Future Classmates?

[trailerparkmedic]

I've applied for a competitive college program. After everyone applies, so many people are chosen for interviews, and then so many people actually get a spot in the program. It's a rather lengthy process so there's a group of people posting online about the process, when they've gotten their interview invitations, etc. People who have applied for this program in previous years have done the same thing on the same site.

Someone posted a few days before the interviews started (they go on all month long) that it would probably be best if we didn't share specifics about the interview to avoid giving an unfair advantage to some. I thought that this sounded fair, but most people on the site have FREAKED OUT. At this point, only myself and the person who originally suggested it have stuck by this opinion; the others have decided that we are selfish, uncompassionate, unhelpful and terrible future classmates. One person equated not sharing information to purposely trying to hurt teammates on a sports team.

This only bothers me because my reaction seems so sane and normal to me, and everyone else's seems so bizarre. It's like I somehow wandered into Bizarro land, and now my overactive imagination thinks that the admissions office might live in Bizarro Land too.

So, my questions to ya'll (since you're not emotionally invested like I am):
Am I crazy for not wanting people to have an advantage over me? This is a normal reaction, right???
Why do you think the other people on this site are acting this way? Are they just naive or what? Some of them do seem to be young (early 20s), based on other comments they've made. I'm a jaded, bitter 26 (not much older).
I have my heart set on this school. It will give me a great education that will far outshine what I would get from my backup plans. Am I completely nuts for reconsidering going to school with these people?

[Flying Grype]

Apply to the school. If you get in without having cheated, you were judged fairly. If you don't get in because other people cheated, you don't want to go to that school anyways.

I have a feeling that the people who do the interviews know that people cheat. They will likely mix it up enough to catch cheaters off-guard.

Don't say anything about this to the other students, but you could tell the interviewers what you know about people cheating.

[MannersMakethMan]

Looking objectively, if you think there's more to be gained for yourself than for them by sharing, then play them at their own game. There's no sense in leaving yourself at a disadvantage, but this works both ways. If it's more beneficial to them than to you, then why bother giving away the upper hand?

Generally speaking, it's my experience that those who are less prepared that are more likely to want the shared information. I lost count of the number of times that I'd go to 'share information' on a group project, only to put in 95% myself. This isn't even a group project - it's every person for themselves and you needn't suffer any illusion that they'd be sharing to help you out.

It's completely natural not to want other people to have an advantage over you, and I fully understand your view. However, it's also completely natural when you're at a disadvantage to try to level the playing field, so I see where they're coming from as well. Given the competitive nature of this course, coupled with the natural tension of interviews, any reactions are going to be violent compared to the normal sane reactions.

If you're set on going, remember why you're going. It's not for the people - it's for the education and your future. In the unlikely event that the admissions do live in Bizarro Land, then it'll be as Flying Grype says, and you'll be best off out of it, since it won't be the education you thought. Everything happens for a reason, and I have no doubt that you'll make a great success of whatever happens.

Good Luck!

[Greenday]

The way I see it, giving them vital information so they can prepare better and possibly take your spot is the same as running against another person in a political race and voting for the other guy.

[Jester]

Right now you are not classmates. You are many competitors for few openings in the program, as I understand it. Which means you don't have an obligation to anyone except yourself. And that obligation is to do everything you can (within the rules and laws) to get yourself into that program. If you get accepted, you will do so, by definition, at the expense of someone else. Why they think it is fair or right to expect you to put their well-being over yours is something that makes no sense to me.

Once you are in that program, helping out your classmates is a worthy and noble endeavor, and one I wholeheartedly endorse. But until you are actually in that program, these people are not your classmates. They are your competition.

Mind you, I would advise you to play nice and not say all this publicly. But in my opinion, the original dissenter was right on. The majority that can't see this are immature, illogical, and idiotic. Or perhaps they are sneakier than they seem--I have little doubt that some of them really do think that all the talking can confer an advantage to some, and that they are hoping to be the beneficiary of that advantage.

Your first priority is to the most important person vying for a spot in that program. And that person is YOU.