UMC suburban college student lied about background to become prestigious Rhodes Scholar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn likely has enough on her to turn her into the feds for pell grant fraud and also admissions fraud, which could be used to strip her of all Penn degrees, not just the master’s. I wish they would. Why let this scammer defile the integrity of the institution.

But they didn’t do that, did they? Just proving that your “likely has enough” claim is full of crap.

She claimed a lawyer at Penn threatened to turn her in for pell grant fraud.

Which she did engage in. Go read the pleadings. Why is everyone here trying to defend her? Go read the pleadings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A judge has denied UPenn’s request to have the Fierceton case moved from Common Pleas Court. See the linked article from Big Trial, “Penn Loses Round One in ‘Pillow Talk’ Conspiracy Case”:

https://www.bigtrial.net/2022/01/penn-loses-round-one-in-pillow-talk.html

This is no big deal one way or the other. It is normal to file a motion to remove, and normal for it to be denied. The histrionics used in this blog post are so over the top that it is impossible to take it seriously.

I agree. Fierceton might have actually been better off in commerce court. No trial. They could settle and close it out. Instead lot of publicity and Fierceton looks even worse. I do agree something up with the Inquirer though. But that’s on the newspaper not UPenn. .

How would Fierceton be better off in Commerce Court?

If she had simply wanted to settle Penn offered her a settlement in which they were willing to “give” her the degree which she had already earned and sell out their “Honor” Code violation for a mere $4000 bucks and an apology.

She obviously doesn’t want a “settlement”. Like it or not, agree or disagree, she is a woman on a crusade. The whole point of this suit is that she wants a public trial. She’s not going to admit that she was wrong as Penn wants. Let the chips fall where they may.

DP Universities don't give degrees. They grant them, and according to specific criteria. Universities are held to a standard in this as well, especially when you are charged with granting a degree that enables one to get licensed in a field where ethics, truthfulness, and being in touch with reality on a regular basis are a must.

Doing the work is sometimes a necessary but not sufficient criterion for actually earning the degree. And yes, if there is an honor component that was in the initial matriculation agreement that she entered into, it's not just kind of a good idea. It, too, is a requirement.

I agree with you on the licensure component, which normally require an endorsement from the degree granting institution. If they have reason to withhold their endorsement when licensure is at stake, that would be the time for them to do it.

But withhold a degree for which they have already said she has met all the requirements? And which they’re willing to grant her if she’ll just apologize and pay them $4K? Please stop with all the “holier than thou” BS. An MSW is an academic degree, not a measure of character. They’ve been blackmailing her all along to get the apology so they can get themselves off the hook. That’s what they really want - for her to take the blame so they can say “it’s not our fault.”

Not only are they withholding her master’s degree, but they threatened to rescind her bachelor’s degree. As an institution, they’ve already produced world class liars and have not threatened to rescind their UPenn degrees - people like Donald Trump and Michael Milken. Talk about fraud, Milken went to jail for it and was then hired to teach at one of our top tier universities. And Trump pardoned him despite the fact that he was back to his old truck and was under investigation from the SEC. Did sanctimonious Penn step in and threaten to rescind the degree they granted to either of these two disgraceful characters? But MacKenzie Fierceton’s behaviour was beyond the pale, right? Couldn’t be tolerated. Her real sin was that she made them look bad because they had been complicit in everything she did.

Didn't I read that they'd waive the $4000? They wouldn't waive the apology. The MSW degree is the endorsement. The granting of the degree is the endorsement that she has met the criteria, including whatever ethics and honor code they are working under. Penn is also CSWE-accredited and has to maintain that accreditation, and that comes with responsibilities to the accuracy of records and fulfilment of obligations to protect the field.

Did you think the a credentialing department calls 7 years later and asks to speak to someone for a reference for someone applying to work as a social worker? The degree is the reference, and she did not earn an unqualified reference from them. She can lie, omit, change names, whatever, but she won't get out of this one.

As to her bachelor's degree, I don't know what she violated, lied about, or made up out of whole cloth for that one, so I can't speak to it.

I await the trial and the process of discovery, though.

I haven’t read anything about Penn waiving the $4K. I did read that they waived the retroactive semester suspension. Maybe that’s what you’re confusing it with.

The MSW is NOT the endorsement. I applied for s similar license and was required to have the degree granting institution submit a letter of endorsement in addition to the transcripts. All that the university has to do is put a letter in her file denying the endorsement, which will be activated at the time that such an endorsement is requested.

