Hi everyone,
I am currently in serious trouble and need some real advice.
Long story:
I was placed on mandatory Leave of Absence (basically suspended for a year) on the second day of medical school all because there was a clicker question in class (not using exam software that would be used for regular quizzes and exams) for 1 point that I did not know I wasn't able to use resources to answer. At least half of my class had resources opened AND were discussing the answers among themselves but unluckily for me, the associate dean saw me check my answer and whisper to my classmate and THEN announced to the whole class that no resources were allowed. Then he/she (do not want to reveal too much info) pulled me aside and told me to report to his/her office the next morning.
Well in the meeting assoc dean accused me PURPOSEFULLY cheating and asked how do they know if I have not cheated previously. He/she then asked me why I would decide to start cheating in medical school? I tried to tell him/her that I legitimately did not know we weren't allowed to use resources since it was a clicker question and we were always working together during clicker questions in previous classes. He/she retorted saying that the instructor said in the beginning of class that the question would be like a quiz that's graded (but did not specifically say to put everything away). Plus, everyone was talking during the questions. But he/she spun the story and accused me of looking for the answer, that I saw he/she was looking at me, and quickly closed it (so that I was "cheating" on purpose) BEFORE she made the announcement.
Even worse, he/she attacked my character and said "who knows what you could do if you were alone with a patient" when they have no idea what kind of person I am and make ALL judgements with no empathy on one innocent mistake.
Thanks for making it this far. Despite how this sounds, I am not trying to make excuses or gain pity. I am extremely grateful that I was not entirely dismissed. I understand that this is professional school and that we are held to a much higher standard but I am still very hurt that they would attack me as a person for a (in my eyes) small mistake.
I am just wondering if you guys know anyone who has experienced this and/or know of possible further actions I could take? I asked how it would appear on my transcript and he/she said that The school will see it as disciplinary action whereas to others it will say "Leave of Absence" (which I obviously will need to explain and can't possibly lie about this). Am I completely screwed for residency? Also, would it be worth it to attempt to arrange a meeting with the head Dean?
Thank you in advance for your thoughts/inputs.
I am currently in serious trouble and need some real advice.
Long story:
I was placed on mandatory Leave of Absence (basically suspended for a year) on the second day of medical school all because there was a clicker question in class (not using exam software that would be used for regular quizzes and exams) for 1 point that I did not know I wasn't able to use resources to answer. At least half of my class had resources opened AND were discussing the answers among themselves but unluckily for me, the associate dean saw me check my answer and whisper to my classmate and THEN announced to the whole class that no resources were allowed. Then he/she (do not want to reveal too much info) pulled me aside and told me to report to his/her office the next morning.
Well in the meeting assoc dean accused me PURPOSEFULLY cheating and asked how do they know if I have not cheated previously. He/she then asked me why I would decide to start cheating in medical school? I tried to tell him/her that I legitimately did not know we weren't allowed to use resources since it was a clicker question and we were always working together during clicker questions in previous classes. He/she retorted saying that the instructor said in the beginning of class that the question would be like a quiz that's graded (but did not specifically say to put everything away). Plus, everyone was talking during the questions. But he/she spun the story and accused me of looking for the answer, that I saw he/she was looking at me, and quickly closed it (so that I was "cheating" on purpose) BEFORE she made the announcement.
Even worse, he/she attacked my character and said "who knows what you could do if you were alone with a patient" when they have no idea what kind of person I am and make ALL judgements with no empathy on one innocent mistake.
Thanks for making it this far. Despite how this sounds, I am not trying to make excuses or gain pity. I am extremely grateful that I was not entirely dismissed. I understand that this is professional school and that we are held to a much higher standard but I am still very hurt that they would attack me as a person for a (in my eyes) small mistake.
I am just wondering if you guys know anyone who has experienced this and/or know of possible further actions I could take? I asked how it would appear on my transcript and he/she said that The school will see it as disciplinary action whereas to others it will say "Leave of Absence" (which I obviously will need to explain and can't possibly lie about this). Am I completely screwed for residency? Also, would it be worth it to attempt to arrange a meeting with the head Dean?
Thank you in advance for your thoughts/inputs.