Uni 101: Types of Uni Group Members (Check Out 10 of Them)

Unlike in secondary school when everyone did their assignments alone, sometimes in Universities, assignments are done in groups. Most times, you get the chance to select your group members and sometimes not. It is often done alphabetically. Group works are never fun, at least I didn’t think they were. Organising and dealing with others can be such a hassle. Sometimes, a group is made up of different people you have to deal with. This is a list of the kind of people one is likely to find in group work:

1. The captain:

This is often the group leader. Sometimes, when you’re lucky, they can be good leaders but when you’re unlucky, they can really be these annoying control freaks that tend to do everything by themselves. They leave their group members in dark. You might discuss one thing in the meetings and when the meeting is over, they do the one that pleases them most. It can be so annoying, especially when you have to present the work to the lecturer and everyone is speaking in a disunited voice. 

2. The lazy one:

This kind of member is the kind that you’ll have to keep calling and reminding about the meetings and work. They never do their assigned share of the work. Eventually, the other members will have to do his work for him.

3. The latecomer:

This one is rarely in school and thus has no idea what is going on. Being members with this type is so irritating because you have to wait for them before doing anything. They never show up to the meetings or make any other meaningful contribution to the work. When you get tired of them, you’d have no choice but to do their share of the work.

4. The non-academic participant:

Dudes are usually in this category, especially busy businessmen. They’re often brutally honest about their disinterest in joining to do the hard work. They’re the type of guys that’ll only offer moral and financial support. Well, at least they support in their own way. It’s very hard to be mad at the person who buys the team lunch to support their work. 

5. The orator:

Every team has this person, especially if you’re going to present your work in class. They’re usually extroverts who enjoy hearing the sound of their voice. They don’t contribute much to the actual work itself because they know they’ll eventually have to present and presentation carries much of the mark. It can be really irritating for introverts when people applaud for the presenters and ignore the ones that did the actual work. 

6. The booksmart:

These are the introverted bookworms that do most of the work for the group. You’d be lucky to have them in your group. They’ll do all the research required. All they ask in return is the opportunity to NOT do the presentation because speaking in public gives them anxiety. 

7. The critic:

He has nothing meaningful to contribute but he keeps criticising every other contribution made. Their sole purpose is to cause wahala in every meeting. They’re so negative and cynic. Dealing with them is always a headache. 

8. The cheerleader:

She will not make any contribution; she’ll only cheer you all from behind. They’re usually the married and nursing women in class. They’re always too busy running their households that they don’t have time for school work. 

9. The popular one:

She just sits and be pretty. You won’t even talk to her because you’re not in her league and she doesn’t talk to people who are in her league. She is pissed that this group work even connected her with you. She just does what’s expected of her and hurries out after each meeting to her “true” friends.

10. The uninterested one:

Anything you are doing in the group work doesn’t concern this one. She will not bother with anything at all. Count her out of anything you’re talking about. Whenever you find this kind of group member, just know that you’re one member short.