Being a student in college is challenging. You need to manage your time efficiently so that you complete all the tasks you have, but also take care of yourself and relax.
However, during the exam period, you might feel stressed and overwhelmed by the huge amount of tasks you have to complete. You may need to write papers of many types, conduct research, and study for exams too. In these stressful and overwhelming moments, many students think about cheating.
College cheating is something all universities want to fight against, so the consequences for students cheating are pretty severe. Cheating is bad not only for your grades but for your reputation in front of teachers too. So, let’s delve deeper into the many reasons why cheating is bad and understand why is cheating wrong.
Table of Contents
Short-Term Consequences of Cheating
Just like any other decision you made and will make in this life, cheating comes with short-term and long-term consequences. Getting an education is indeed enlightening but challenging and stressful at times.
Being a student in the university is not as easy as many would say and not all students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to face these challenges, but they develop them over time. So, the short-term consequences of cheating can easily be grouped into academic and personal consequences.
When it comes to academic consequences, among the most met ones are the loss of grades and credibility, but also probation or suspension from school. This is why many teachers encourage students to read examples of essays about cheating.
They might even encourage them to select any cheating essay titles for use and write a paper on this topic, focusing on the ethics and morale of the behavior. Cheating means that you use sources that were not authorized by the professor to use. Or that you possess or buy tests and exams that belong to the university staff.
All these cheating behaviors have personal short-term consequences too. You may have low self-esteem and confidence, but also strained relationships with peers and instructors.
Long-Term Consequences of Cheating
If in the short-term the effects of cheating are on your academic progress and relationships with peers, instructors, and yourself, the long-term consequences focus more on your career. Many employers are asking for your college record before hiring.
So, if you have cheated, this will be noted there. And, of course, this means that you will experience difficulties when it comes to finding jobs.
Why? Because you have low credibility which will manifest itself in the workplace too. And if the university will proceed with the legal actions, you might face criminal charges for academic dishonesty, but financial penalties and fines too.
Indeed, not all instructors may have the most effective teaching techniques, but this is not an excuse to start cheating. The consequences of doing this are serious both in the short and long-term, so you should stay away from this.
The Importance of Building Good Study Habits
As the consequences of cheating are severe, it is necessary to highlight the importance of building good study habits. Sometimes, cheating can take many forms and one of the most common is plagiarism. Plagiarism can sometimes be accidental, but the consequences for it apply independently of this.
It is crucial to understand that putting in effort and hard work is more valuable than cheating. Indeed, some moments might come with low inspiration and motivation.
But finding motivation in these moments and understanding how to do it is way better than cheating. It is better to seek help from professionals or colleagues when you feel you need it and not cheat or plagiarize.
Because the consequences you will suffer are so severe that will affect your reputation and credibility. And it would be wiser to deliver a paper that might not be so excellent but keep your credibility higher than one that is excellent but involves cheating.
It is crucial to build good study habits like planning the work on your projects, and your time too so that you steer away from cheating.
Final Thought
The consequences of cheating in academic life are severe. In the short term, you will get a bad grade and might even face suspension or expulsion. Your reputation and credibility will severely be affected. In the long term, it might be challenging to find a job when you need to share the university record with your grades.
At the same time, your credibility in the workplace will be affected too. It is thus crucial to build good study habits so that you stay away from cheating. It is your future at stake, so aim toward making positive changes in your behavior.
