as though they don't have to announce the grades for you to know what someone else has made because apparently half of the class is sitting there crying after the test review.

belladelicious · Jun 2, 2004

Well, everyone asks eachother what they made on a test...even if we don't know them. That never happened to me prior to nursing school.

However, I think my class is pretty helpful, and we all feel bad whenever someone fails,etc... I remember at the end of this semester, when some people saw they failed, everyone talked about it, and we all felt bad. And everyone studies together too. But, yea, it's definetely different than my first 2 years of school!

belladelicious · Jun 2, 2004

One more thing, there have been a few people who complain when they don't get A's. I find that to be rude, b/c I know several students are struggling to even get a C. I agree w/Jill, I think I will keep my grades to myself. I think everyone judges everyone else.

I know a few of the teachers who favor students b/c they like their personality. I could go on and on about that, but anyway, the teachers annoy me more than the students. They seem scatter brained, and they get on my last nerve!:) And such attitude problems.

It's so nice to have a good teacher, I hope all of you do and take advantage, because I think it'll be rare where I'm attending.

KarenAR · Jun 17, 2004

Actually some of us who are sitting in the front seat aren't there because we feel the need to be ahead of everyone else, but because we are striving to do our personal best and are just ending up there.

I used to sit in the front row because:

(1) I was paying for school myself and didn't want to be distracted by a conversation going on between two students in front of me

and

(2) I could be the first one out of the classroom when class was over!

:chuckle

lifeisbeautiful · Jun 17, 2004

Oh, the competition and cattiness? That is just a hint of things to come before you are out working :chuckle Personally, I never understood the fierce competition in the classroom. I use to get so irritated when a student would argue a question on a test (only because they missed it) and continue arguing until they were blue in the face just to get that extra point :uhoh21: (which they rarely got because their answer was WRONG). Some of the people that got the highest scores on their in-class tests didn't do as well in their clinicals. Most of the people I went to nursing school with were very helpful. More so in the LPN program than the RN program though. In my opinion, Nursing school need to educate students with more hands-on skills (starting IVs, inserting NG tubes, dealing with trachs and colostomy bags, etc..), not all the written "Care Plans".

MassLPN2005 · Jun 17, 2004

I am one of those people. Great at book work but clinicals are a challenge. I am planning this fall to try to pair up with my opposite so we can help each other. She can help me practice my clinical skills in the labs, and I can tutor her in med math or something. I hope that someone is interested and that I can make it happen.

studentNY · Jun 18, 2004

One of the biggest points made at my orientation last week was that "competition is over" The instructors urged all of us to help each other and share our notes even. They went on and on about how there is absolutely no reason or room for competition.

Energizer Bunny · Jun 19, 2004

This is the one thing I am not looking forward to getting back into. When I was in A & P (and a couple other classes) three years ago, I tried my best (sat in the back by the way...can't stand to be up front). I never told anyone, besides my one lab partner, my test scores. Nor did I hide my papers. I shouldn't have had to, but the girl across from me (heavy partier and complaining all the time about her grades and how much work we had to do) used to look at my score. Well, fine. Then, she would announce it to someone else and the whole room would know within five minutes. You get the idea here...so the ones that were doing well in the class wanted to compete with me and I was really not about that. I was busy competing with myself. The ones doing terribly treated me like crap for doing well and the ones just on the edge wanted my help. It sucked! I am sooo hoping that it is different once I am actually IN the nursing program and not "just" doing pre-req's.

KikiRN06 · Jun 19, 2004

I think that the competiveness is just a given with nursing students. Most of the students in my class had to do a year of school before they could even get into the ADN program and this year had to be near perfect grades to earn one of 40 spots with 300+ applicants. Nursing Students have to be high achievers or they would never get into the program around here. Competition can be a very good and motivating thing.

cherokeesummer · Jun 19, 2004

I'm with you on that! My take on it is this: we are in the program to pursue our career goals BUT if we do not learn NOW how to share, how to support and how to work as a team then we won't be a very good team of nurses on the floor.

As a nurse, my professor has told me many times that you depend on your fellow nurses. The doctors aren't the ones to help; the patients aren't going to show sympathy for your situation all the time...you as a nurse must depend on other nurses!

So, we should start helping each other. A little competitiveness in a fun way probably won't hurt, for example my class mate said to me "I'm mad that i"m number 2 in the class." she wsa joking. I was like who the heck is number 1 and she said "You" referring to me. I had no clue! Because I really don't pay attention to what everyone got. She said the number one spot was hers next semester. And you know what, that is fine with me. Like someone before said, I'm competing only with myself. I need to beat my own scores, improve on myself and if I can help someone along the way great, but I agree with you - I would not give notes to someone who slept because they were bored.

I would share notes if someone was sick, etc. but not lazy.

In the end, we have to learn to depend on ourselves and on others so hopefully as things go on you class will be more supportive of each other. :):)