<p>So I've read some about the Honor code, and I'm curious about how serious it really is. I know that, for instance, the Bryn Mawr honor code isn't quite as good as it's cracked up to be. How often do students take self-proctored exams? Do professors always assume that, if there's been a grading error, the student was probably trying to cheat? Is the honor code strict to the point where students don't talk about grades? And how widespread is cheating, really?</p>
<p>This is just my personal experience with the MHC honor code, but here goes: the vast majority of final exams each semester are self-proctored. There are mechanisms set up to prevent cheating, but it certainly happens. In my experience, professors almost NEVER assume that a student was trying to cheat. If anything, going to a professor and asking why you got test answers wrong will often end up getting you a HIGHER grade when the professor looks over your answers again.</p>
<p>Students certainly talk about their grades, but it’s a lot more laid-back than in high school, since there are just too many people to really care about class rank. And, though I’ve never experienced it or done it, I think cheating happens occasionally, but I wouldn’t say it’s widespread.</p>
<p>That being said, the honor code IS taken seriously, and will be enforced if you violate it. The honor code is what allows us to feel comfortable leaving our backpacks and bicycles unlocked accidentally, without fear that they’ll be stolen immediately if we remember an hour later.</p>