The need to compete is natural to most of us. Our society is individualistically orientated, rewarding those who excel beyond their peers. To fit into the fabric of our society, one needs a competitive nature in college. Getting an "A" on a test represents this phenomenon, as does further competing and excelling in extra-curricular activities. Astin found both content and resources approaches to pedagogy tend to favor the academically prepared, assertive student and he further warns "… passivity is an important warning sign that may reflect the lack of involvement" (Astin, 1984).

A study of university students' stress indicated that competition was the highest stress area. Competition stress averaged one-half standard deviation above the mean of the overall norming population of 4,000 adults in 26 occupations (Nannini, Hallberg, Sauer, 1988).

College success as a manifestation of the culture's socialization process place competition high on the list of necessary factors. From the "paper chase" to the Dean's list, competition permeates our entire academic fabric. Vincent Tinto reflects on this factor when he writes "…in the final analysis, it is the interplay between the individual's commitment to the goal of college competition and his commitment to the institution, that determines whether or not the individual decides to drop out of college" (Tinto, 1975).