Again, an MSW is an academic achievement, not an endorsement of character. Penn stated in writing that she had met all the requirements for the degree. The idea that she should be denied the degree retroactively is ludicrous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A judge has denied UPenn’s request to have the Fierceton case moved from Common Pleas Court. See the linked article from Big Trial, “Penn Loses Round One in ‘Pillow Talk’ Conspiracy Case”:

https://www.bigtrial.net/2022/01/penn-loses-round-one-in-pillow-talk.html

This is no big deal one way or the other. It is normal to file a motion to remove, and normal for it to be denied. The histrionics used in this blog post are so over the top that it is impossible to take it seriously.

I agree. Fierceton might have actually been better off in commerce court. No trial. They could settle and close it out. Instead lot of publicity and Fierceton looks even worse. I do agree something up with the Inquirer though. But that’s on the newspaper not UPenn. .

How would Fierceton be better off in Commerce Court?

If she had simply wanted to settle Penn offered her a settlement in which they were willing to “give” her the degree which she had already earned and sell out their “Honor” Code violation for a mere $4000 bucks and an apology.

She obviously doesn’t want a “settlement”. Like it or not, agree or disagree, she is a woman on a crusade. The whole point of this suit is that she wants a public trial. She’s not going to admit that she was wrong as Penn wants. Let the chips fall where they may.

DP Universities don't give degrees. They grant them, and according to specific criteria. Universities are held to a standard in this as well, especially when you are charged with granting a degree that enables one to get licensed in a field where ethics, truthfulness, and being in touch with reality on a regular basis are a must.

Doing the work is sometimes a necessary but not sufficient criterion for actually earning the degree. And yes, if there is an honor component that was in the initial matriculation agreement that she entered into, it's not just kind of a good idea. It, too, is a requirement.

I agree with you on the licensure component, which normally require an endorsement from the degree granting institution. If they have reason to withhold their endorsement when licensure is at stake, that would be the time for them to do it.

But withhold a degree for which they have already said she has met all the requirements? And which they’re willing to grant her if she’ll just apologize and pay them $4K? Please stop with all the “holier than thou” BS. An MSW is an academic degree, not a measure of character. They’ve been blackmailing her all along to get the apology so they can get themselves off the hook. That’s what they really want - for her to take the blame so they can say “it’s not our fault.”

Not only are they withholding her master’s degree, but they threatened to rescind her bachelor’s degree. As an institution, they’ve already produced world class liars and have not threatened to rescind their UPenn degrees - people like Donald Trump and Michael Milken. Talk about fraud, Milken went to jail for it and was then hired to teach at one of our top tier universities. And Trump pardoned him despite the fact that he was back to his old truck and was under investigation from the SEC. Did sanctimonious Penn step in and threaten to rescind the degree they granted to either of these two disgraceful characters? But MacKenzie Fierceton’s behaviour was beyond the pale, right? Couldn’t be tolerated. Her real sin was that she made them look bad because they had been complicit in everything she did.

Didn't I read that they'd waive the $4000? They wouldn't waive the apology. The MSW degree is the endorsement. The granting of the degree is the endorsement that she has met the criteria, including whatever ethics and honor code they are working under. Penn is also CSWE-accredited and has to maintain that accreditation, and that comes with responsibilities to the accuracy of records and fulfilment of obligations to protect the field.

Did you think the a credentialing department calls 7 years later and asks to speak to someone for a reference for someone applying to work as a social worker? The degree is the reference, and she did not earn an unqualified reference from them. She can lie, omit, change names, whatever, but she won't get out of this one.

As to her bachelor's degree, I don't know what she violated, lied about, or made up out of whole cloth for that one, so I can't speak to it.

I await the trial and the process of discovery, though.

I haven’t read anything about Penn waiving the $4K. I did read that they waived the retroactive semester suspension. Maybe that’s what you’re confusing it with.

The MSW is NOT the endorsement. I applied for s similar license and was required to have the degree granting institution submit a letter of endorsement in addition to the transcripts. All that the university has to do is put a letter in her file denying the endorsement, which will be activated at the time that such an endorsement is requested.

Again, an MSW is an academic achievement, not an endorsement of character. Penn stated in writing that she had met all the requirements for the degree. The idea that she should be denied the degree retroactively is ludicrous.

