To be jealous?

[couldthisbe]

I'm in my third year of uni, I completed a HNC and HND at college and transferred directly into 3rd year of uni.

I met a woman in my course my first year of college who I have became so so close with, she is a lovely person and we have formed a strong friendship out with college/uni. It just so happened we decided to do the same course.

I've been struggling a bit with uni and the lack of guidance we have been given along with it all being online. However, I like to get my assessments done early where my friend is a last minute person.

The thing is, I submitted my first assessment 2 weeks ago, 3 days early and my friend was still trying to complete hers the day of submission. She asked if I could send her what I had submitted so she could tell she was going down the right path, which I did.

Results came back today, I got an A - 72 % which initially I was elated about, I really struggled with it and had no help at all. However, my friend got 90 %.

Of course I am happy for her but can't help it makes my grade a lesser one, as I put so much work into it and sent my work across to her which she openly admits she just changed into her own words. I'm struggling to understand how she got such a substantially higher mark than me.

AIBU to feel like my grade is less deserved?

I’d get her to send you a copy of her work and give it a good read. Maybe she did just change some words around but it sounds like there must have been something additional shes added and it might help you in future knowing the things they will look for to give a higher mark.

Obviously don’t send her any more of your work in future!

You enabled plagiarism and she plagiarised your work. If your work is externally moderated or uploaded and run through your provider's plagiarism software you are both seriously in trouble.

I think you would be better off admitting that you shared only to help (as reference material) ASAP. Knowing and not saying anything now will reflect guilt later.

OP in the nicest possible way please do not send your friend your work again. You both run the risk of being disciplined for collusion.

This. You're lucky that you weren't both done for academic misconduct. Hopefully you've learned a valuable lesson for the future!

I had this issue at university. I made amazing revision notes and was out on the spot when a friend asked to photocopy them. She sailed through her exams with minimum effort and I was resentful, my notes took weeks of work, and she hadn’t even attended many of the lectures they were based around.

But, more importantly in this case your friend has plagiarised your work. This is a bit deal, and you could both get in trouble. Don’t share your work again,

I would definitely take a look at her work and use this as a learning experience for you. I agree her score is much higher than yours and it would be good for you to understand why. HOWEVER you got an awesome grade through your own hard work - nothing to be jealous of.

Well done on your grade!

Ask to see your friend’s work so you can see where you could improve...It’s the least she could do seeing as she saw your work and she shouldn’t mind you asking. If she has a problem, don’t send your work in the future. Friends shouldn’t mind helping each other out.

@BayandBlonde

I am surprised the university are not using software like Turnitin to stop Plagiarism

Have you actually seen her grade of 90%, or is that what she told you?

When I was uni 90% didn't exist. A 70% or higher was a first anyway!

How did 90% not exist

Eeeek be soooo careful that you don't get in trouble for plagiarism!!! Don't sent people your work ever ... shes literally used your work but probably worded it a little better and maybe even noticed some grammar mistakes that she's amended therfore got a higher mark than you..

90% did not “exist” when I was at university. OP’s grade is a First class honour, and earned by the sound of it.

90% is ridiculous. Her friend ought to forward it on to the Nobel committee. Missing a trick obvs 🙄

Hardly anyone got Firsts when I was a student.
Now practically anyone can do so it seems.

OP don’t share your work. And don’t announce you’ve handed it in pre-deadline.

You must know you shouldn't have sent her your work.

Yeah I won't be sending her any of my work going forward to be honest. It makes me question if I'm completely missing the whole point of the course if the grades I am getting are so low.

I feel like a fool for sharing my work, I really am kicking myself and she is being all smug about it whilst I am here concerned about my future and whether I am cracked up for uni after all.

You got an A. Think you need to calm down a bit

@couldthisbe

Yeah I won't be sending her any of my work going forward to be honest. It makes me question if I'm completely missing the whole point of the course if the grades I am getting are so low.

I feel like a fool for sharing my work, I really am kicking myself and she is being all smug about it whilst I am here concerned about my future and whether I am cracked up for uni after all.

I know it’s difficult to see but your grades are not “so low” - really. Like others have said, never ever share your work, you run the risk of severe sanctions in the future, never mind the effect it’s already had on your self-esteem and self-belief.

Chalk this one up to experience and move on from it, feeling lucky that it’s not been a hell of a lot worse for you both. Keep putting the effort in yourself, as the endgame is so close now. You know you’re not missing the point of the course.

Academic malpractice. You are risking your degree.

I'm sorry but to me - 72 percent is just not good enough.

Could I really get in to so much trouble by sharing my work? I've never been told not to share my work with others.

Yes, you can get into trouble for it. Because if the two essays flag up on the system, how is the university to know that you either didn't collude, or that you didn't plagiarise her.

And if 72% isn't a good enough mark in your mind, then focus less on comparing yourself with others and more on implementing the feedback you received with your assignment.

@SunscreenCentral

90% did not “exist” when I was at university. OP’s grade is a First class honour, and earned by the sound of it.

90% is ridiculous. Her friend ought to forward it on to the Nobel committee. Missing a trick obvs 🙄

Hardly anyone got Firsts when I was a student.
Now practically anyone can do so it seems.

OP don’t share your work. And don’t announce you’ve handed it in pre-deadline.

Alas this is not the case for all institutions. I'm doing my degree through the OU. Their tier system is different. Despite consistently achieving an average of 78% so far (180 credits completed to date), I'm not on track for a first. To get a first with the OU, you need to finish with an average of 85 or above.

(And I got 95 on one assignment, so high marks are achievable)

I can’t believe you’ve done all those qualifications and never been told about plagiarism.

Do not share your work again. Collaboratively work on structure, and share basic research, but do not share your essay.

As soon as you submit any work it goes into the database that Turnitin use and is searchable when your friend submits and will flag up on the system.

There are tools available on the internet that let you change words of sentences without any effort.

You’ve been very foolish.

You really haven't been warned about plagiarism ? I would re read your student guidance notes.
For such a large marking difference frankly she has only used your essay as a loose basis in any sort of accadenic marking scheme she has made major changes for such a large difference especially at the top end of the scale

Of course I know about plagiarism and the seriousness of it but I wasn't giving her my work thinking she was going to copy it and just rejig words about (and obviously add her own points to get such a high mark), I thought she was just wanting to see how I'd attacked it, for structure etc.

It was her that said she just copied it and changed words and she has since reiterated that she couldn't do the course without me.

Anyway, lesson learned, but I don't appreciate posters being condescending, of course I know what plagiarism is.

OP I mark undergrad essays and a 72 is good. Fully achievable but definitely not handed out unless work of a very good standard. I think you need to question why you don't consider 72% a good grade. Also if at university your essays would have been flagged for a high turnitin score and examined further. Did she definitely get that grade? I think our highest mark we can give is 87%

You've got an A.

Next time, ask her to see her work. 72 vs her 90% is a big jump- maybe she didn't copy much. Just ask her that you would like to see her essay so you can get an idea on what you can do better.

Some people are blasé about sharing their work, some people are very rigid. Not only that, people think sharing their work is helping. Next time, if your uncomfortable about it, just don't send it to her, just make an excuse like "your not finish"... or just be honest.

Bigger problem than the grades is the fact that you are in third year and don't know not to share work.
I sometimes looked at each other's work with my friend AFTER the grades came in to see where we went right and wrong so we know for next coursework, but I eould never risk my education, even if it was my sibling, by giving someone my work before. And I think it's pretty shitty to request it.

To add, 72 IS a good grade and you should be very proud of it. Where I was no one got over 84 on essay type work.