I got caught cheating. What should I do?

<p>I'm a regular poster in CC, but I created a new account to protect my identity.</p>

<p>I'm a high achieving junior in high school. Today, I got caught cheating. Not only did I get caught, I got caught by a teacher who've I've known since freshmen year and thinks highly regarded of me and trusts me a lot.</p>

<p>To keep it short, I was left alone in her classroom and she left her computer assessable to me with the grading program open. Because of utter stupidity, I decided to change my grade. When she came back, she immediately realized that someone has changed my grades. She asked me if I did it (since I was the only one in the room at that time). I lied and said I don't know what she's talking about. I left the room as fast as I can. She called my parents and my parents are in shock. Nothing like this has ever happened to me.</p>

<p>I admit what I've done was stupid. I fully admit I should deserve any punishment that she chooses to give to me.</p>

<p>Tomorrow I will be forced to see her. What should I do?</p>

<p>Thank you for your help.</p>

<p>I think that's considered a bit more than cheating.</p>

<p>How dramatic was the change in grade?</p>

<p>You could apologize to her, that'd make it less awkward.</p>

<p>Yeah. Apologize, and let her know that you just gave into the temptation, that it was dumb, that you regret it, and are sorry.</p>

<p>If you went to our school you would be expelled. That was not just cheating that was desperation. It is time to think about what is important to you and for those around you to determine if they have a hand in applying so much pressure that you felt the need to do this. I will tell you this....ask for forgivenss, figure out WHY you chose to do this and then FORGIVE yourself and move on. There may be consequences but more than anything you must learn from it and put it behind you. No matter what happens everyone has mad a mistake they are ashamed of - you arent the only one. But use this to make YOU a better person!!!</p>

<p>Yes, this is a lot more serious than cheating. The fact that my grade I had a 88% before I changed my grades is so pathetic.</p>

<p>I really don't know why I would risk something like that. I guess its just the pressure to get high grades and remain competitive.</p>

<p>It is important to email and/or talk with her as soon as she is available in the morning. Do not put off the conversation. Any delay will only make it harder for everyone.</p>

<p>haha talk to her about it. what'd u change it to? 100% ? cuz that would've been quite dumb</p>

<p>^ just chill. If you're good with her, she will probably let you go w/o too many consequences. If not, then just say that you were reckless, sorry, and the usual. Act humble.</p>

<p>Admit that how you lied to her was wrong and talk about how you feel you have betrayed her (if you feel that way). I wouldn't email her (too impersonal), but I would definitely talk to her RIGHT away in the morning.</p>

<p>If you thought fast, you could've passed it as a joke maybe. But really--this is an extremely immoral action and you do deserve the consequences. From what I hear, you seem to be getting off light. A student at my school had done similar things before and was expelled.</p>

<p>pshh i say hold your stand. Keep saying u didnt do anything. One time a teacher said "did you change ure grade?" and i hadnt... she had really messed up. U just gotta make ure teacher think she messed up. Look, who knows what can happen. If u give in, u can get expelled, or get an F on the report card. Unless the teacher takes a special liking to you and you know would let u get off.. then maybe. Now i am only saying all this is because i am assuming u changed ure grade from an 88 to like a 90... not a 98 or a 100.. cuz if u did that.. then u probably should be expelled for being a dummy.</p>

<p>thats a burn ~~~</p>

<p>So many stories about being caught while cheating/other irresponsible acts tell me to never do such things when I go to college next year. Thank you.</p>

<p>On the other hand, you should contact her as soon as possible, preferably morning, and tell her it was your fault. You gave into the competition/desperation/temptation and it was your fault and you regret it and any punishment is fine. If everything goes wrong, start crying. That actually helped me once when a teacher took my cell phone in junior high school because I was texting. I know its not the same, but it would elicit some sympathy nonetheless.</p>

