Group projects suck and if you don’t think they suck, you’re quite possibly a group project slacker who reaps all of the reward and does none of the work. Or you’re an extreme optimist. Either way, I want whatever you’re having.
Whether the project is the problem or the people you’ve been grouped with are the problem, there’s always a lot of issues when it comes to group work. These college group project tips are going to help you tackle the projects in a way that won’t make you immensely frustrated and screwed. With that being said…group work is still group work and there’s only so much I can do for you, friend.
Group projects in college generally work like this:
Yeah, that’s right. I made a pie chart because I’m the one in the group who would make a pie chart. Are you the kind of person who will pick up everyone else’s slack because you want a good grade? If so, congratulations, we are one and we both get screwed over by group projects.
The thing is, every group I’ve been in has always had some sort of issue or an extreme lack of caring. While there’s been one or two groups where other group members genuinely cared and tried, there’s still always a lot of struggles surrounding group work and here are some tips for dealing with group work in college. Let me get to the tips.
1. Exchange phone numbers and e-mails ASAP.
As soon as your group gets assigned, pull out your phone and create a group message. Have everyone text their name and e-mail to the group chat. Now you’ve officially gotten all of the possible contact information. This is basic, but usually e-mails aren’t exchanged right of the bat. This will save you a lot of time and wrangling later on when you’re trying to add Brittany to the Google Doc and you realize you don’t have her e-mail and she’s at dance until midnight.
2. Plan meeting times in class.
If it’s not possible to talk to everyone in your group before or after class, try to talk to as many of the members as possible. Suggest a possible meeting time and see if they’re free. This helps you get a good sense of who’s free and later on when bringing up the meet time in the group chat, you already know a few of the group members can definitely make it. Honestly, just choosing times and asking people if they’re free is much easier and quicker in person than via text.
3. Choose your meeting spot wisely.
Don’t pick any place that you know is prone to distractions. Namely, pick a place where you know things will get done and group members won’t just trickle away to grab coffee or say hello to their roommate. Hopefully this place will be somewhere easily accessed by all members of the group.
4. Make a deadline before the deadline.
Granted, this won’t always be followed. If the project is due April 20th, make a point to have it done April 18th so there’s time for someone to add the final touches and make sure it’s all complete. Your group most likely has a few people who wait until the actual night before or morning of and you can’t change that, but you can try your best by enforcing the early deadline so strongly that they start to believe it.
5. Don’t be afraid to tell your professor about the unequal work load.
If George has never even opened the Google Doc while you and Liz did the entire project, don’t be afraid to throw George under the bus to the professor. Honestly, you’re not really throwing him under the bus because he kind of just sat himself down in the street and waited to be run over.
This is controversial because most people just let the unequal workload slide and not want to make a big deal, but you should make a deal. George is getting a free A that you and Liz earned. Your professor should at least have a heads up that he did nothing. If you don’t feel like doing so, no big deal, but just don’t be afraid to provide the professor feedback if he or she asks who did what. BUT if your professor is one of those, “In the real world you’ll have to work with slackers and difficult people blah blah life is a lesson you’re learning blah” you might just want to refrain. Honestly, there are people who believe group work is a taste of real life and having to learn to work with others but in the real world, slackers can get fired.
Furthermore, if someone in your group plagiarizes, throw them under that bus so fast. Seriously, never take the fall for someone else’s major mistakes. If you’re wondering, yes, I’ve been in this situation and let me tell you, I was not about to have my scholarship taken away because the student in my group stole half of Spark Notes without my group’s knowledge and thus caused the professor to confront the group.
6. Divide the work but unite the final result.
Some people need to be told exactly what to do. If the work is divisible, divvy it up when you guys meet. Suggest dividing the work and have everyone claim a section. To avoid a group project or paper being really choppy and not at all seamless, have you (or someone else…but probably you) be the final editor. Look over the entire paper as a whole and make necessary changes. It won’t ever sound like one person wrote it, but you can get it to be pretty close and you can at least cut out repetition by reading the paper or project once over.
7. Remember not everyone’s mind works like yours does.
Maybe you get your part of the project done two weeks in advance and someone else likes to work the day before. Try not to stress yourself out too much.
8. Take initiative when necessary.
Step in and express some leadership skills and initiative. Don’t be afraid of lowkey making yourself the leader, especially if no one else seems to have any cares or motivation. In most group projects I find myself taking initiative to make Google Docs or Google Slides. I also find myself being the one who suggests ideas while everyone sits silently waiting for the apocalypse or something. Just have the mindset you would have if it was a solo project in terms of: “If I don’t, no one will.” Because generally it’s true.
9. Practice!
Practice giving your presentation (if there is one) at least once through before presenting. Make sure everyone knows the order of their parts so the final project seems more put together. These Presentation Tips will help you with that, too. If you can’t get everyone to practice, at least practice your part.
This is an extremely pessimistic view of group projects, but always remember that your group might not care as much as you do if you’re a bit of a Type A good student like myself. Group projects are rough but hopefully these group project tips will help them become a little more tolerable.