Not sure you're right about this. They can't deny her B.A. since it was already awarded. But I don't think the MSW has been awarded yet, so they wouldn't be denying anything "retroactively."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A student can go to private school and be homeless.

Of course they can, it's usually because they are at the school on some type of scholarship program.

However, this specific case doesn't read like that AT ALL, and it's a ridiculous assertion to make with regards to Mackenzie:

"Fierceton attended Whitfield, a small, private school in St. Louis that prides itself on cultivating “ethical, confident, successful” students. The student-teacher ratio is eight to one, tuition a little under $30,000, and the school boasts that 100 percent of its graduates are accepted into college."

"and included photos from her high-school yearbook of Fierceton skydiving, riding a horse, and whitewater rafting."

[Anonymous]

I imagine in 60+ pages that the below was discussed already, so I apologize in advance if it was...

The mother's account of what occurred that night sounds absolutely RIDICULOUS (gum stuck in her hair, so we decided to remove it while standing on the staircase?!?).
I have no doubt that Mackenzie went through something traumatic that night, whatever it was that happened.

However, its been proven by the investigation that Mackenzie heavily embellished her injuries on her essays (ie; she had no breathing tube, she had no braces (as she had no broken bones) her feeding tube was due to "behavioral" issues and it thre feeding tube wasn't medically necessary, etc).

There was one red flag that stood out though...

When I was in high school, a close friend of mine in went through something similar.
So many families in our school stepped up and sent letters to the court requesting to assist in any way they could & they offered for her to live with them and become responsible for her.

The family court went so far as to offer the families that applied, the same amount of money that a foster family would receive monthly for her food, housing clothing, etc (none of the families that applied took them up on their offer though).

From that terrible evening & for the next 3 months, she lived with my family (my parents, myself (16) twin sisters (13) & brother (10).

We shared my room, she slept in my bed right next to me, and she truly felt like another sibling to everyone in the house (which was the close knit support she needed after going through such a traumatic event).

Ultimately, her case workers thought that it would benefit her to have a space that was all her own... her own room, where she could just be.

Unfortunately, with 4 kids already, we couldn't provide that for her, so, she went to permanently live with another close friend who lived down the street.
It worked out perfectly, because our friend is an only child so they were better equipped to give her the individualized attention & support that she really needed, which ended up being the best place for her to heal & thrive at her own pace, comfortably, and in peace.

I so admire the way that all of our parents banded together the way that they did, because it was always about what was in HER best interest.

I mention my friend, because the case worker and family judge assigned to her case, were thrilled that so many families wanted to take her in & become responsible for her -- they made it abundantly clear that they without a doubt did not want to place her in the foster care system.

They went as far as to run background checks on every parent or adult living in the potential homes, because they so wanted to keep her out of the system.

That being said, we were a solidly working class neighborhood, mostly blue collar workers, not wealthy by any means, but what our town lacked in monetary wealth, we made up for with an abundance of love & rallying support for everyone in the community.

The judge did make a point of telling all of the parents, that they would exhaust every resource possible before even contemplating putting her in the foster care at the age of 16/17.

So, I find it curious that in neither the solidly middle/upper class community where she lived, nor at the elite private school she attended, that none of Mackenzie's extended family, friends/parents of her friends, stepped up to offer to take her in... even temporarily?

Rather they would allow her to enter a foster care system, which is widely known and habitually accused of being untrustworthy, broken, abusive and in DESPERATE need of reform?

It makes me wonder why nobody else... friends nor family, would step in to take her in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I imagine in 60+ pages that the below was discussed already, so I apologize in advance if it was...

The mother's account of what occurred that night sounds absolutely RIDICULOUS (gum stuck in her hair, so we decided to remove it while standing on the staircase?!?).
I have no doubt that Mackenzie went through something traumatic that night, whatever it was that happened.

However, its been proven by the investigation that Mackenzie heavily embellished her injuries on her essays (ie; she had no breathing tube, she had no braces (as she had no broken bones) her feeding tube was due to "behavioral" issues and it thre feeding tube wasn't medically necessary, etc).

There was one red flag that stood out though...

When I was in high school, a close friend of mine in went through something similar.
So many families in our school stepped up and sent letters to the court requesting to assist in any way they could & they offered for her to live with them and become responsible for her.

The family court went so far as to offer the families that applied, the same amount of money that a foster family would receive monthly for her food, housing clothing, etc (none of the families that applied took them up on their offer though).