<p>a) if it was at my school, you'd be expelled.
b) since the teacher regards you highly, I would talk to her face to face (no e-mails, no calls. be sincere and polite) and apologize extremely. tell her you made a grave mistake, and maybe she'll let you go w/o too much of a penalty. since she talked to your parents first, it seems like she cares about what you did and from what you said it seems like she didn't immediately contact the administration.
c) if you have consequences, you have consequences. sorry dude. your mistake.</p>

<p>if you only changed your grade you are foolish.
if you havent confessed yet, i suggest that you dont. in my experience, administration can't really do anything without that confession.</p>

<p>You won't be able to claim you didn't do anything, because you're already feeling guilty about it. It's very visible when a person lies while mentally beating hirself up for lying. Speak the truth and, well, it truly is a very tempting situation - being left alone with the grading program open, being frustrated with your 88%, being under pressure to achieve higher. Just be honest. Atleast then you'll retain your peace of mind. I don't know what the consequences would be. If you really have turned over a new leaf, mentally, if this really is the first time you've done something immoral like this, your teacher might not give you a steep punishment, seeing as being caught itself was enough to stop you ever doing something like this again.</p>

<p>Again, just tell the truth and let whatever happens happen. Even if you get suspended, even if you have to mention it every time you apply for college, don't worry. Just be honest from now on, in every respect, and when the time comes to write about it, convey what the experience taught you. If you're true to yourself, it will show, and they'll forgive you.</p>

<p>Ah...I see you're probably at school at the moment. Well whatever. I'll post anyway.</p>

<p>You have two options.</p>

<p>Option 1: Admit what you did, apologize, hope for the best. The best you can hope for is getting your 88% with no other consequences. The worst would be expulsion.</p>

<p>Option 2: Deny it. Make her prove it. If she can prove it, then you're in trouble. If she can't, the worst she can do is give you your 88%.</p>

<p>So all other things being equal, morals aside, you should deny it up and down if you're relatively sure there's no way to prove that it was you. I doubt she'd get fingerprints taken, but she may. Weigh your options.</p>

<p>I would confess, but that's because I like to tell myself that I'm a good person.</p>

<p>I would apologize and completely own up to what you did. I don't know about your school's policy, but at my school the more honest you are about what you did, the more likely the consequences won't be as bad. If you apologize profusely and admit what you did and that it was wrong, it won't be as bad. You've known the teacher since freshman year, and though it will take a while to get her trust back, if she "thinks highly of you" as you said, she will come around. Good luck! :)</p>

<p>"Option 2: Deny it. Make her prove it. If she can prove it, then you're in trouble. If she can't, the worst she can do is give you your 88%."</p>

<p>Nope. She would then know that he not only cheats, but also is a flagrant liar who apparently isn't remorseful about cheating. She'd also pass the word to other administrators and the GC, and their recommendations would reflect that even if those recommendations wouldn't be able to say that he cheated. They could just be weak and hollow, the kind that cause top colleges to call the recommenders and ask for more information.</p>

<p>Saying this as a former professor who remembers having had a star student who blatantly plagiarized on a paper for another prof's class. No question that it was plagiarism. The student's mother insisted on having a lawyer argue the case to the provost. Not only did the student not win, but the student lost the complete respect of her department, and ended up having to graduate in another major and going into a different field than she had planned.</p>

<p>In addition, the student's professors wondered if all of the good grades she had gotten in college were due to cheating. </p>

<p>If the OP admits the cheating and expresses remorse, the OP has a far better chance of eventually regaining the good will of the teacher and administration than if the OP lies. The teacher isn't stupid. The teacher knows the grade was changed even if the teacher can't prove it.</p>

<p>Wow... that is deep.
I would hate to be you, I can imagine myself in that mess... Wow...
I'm not sure what I would do, but you've destroyed your reputation in all your school. Teachers talk to each other, and you won't hear the end of this. This might even go into college if your college wants recommendations...
not that you need it rubbed in anymore...but that was stupid... I'm sorry, If I were you I'm not sure what I would do. But Like I said you probably feel bad enough. Good luck....
Its going to take balls to go an apologize, and the actual punishment is going to be nothing in comparison to the damage you've done to your reputation.
Good luck....</p>