What would you do?

[verynice]

Yesterday I was allowed to take my anatomy final early. My professor allowed me to sit in a room by myself as I took the test. Before I completed the final, she left to go home and told me to turn the test into the secretary. She let me do this because she trusts me and knows my character. However, for moment thought to myself, "it would be so easy to cheat right now." Of course, I only entertained the notion and moved on to complete the test without cheating.

My question is: would you cheat in this situation?

 

[Stumpyman]

No because I likely already studied for it, plus there's always the chance of still being caught (someone walks in, cameras, maybe the prof is still around, who knows).

 

[jesse120]

pshhh I wouldn't need to cheat. I'm too awesome

 

[Praefectus]

Yesterday I was allowed to take my anatomy final early. My professor allowed me to sit in a room by myself as I took the test. Before I completed the final, she left to go home and told me to turn the test into the secretary. She let me do this because she trusts me and knows my character. However, for moment thought to myself, "it would be so easy to cheat right now." Of course, I only entertained the notion and moved on to complete the test without cheating.

My question is: would you cheat in this situation?

It would be extremely difficult to go against years of moral conditioning. Always remember that trust is easy to earn but hard to earn back.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Would've studied beforehand.
Hence, no need to cheat.

 

[IlDestriero]

I went to a school with a real honor code. We could take the exams anywhere we wanted, including at home. Did I cheat even once? No way.
Potius mori quam foedari

 

[Barcu]

It would be extremely difficult to go against years of moral conditioning. Always remember that trust is easy to earn but hard to earn back.

Actually make that impossible to earn back.

Cheating gets you kicked out of med school, and there is no way you are getting back in. Failing a test is not even close to that serious, as you can always remediate or repeat a year.

That's my PSA for today.

 

[DanGee777]

.

 

[Roguelyn]

I can't imagine cheating.

 

[Koosalagoosagoo]

Cheating is stupid, your academic career will be ruined if caught.

 

[lxz]

Why is this a question? I don't see the point of you posting this...Sorry.

 

[Marge]

Pretty sure I know what's going on here. The OP's test is actually on Monday and he's wondering if he should cheat.

 

[biomaj]

The fact that you're even questioning it...

 

[Silvari]

I had a very similar expeirence on a Spanish 2 test. I studied plenty, but I blanked out on 1 or 2 questions, which would mean the difference between a 95% or a 100%... I cheated, I used my phone and googled a Spanish dictionary. I didn't get caught, but soon after I realized how silly it was, and I wish I had gotten the honest test grade. I haven't cheated since, and I wouldn't recommend it. You lose your sense of dignity afterwords.

 

[TheVillain]

If a certain individual has to cheat in order to get good grades, perhaps they should choose a different profession because sooner or later it will catch up with them.

 

[gettheleadout]

Is it possible to cheat during surgery? During an M&M?

Why engage in a behavior with no long-term benefit or use and extreme risk?

Also moral integrity.

 

[seracus]

Aside from the risk of being caught and whether or not you're prepared already, why hasn't anyone pointed out that you'd be betraying the trust of someone who has given it to you freely? I'd rather fail than take advantage of someone who respects me enough to let me take a test alone.

 

[mmmmd]

The reason we go to school is to learn... and the reason we are tested is to prove that we have learned... so no, I see no incentive to cheat.

 

[verynice]

I was just curious to see how everyone would vote as it is an anonymous poll.

I was just thinking, "wow, I have my smart phone right here, I could literally look up every single answer." I am very appreciative of the trust I have earned and I would never do anything to break it. I have never cheated on anything and study hard to earn the grades I get but the thought did cross my mind. I mean, she even let me play baroque era music on Pandora as I took the test. I suppose it was just interesting to me that I was taking a college examination and, if I wanted to, could have scored a 100% (who knows, I might've without the help of google )

To those of you asking why I had to ask the question: I didn't, but there are some people who would readily cheat if that meant that they could improve their chances of being accepted into medical school. I was just interested in some of the discussion that this situation could bring up as there would be little to zero chance of getting caught.

I am glad to know that most of SDN's future doctors do have some sort of morals

 

[Aerus]

I would have, like you, played with the thought, but would have NEVER cheated.

Being trusted so freely is a huge honor and shouldn't be taken advantaged of. I applaud your morals, OP.

