Doing 90% of the work in a “collaborative” setting.

DOING 90% OF THE WORK IN A “COLLABORATIVE” SETTING.

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Remember those ambitious study groups? The ones where you optimistically thought everyone would pull their weight, share insights, and actually collaborate? Yeah, us too. We’ve all been there, burning the midnight oil in the library stacks, meticulously color-coding notes, only to realize that when it came to that "collaborative" project, you were essentially a one-person show. You’re pouring over the syllabus, outlining the entire presentation, drafting sections, fact-checking everything, while your supposed teammates are… well, let’s just say their contributions were more in spirit than in substance.

The frustration is a uniquely Ivy experience, isn't it? That intense pressure to not just succeed, but to excel, combined with the bizarre reality of doing 90% of the work for a shared grade. It's not just about the extra hours; it's the mental load, the quiet resentment, the questioning of why you even bothered forming a group. You might as well have just cried in the stacks by yourself, at least then you'd only be accountable to your own brilliance (or lack thereof on a given night). It’s a rite of passage almost – learning to navigate those dynamics, to diplomatically (or not-so-diplomatically) nudge, to ultimately just take the reins because the deadline looms and your reputation is on the line. For current students, you’re in it now. For alumni, you survived it. And we bet you still remember those names.