I would disagree Jane, the real world doesn't care about being GP it cares about being profitable. Being completely blunt about it companies do not sponsor FIRST out of the goodness of their heart, they sponsor FIRST because they get something out of it. Individuals are a different story, some people do it because they want to help. Others do it merely because it is something to keep them from going crazy at work.
My general attitude towards GP was pretty well crushed once I got into the work world. The more I see the more I realize that the world isn't at all like everyone says it is. Professionalism in some work places is a joke at best, I can't tell you how many times I have literally smacked my head against a wall because a customer sends an email,
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EVERYTHING IS BROKEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!
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(by the way, the solution to this problem is usually that THEY did something stupid such as unplug their computer)
I guess what I am trying to say is that FIRST makes us excited to be engineers and get out there and do some good, then the real world gets a hold of us and hits us with the rock of reality until we realized that in the end our life will be an endless series of meetings, changing requirements, changing deadlines, and dealing with our darling customers (since this is the internet and you cannot hear the sarcasm I must assure that it is there, always remember, your customer is an idiot)
It would be great if the real world were more like FIRST, competitors helping each other out, but it won't happen. No, it isn't just unlikely, it plain out WON'T EVER happen. Additionally, if it did happen we, the consumers, would be hurt. Capitalism only works because competition forces companies to innovate and drives prices lower, if companies all work together and help each other they have no reason to innovate or undercut each others prices. The basis of our modern economy is built on cutthroat tactics and being jerks to each other.
Sorry for the rant but frankly students should know that the real world is nothing like FIRST.