 

[Narmerguy]

It's a weird feeling. A professor of mine emailed me a test that I had missed to go to an interview. He basically told me I could take the test at any point over Thanksgiving break, just give myself an hour to take it and then email it back to him. The entire time I was studying for it over the break, it crossed my mind that I could just take the test "open book" and guarantee myself a good grade and not burn my entire break studying when I rarely get to go home--not to mention I had 98 averages on all the other tests so the professor wouldn't bat an eye.

Oh well, I actually felt pretty happy that I didn't give in and rationalize cheating. Often we argue against cheating by saying "I would have studied so I wouldn't need to cheat." Well, what if you didn't study or found that your studying was not sufficient preparation? I'd like to think that our reasons for refusing to cheat are not because we have nothing extra to gain by cheating, but because we believe in a moral integrity that excludes dishonesty or lying.

 

[madsheep]

I was once given a physics test with like four other people in the lab because I missed the original exam to bury my grandmother. I turn to the last page (I always do test backwards) and lo and behold the answer sheet was actually stapled to the back of the test. I could have cheated and no one else had mentioned it yet (not that I'm saying any of them would have, maybe they hadn't seen it yet), thought about it for a moment and then called the teacher over to notify him of the problem.

I don't think one physics test would make or break my life and it's not worth my dignity.

 

[tantacles]

Was there a mirror in the room?

 

[madsheep]

No, no mirror as far as I know. Although that would be one heck of a morals test.

 

[saveourpens]

Yesterday I was allowed to take my anatomy final early. My professor allowed me to sit in a room by myself as I took the test. Before I completed the final, she left to go home and told me to turn the test into the secretary. She let me do this because she trusts me and knows my character. However, for moment thought to myself, "it would be so easy to cheat right now." Of course, I only entertained the notion and moved on to complete the test without cheating.

My question is: would you cheat in this situation?

Just from my experience TAing, professors REALLY don't want to see their students cheating. Proctoring for instance, we always spot some looking at other exams without fail. When we bring this up the prof usually turns a blind eye, "oh he's left-handed" (theory for why a student may turn his head 90 degrees) or "no, she's the best student in this class". They know full well what the consequences can be.

Don't disrespect your instructor.

 

[jesse120]

I'm quite surprised that ~10% of voters so far would have cheated in the OP's situation. If you polled the overall undergrad population, I'm sure that number would be way higher, but for future doctors who will have to make ethical decisions constantly?

 

[centraldogma]

Early on in undergrad I could never cheat because of the specter of possibly getting caught.

As I moved on in my schooling the rationale shifted away from consequence to confidence, meaning by cheating I would be undermining my own confidence in myself.

 

[Silvari]

Early on in undergrad I could never cheat because of the specter of possibly getting caught.

As I moved on in my schooling the rationale shifted away from consequence to confidence, meaning by cheating I would be undermining my own confidence in myself.

+1

side note: just a slightly depressing/interesting article; http://education-portal.com/articles/75_to_98_Percent_of_College_Students_Have_Cheated.html

 

[mmmmd]

Have you guys witnessed uncontrollable cheating in an exam before?

A student started seizing during my o-chem midterm earlier this year. (Coincidentally, I have another o-chem midterm coming up in 1.5 hours... great time to procrastinate on SDN.) Myself and another EMT responded and did what little we could do to keep the situation safe for the guy as he convulsed and foamed from the mouth. Few minutes later the fire dept was there and I was back in my seat (shaking). Apparently the entire class was cheating during the ordeal... strangers were asking neighbors to see their exam and it went completely berserk. The professor wasn't present, just confused TAs.

Kind of pissed me off, but the class average was low enough for me not to be too bothered. Speaking of which, I'm glad I just remembered to take my model kit to the exam. 3D rotations... might as well bring a model kit. Cheers...

 

[Silvari]

Have you guys witnessed uncontrollable cheating in an exam before?

A student started seizing during my o-chem midterm earlier this year. (Coincidentally, I have another o-chem midterm coming up in 1.5 hours... great time to procrastinate on SDN.) Myself and another EMT responded and did what little we could do to keep the situation safe for the guy as he convulsed and foamed from the mouth. Few minutes later the fire dept was there and I was back in my seat (shaking). Apparently the entire class was cheating during the ordeal... strangers were asking neighbors to see their exam and it went completely berserk. The professor wasn't present, just confused TAs.



Kind of pissed me off, but the class average was low enough for me not to be too bothered. Speaking of which, I'm glad I just remembered to take my model kit to the exam. 3D rotations... might as well bring a model kit. Cheers...

Omg that's just inhuman!...so sad