Cheating in med school can have serious consequences. When you are caught cheating, you can get dismissed from medical school or get a suspension. To better understand what to expect when you are caught, you must know the various kinds of offenses committed. Usually, cheating or plagiarism occurs when a student uses somebody else’s ideas or words as their own.
Cheating vs Plagiarism
These kinds of academic dishonesty can lead to school discipline. Plagiarism is when you copy the work done by another person and submit it to your professor without providing the original owner with credit. Meanwhile, cheating is offering or getting unauthorized assistance. It can also include using information, books, study guides, and notes that are not allowed during an academic exercise such as an examination.
Consequences of Cheating
A medical student who is caught cheating can face varying consequences, depending on the seriousness of the infraction and their disability history. Most likely, the student can get a punishment. But repeated or serious instances of cheating can result in serious disciplinary action like probation, suspension, or dismissal.
Will Cheating Stays in the Record Permanently?
Although your academic record may not have your history of cheating, the consequences of this academic misconduct can follow you around forever. For instance, if the medical school dismisses you for cheating, it may be impossible for you to get accepted to another medical school. Also, a dismissal can be disclosed to future employers and appear in background checks.
Likewise, if your professor gives an F because of cheating, your academic transcript will bear your grade, which will affect your GPA. Medical schools have standards you must meet including maintaining a certain GPA. A failing grade as a result of cheating can land you on academic dismissal. Thus, even if cheating did not result in dismissal, you could still be dismissed for a very low GPA.
Appealing a Disciplinary Action Because of Cheating
Medical schools have their own disciplinary policies and procedures you must review to know your rights. When you appeal a school disciplinary action for cheating, you can deny the allegation and offer evidence to support such a claim. Or you can admit to cheating and argue that the sanction is too serious for your misconduct. For instance, you can claim that you cheated due to mitigating circumstances or that the misconduct was a first-time mistake you will not make again.
Regardless of how you approach the appeal, you must stay humble throughout the process and stay professional. Also, you should consider hiring an attorney who can help you craft a defense strategy against the accusations.