From that terrible evening & for the next 3 months, she lived with my family (my parents, myself (16) twin sisters (13) & brother (10).

We shared my room, she slept in my bed right next to me, and she truly felt like another sibling to everyone in the house (which was the close knit support she needed after going through such a traumatic event).

Ultimately, her case workers thought that it would benefit her to have a space that was all her own... her own room, where she could just be.

Unfortunately, with 4 kids already, we couldn't provide that for her, so, she went to permanently live with another close friend who lived down the street.
It worked out perfectly, because our friend is an only child so they were better equipped to give her the individualized attention & support that she really needed, which ended up being the best place for her to heal & thrive at her own pace, comfortably, and in peace.

I so admire the way that all of our parents banded together the way that they did, because it was always about what was in HER best interest.

I mention my friend, because the case worker and family judge assigned to her case, were thrilled that so many families wanted to take her in & become responsible for her -- they made it abundantly clear that they without a doubt did not want to place her in the foster care system.

They went as far as to run background checks on every parent or adult living in the potential homes, because they so wanted to keep her out of the system.

That being said, we were a solidly working class neighborhood, mostly blue collar workers, not wealthy by any means, but what our town lacked in monetary wealth, we made up for with an abundance of love & rallying support for everyone in the community.

The judge did make a point of telling all of the parents, that they would exhaust every resource possible before even contemplating putting her in the foster care at the age of 16/17.

So, I find it curious that in neither the solidly middle/upper class community where she lived, nor at the elite private school she attended, that none of Mackenzie's extended family, friends/parents of her friends, stepped up to offer to take her in... even temporarily?

Rather they would allow her to enter a foster care system, which is widely known and habitually accused of being untrustworthy, broken, abusive and in DESPERATE need of reform?

It makes me wonder why nobody else... friends nor family, would step in to take her in?

well duh? That would have completely ruined her narrative. You said it yourself, she embellished the story in significant ways and the scenario you describe would have evoked no pity for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People sue because they thought it was a sure thing and they are enraged at someone taking it away from them. Someone has to pay, and it isn't going to be them.

Until, of course, it is. Suing = discovery.

Letting the sun shine on it would be the perfect defense, except for the fact that the sun is shining on the lies. And the truth is an absolute defense to libel claims.

+1

I think there is an element of magical thinking going on in both cases.

I actually think she sued, knowing she’d lose, to make Penn look bad. Just look at all the dirty laundry she’s aired! The wrongful death suit got way more publicity this way than it did on its own. Penn’s admissions practices look shoddy, and its lauded class mobility stats look to be cynically manipulated. And anyone with aspirations to be a Rhodes scholar knows now, as they didn’t before, that Rhodes must look on applicants supported by Penn with deep distrust.

And what does she lose? An MSW? Does she even really care about reforming foster care? Probably not.

Even assuming she gets nothing from the lawsuit, she walks away with a bachelor’s from an Ivy League university (summa!). Changes her last name again — she’s already had three — and disappears into a sea of Mackenzies.

Whatever the official fee arrangement, you know she’s not paying the bill for the lawyers. When the court rules against her, she’ll just add the judge/jury to the list of people who victimize her. And she never has to apologize. From her point of view suing is win/win, even given a 100% chance that she loses in court.

I think Penn comes out looking good here, not bad, other than highlighting its ludicrous first-generation definition. But otherwise I agree with you.

I do not think Fierceton will be able to easily escape this for employers that actually do proper reference checks. But you are right she will probably change her name again.

Perhaps, but it highlights that Penn was sloppy with the initial admissions check and bought the whole "I'm a victim" story without checking. And then went on to put her in a Master's program. AND support her for the Rhodes.
The Higher Ed Community is watching because there has been far too much emphasis put on identity politics, victim stories, "I have overcome" stuff and not enough on academic achievement. Many feel this to be the case. And here Penn is caught being duped not once, but thrice or maybe even more times by this young woman.[b]

What are you talking about?

It sounds like you have a real axe to grind with Penn based on your comments.

This girl graduated from high school as student body president, straight A student, captain of her lacrosse team, she won a leadership award her senior year, made all-district on her varsity soccer team, played basketball, ran cross-country, and earned a third-degree black belt in taekwondo.

A math teacher praised her “impressive depth of understanding,” and a history teacher marveled at how she “excelled in all classes and all activities.”

