Cheating/reporting a cheater

[Melicopter]

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As somebody who TA's classes and regularly proctors exams, I have a definite bias against cheaters. I have never turned in a cheater from an exam that I wasn't proctoring, but only because I've never seen one (how can I when I'm concentrated on my own success?). So I haven't been confronted with this dilemna yet...but something somebody said makes me think of one of the most basic things you learn in CPR classes: "I didn't report them because someone else probably will" or "they will fail out in med school".

Everybody thinks that karma will bite these kids in the ass later, but chances are they will be just fine. At a certain level of academia, cheaters aren't your typical high school slacker kids; in the upper levels of college, cheaters are very skilled and are only cheating to make their 'B+' into an 'A'.

Ditto on the thought that cheaters degrade the integrity of the institution. So bottom line, if you are too much of a coward to the take responsibility to uphold the integrity of your institution, then don't say anything. Also, no matter what you think, make sure you say what the school wants to hear in your interview. But don't stay quiet just because you're afraid a few 'med school cool kids' or 'internet tough guys' will call you a snitch. It's not worth your integrity or the integrity of your institution.

Flame on!

👍👍

 

[mrivera]

Got a funny email from my Epidemiology professor yesterday...

Apparently he found out that a group of people were 'conversing amongst themselves' during the final when he stepped out...I saw it, but I didn't report it, and I don't think that I'd report someone. It wouldnt have affected my grade anyway because I ravaged that exam....so anyway he gave them 24 hours to confess. I know that one of the girls is going down the same route that I am...I guess that she's going to hit a big speed bump..she also BOOOOOOMMMBBBEEEED her MCAT first time around, as far as i know.

Kind of a weird moral dilemma, but should I feel obligated to report a case like that? and when I start my classes in medical school next fall, if i see it happening, what is the etiquette in a situation like that?

Hey, I understand your desire to have these people get punished, but you will feel guilty in the end, trust me, even though you think you're doing it for a good cause. By reporting them, you will literally end their options in most professional fields, and for me, I would feel hesistant to do that. I know it sounds weird, but thats just me... Just worry about yourself.

 

[CytoEric]

I tend to converse with people at my table when my teacher steps out during an exam. It is just "....Is he serious with #12. " or something like that.

Exactly...I haven't cheated on a test since high school, but I do do this...It'd look bad if the prof walked in I suppose...

I really don't like cheaters, but I wouldn't report them...in my experience, the people I've seen cheating have always been at the bottom of the class anyway. It doesn't matter to me if they can manage to bring their F up to a D or C. I haven't had many classes that curved grades, so it hasn't really affect me at all...just lowered my opinion of people I already had a low opinion of...This is in regard to UG classes...in med school things may be different...

 

[riverjib]

I'm just disgusted by cheating in general. I know that cheaters will be weeded out and they'll have to actually LEARN in the end, but that's not good enough. Someone who has no problem cheating is likely to be the same physician that will falsify information in the future to cover his/her own ass.

The problem is deeply rooted in the (aspiring or current) physician's values. I wouldn't mind being treated by someone who was a mediocre student but has excelled professionally, due to merit and hard work. But people who are inclined to cheat at all may pass through the checkpoints without ever really learning to be honest, with the exception of a few assessments. They are the most likely to become physicians who take shortcuts. I've worked with very few of them, but they're dangerous.

Aside from the moral and ethical arguments, it's pretty unfair that some people who have "BS'd" their way through pre-med and even medical education are taking up seats better suited to honest students.

I haven't said a word, and I won't until there is a policy in place that obligates me to report cheaters. But on some level, I am already obligated to report academic indiscretions. Instead, I stand by (like most others, especially based upon posts here) in hopes that the system will correct the problem.