How can I tell whether students are competitive or cooperative?
Do not treat competitiveness and cooperation as a simple either-or. Check how learning is organized in the relevant course or major: use the syllabus to see whether assessment emphasizes individual assignments, ranking, or exams, and whether group work is included. At information sessions, ask current students about how easily they consult and study with one another.
Key points
- Use the syllabus or course guide to check the balance between individual assessment and group assignments.
- Look beyond ranking to whether students can comfortably ask questions and consult one another.
- When speaking with current students, compare several perspectives rather than relying on one account.
Things to check
- The atmosphere can differ by faculty, course, academic year, and relationships among students rather than being uniform across a university.
- One current student's experience may not represent everyone, so compare official information with multiple perspectives.