Is being in a clique bad?

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I guess I belong in a group and there are about 6 of us who sit near the back.

But people seem to be always staring at us.

Is it because we stand out? We are a very ethnic group...

Do you think we might seem snobby to others? There are about 110 people in my class btw.

We eat lunch together, chat about things related to school and not related to school :)

We can get pretty chatty before class and right after class, but I don't see what problem there is but people keep staring at us during class.. and after class. Is it possibly because they want to be in our group etc?

So far, our test averages are pretty high but we don't study together... all of us go home after class.

I thought that getting into cliques would be a good thing, especially when you are having trouble in clinicals.. and you want to talk about it with your friends etc...

Also, I need to get into a clique with A-students because it motivates me to do the same..

And especially for A&P, when I don't understand something, I can always ask my friends, and then I can help them out too..

And we might miss out on things in class, and we can ask each other for help..

I don't think cliques are a bad thing, it makes you study smarter not harder I guess.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

I think the issue here is that for most Americans, the word "clique" has a negative connotation ... as in, we are exclusive and closed out to anyone else. This I think is where we come from.

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Specializes in hospice.

My guess is that.. the people who stare at us probably want to join our clique. They probably think we look motivated and studious haha..

And also, I don't like talking to people outside of my clique

This sounds pretty exclusive....

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
OK, but our whole class is generally "cliquey" and sit in the same spot and hang out with the same people everyday..

This is not the US btw... maybe the people in US are more friendly and talk to everyone outside of their clique.

I didn't want to belong in a clique either, but everyone seems to be in a 'group' because it's such a huge class.. there are some people in twos though. and somebody was saying that cliques are the best way to "survive" nursing school... I'm sure this happens in medical school as well.

My guess is that.. the people who stare at us probably want to join our clique. They probably think we look motivated and studious haha..

And also, I don't like talking to people outside of my clique, because I'll have to introduce myself again, and the same conversation starts with"what school did you go to?" "How old are you" etc.. and I don't like giving too much info about myself.. and don't feel that I have to know everybody in the class.. hope it didn't sound snobby though. Maybe I'm still immature.

I can't help but think this must be a joke. Surely no one in nursing school is this immature! The OP is shining us on!

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Specializes in None yet..
Man, I am SO glad I'm approaching 40. When I get into school, I am going to ignore all this high school steer manure and concentrate on what actually matters in the real world: learning what I need to be a nurse.

DAMN, you're smart!

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Specializes in None yet..
OK, but our whole class is generally "cliquey" and sit in the same spot and hang out with the same people everyday..

This is not the US btw... maybe the people in US are more friendly and talk to everyone outside of their clique.

I didn't want to belong in a clique either, but everyone seems to be in a 'group' because it's such a huge class.. there are some people in twos though. and somebody was saying that cliques are the best way to "survive" nursing school... I'm sure this happens in medical school as well.

My guess is that.. the people who stare at us probably want to join our clique. They probably think we look motivated and studious haha..

And also, I don't like talking to people outside of my clique, because I'll have to introduce myself again, and the same conversation starts with"what school did you go to?" "How old are you" etc.. and I don't like giving too much info about myself.. and don't feel that I have to know everybody in the class.. hope it didn't sound snobby though. Maybe I'm still immature.

Ayyiyi.... what is it about six people who sit in the back that can mesmerize 104 other people who are sitting in front of them, presumably focused on the lecture?

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Yes, it is true. This is why I had no choice to but get into a clique before it was too late. I didn't want to be sitting by myself.. and also didn't want to miss out on vital tips for tests etc because half of the people in my group are A students, and they definately what what they're talking about..

But my class is highly multi-cultural btw.. we have indians, africans, caucasian, chinese, young mums, over 40s, filipinos ... and most of them sit together in their particular groups.

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I don't know, but during our breaks, people stare at us. This is the first semester by the way, so students are probably trying to work out which 'group' they should fit into...

We don't talk but talk a lot during breaktime..

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Long Term Care.

From my personal opinion, I sat in the very first row in the front of every single nursing class I had and honestly the only time you would catch me staring at the back row or people in the back is if they were being disruptive. If I looked back there and was listening to one of them speak out during lecture to the class that's different. But if you find your class of 104 people staring back at your group consistently and there is a whole lecture going on in front of you, your group is more than likely drawing attention to yourselves or being disruptive. That's just my opinion but I don't know the whole story...

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Specializes in hospice.
DAMN, you're smart!

LOL thanks. It's not that I'm anti-social or opposed to making friends. If that happens, it will happen naturally and won't be a big deal. But I spent enough energy and grief during my junior high and high school years trying fit in with snobby, nasty people whose approval I thought I needed, only to end up as an outcast and butt of cruel jokes. I'm a different person now. I've achieved a lot and know my own value, so now I can distance myself from that crap, treat it with the disdain it deserves, and realize it has nothing to do with me. It has to do with their shortcomings, not mine.

I've started referring to this as "the gift of age." ;)

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I don't plan to talk to anyone in class. I work 50 hours a week and go to school fulltime whilst maintaining a relationship. Distractions ......eh.

Ain't nobody got time for that. Chile please.

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Specializes in critical care.
I don't know, but during our breaks, people stare at us. This is the first semester by the way, so students are probably trying to work out which 'group' they should fit into...

We don't talk but talk a lot during breaktime..

Reading these posts, I want to tell you that the average normal person doesn't actually care about this stuff half as much as you seem to. No one is jealous of you. No one is staring because they want "in". The fact that you are only a few weeks in on your first semester and you are here discussing how important it is to be in a group with the same racial and age demographic is a bit concerning.

You sound young by your posts. Perhaps young enough that you have not yet experienced life beyond school. The things that are important before you get to "real life" are not important when you start living it. If they are, you need to check your vanity.

I don't mean this to be worded as harshly as it is. I'm not sure how to really share these thoughts in a nicer way.

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