We can’t expect to use examples from decades past to explain the present. Today, the tippy tops want to see collaboration in general and even more so for STEM. The kid who applies without that is at some risk. The mindset they seek acknowledges the value of collaboratiion, to enhance the results. This isn’t just about problem sets or homework. It’s about the work of engineers and others.
Collaborating is not taking someone else’s work as your own.