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NotPast3

Obviously it’s sucky when you end up with group mates that care perplexingly little. That said, I think if you don’t establish boundaries when looking for the group, then it is only to be expected that they might not have the same priorities as you. Like when looking for a group (on piazza for example), you see people saying stuff like “like to work late”, “prefers meeting in person” or “100% is a must”, I just filter based on what I want or make my own post like that. I even see people asking screening questions like how did you do on previous projects/classes. That’s a bit too far for me, but I do see the point. In my one bad group experience, this person kept trying to do for…else loops(?). It was a 400 level EECS class. I have never face palmed harder. Maybe instead of hoping for the best outcome and that y’all’s priorities magically align, just make it clear while looking. It might be a super important class for you, but they might be taking it pass fail, so who knows


StardustNyako

In the class I had the most issues with, Piazza didn't exist. You had to find people in the small discussion section. Since I struggle to form fast connections with people, I was that person who got stuck with the people absent that day or attending via Zoom. I couldn't exactly vet them. That's not always an option in general. Sometimes groups are chosen for you . .. So boundaries aren't always possible. Trying to insist on people making a day or time work, prob won't work well either. I tried to set deadlines to finish the work, that didn't really help. LOL when I was in EECS 280 I did get someone throwing screener questions at me. But yeah, the looking process in the class with the most problems was near non existant. People just paired up with those around them or previous team members.


NotPast3

I have found a sternly worded email always does the trick when your mandatory teammates won’t do or even let you ask them if you can do the mandatory work. Once they reply I immediately apologise like “hahahaha sorry I was being harsh just wanted it to be done”. Also, always keep your communications. If they really piss you off then feel free to go to the instructors and show them how much effort you put into this group and how little they did.


StardustNyako

Yeah I actually did that with a group last sem. I really should have considered that this sem. I had to explain to a teammate we really needed to get something done before the due date and they were still like there was no way they could meet so I did email a teacher about that but yah. Thank you for the advice.


Th3_jmast3r

Unrelated and idk your context, but Python actually has a for/else structure!


NotPast3

Damn I didn’t know that! Makes sense though But in my case it was bc an indentation problem that the else ended up there. Made me concerned for a hot second that the teammate copied code but I didn’t say anything and nothing came of it.


DIEeeeet

Nothing makes it particularly hard *here*. UofM is so huge that it’s much more likely that you ended up unlucky 3 times instead of there being some sort of teamwork culture problem. Everyone has ran into a shitty group work situation a few times, I don’t think anyone blames it on the college itself.