I recommend taking a look at professor evaluations before you sign up for a particular section of a given course. Otherwise, spend some time asking around about the profs. Having an interesting and well-spoken teacher is important, especially in your first couple of classes as you adjust to being at school again. Since these are core classes, finance, marketing, economics, entrepreneurial, and other majors are all grouped together in the same class. I don't sense that the environment is overly competitive.
Most students are interested in the opinions of others.
However, I do get the sense that many of the students are very focused on grades. Both my professors preach that they are believers in learning and what students will take from their class to the next and into the workplace. That's a philosophy I concur with, so I abstain from joining the crush of students desperately pawing through tests and homework assignments to find their name and grade. Don't get me wrong. I am from New York City.