Girl in my cohort is cheating

[KitKat2019]

Hi everyone!! I am a first semester BSN student and I'm kind of in a predicament... I don't know how to go about this because I don't want to have a target on my back. There is a girl in my cohort who showed me that she wrote down word-for-word questions from our mock dosage calculations test. I don't know if this is a big deal, but my intuition is telling me this isn't right. We are not supposed to take pictures and/or leave the classroom with our tests and this girl sitting next to me wrote down the questions/answers during review time. She showed this to me after class and I don't know if I should report this or not. My entire cohort is studying together in a couple of days for our med calc and first check-off and I really don't want to go because I don't trust this girl. She's also made me feel really uncomfortable bc she's asked me very personal questions that I don't feel comfortable sharing. It seemed like she was digging up info about me and she also would ask me things like, "The table you sit at during lecture is so loud, what are they talking about?" Also, she asked, "How could you afford a wedding while in college?" "What does you husband do for a living?" Etc. Those are things you ask your friends NOT someone you just met 3 days ago. And she insisted that I don't buy a parking pass for our simulation lab bc "we are all riding together." I said, sure! but I may need to come in on my own time in case I need to practice and study in the library", She said, "No if you go during the week, we'll ride together bc I need to practice too." She is trying to control me and wouldn't let me buy a parking permit. I have a family and other responsibilities and sometimes our schedules won't overlap. She never has anything to follow up with her odd Q's and I just don't feel like I can trust her. Any advice??

[caliotter3]

You need to learn how to set boundaries for yourself. Inform the instructor and let the instructor worry about how to catch the girl or how to deal with the problem. Your responsibility ends after you report the cheating. Stop sitting next to this person. After she is dealt with you may not have to worry about that, as you and she may have a big blowout. If that does not occur, be firm in distancing yourself from her. She is bad news.

[KitKat2019]

Would I have a target on my back if I reported this, and everyone found out that I "snitched" or whatever? Or what if the instructor thinks I'm just trying to get people in trouble? I know it sounds silly and I haven't done anything wrong, but I don't want it to backfire on me. What should I tell my cohort when they all plan to get together and study? I know she's going to share answers with all of them and I don't want to be apart of the cheating.

[caliotter3]

If you are more worried of it backfiring on you than of getting the situation resolved, then don't report it. But don't be surprised if the situation snowballs and you are caught up in the consequences because you had knowledge of the cheating, did not report it, and therefore became part of the wrongdoing.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

You also need to say "You are making me very uncomfortable with all the personal questions and assuming that we are riding together. For that reason, I'm going off on my own for a bit. Please take a little time to reflect on how you come across to others in this program."

[KitKat2019]

Given those choices, I'd rather people think I'm a "snitch" then become a part of the wrongdoing. I'm a newbie, I appreciate your advice :)

[caliotter3]

It is not what people think about you. It is about saving yourself from consequences brought about by her behavior. Most schools have policies in place that state that a person with knowledge of cheating is required to report it. Why jeopardize yourself for her?

[KitKat2019]

Very true. I needed an outside opinion since I overthink everything lol. thank you

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Check your honor code. Especially nursing schools knowledge of a bad act and not reporting is often as bad as being the perpetrator. Regardless of "target" and "snitch" can you live with the choice of inaction and remaining silent? Then you have your answer

[emmjayy, BSN, RN]

At my school, it is absolutely unacceptable to copy down questions/answers during test review. We are not allowed to have pens, papers, or phones on our desks during review and there are professors walking the aisles to enforce this policy. Check your policy and see what is allowed, if this constitutes cheating you should report it.

[shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP]

Your professor is not going to tell anyone if you inform them of the cheating.

Why do you think you will have a target on your back? Most students do not cheat and do not approve of cheaters.

If you are going to be a nurse, you must be able to do the right thing w/o worrying what other people will think of you.

[vanilla bean]

You've received some good feedback about how to address the cheating but let's also address this:

She is trying to control me and wouldn't let me buy a parking permit.

How does a grown woman allow a relative stranger to dictate their decisions? Would't "let you" buy a parking permit? I don't mean those as rhetorical questions, I'm genuinely curious about your thought process and how you allowed your classmate to dictate your behavior. I think Caliotter3 was on the money in the first post: you need to learn how to set boundaries for yourself.