She would have been accepted to Penn regardless of her sob story, based on merit alone.

And if the "the Higher Ed Community is watching"... good!

She would've gotten in on "academic achievement" and didnt need the "I have overcome" stuff.

That doesn't make Penn look bad at all... but it does say something about her character.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I imagine in 60+ pages that the below was discussed already, so I apologize in advance if it was...

The mother's account of what occurred that night sounds absolutely RIDICULOUS (gum stuck in her hair, so we decided to remove it while standing on the staircase?!?).
I have no doubt that Mackenzie went through something traumatic that night, whatever it was that happened.

However, its been proven by the investigation that Mackenzie heavily embellished her injuries on her essays (ie; she had no breathing tube, she had no braces (as she had no broken bones) her feeding tube was due to "behavioral" issues and it thre feeding tube wasn't medically necessary, etc).

There was one red flag that stood out though...

When I was in high school, a close friend of mine in went through something similar.
So many families in our school stepped up and sent letters to the court requesting to assist in any way they could & they offered for her to live with them and become responsible for her.

The family court went so far as to offer the families that applied, the same amount of money that a foster family would receive monthly for her food, housing clothing, etc (none of the families that applied took them up on their offer though).

From that terrible evening & for the next 3 months, she lived with my family (my parents, myself (16) twin sisters (13) & brother (10).

We shared my room, she slept in my bed right next to me, and she truly felt like another sibling to everyone in the house (which was the close knit support she needed after going through such a traumatic event).

Ultimately, her case workers thought that it would benefit her to have a space that was all her own... her own room, where she could just be.

Unfortunately, with 4 kids already, we couldn't provide that for her, so, she went to permanently live with another close friend who lived down the street.
It worked out perfectly, because our friend is an only child so they were better equipped to give her the individualized attention & support that she really needed, which ended up being the best place for her to heal & thrive at her own pace, comfortably, and in peace.

I so admire the way that all of our parents banded together the way that they did, because it was always about what was in HER best interest.

I mention my friend, because the case worker and family judge assigned to her case, were thrilled that so many families wanted to take her in & become responsible for her -- they made it abundantly clear that they without a doubt did not want to place her in the foster care system.

They went as far as to run background checks on every parent or adult living in the potential homes, because they so wanted to keep her out of the system.

That being said, we were a solidly working class neighborhood, mostly blue collar workers, not wealthy by any means, but what our town lacked in monetary wealth, we made up for with an abundance of love & rallying support for everyone in the community.

The judge did make a point of telling all of the parents, that they would exhaust every resource possible before even contemplating putting her in the foster care at the age of 16/17.

So, I find it curious that in neither the solidly middle/upper class community where she lived, nor at the elite private school she attended, that none of Mackenzie's extended family, friends/parents of her friends, stepped up to offer to take her in... even temporarily?

Rather they would allow her to enter a foster care system, which is widely known and habitually accused of being untrustworthy, broken, abusive and in DESPERATE need of reform?

It makes me wonder why nobody else... friends nor family, would step in to take her in?

well duh? That would have completely ruined her narrative. You said it yourself, she embellished the story in significant ways and the scenario you describe would have evoked no pity for her.

Lol, fair enough. 😊

But my question wasn't about the essay, I wanted to know why in REAL LIFE nobody in her life stepped up to take her in?

In her case, you have these teachers providing heaping amounts of praise on her, but not even they stepped in -- in my friend's case, 3 teachers applied to be her temporary guardian.

It makes me wonder if people saw these character flaws in Mackenzie early on, and decided not to get involved?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I imagine in 60+ pages that the below was discussed already, so I apologize in advance if it was...

The mother's account of what occurred that night sounds absolutely RIDICULOUS (gum stuck in her hair, so we decided to remove it while standing on the staircase?!?).
I have no doubt that Mackenzie went through something traumatic that night, whatever it was that happened.

However, its been proven by the investigation that Mackenzie heavily embellished her injuries on her essays (ie; she had no breathing tube, she had no braces (as she had no broken bones) her feeding tube was due to "behavioral" issues and it thre feeding tube wasn't medically necessary, etc).

There was one red flag that stood out though...

When I was in high school, a close friend of mine in went through something similar.
So many families in our school stepped up and sent letters to the court requesting to assist in any way they could & they offered for her to live with them and become responsible for her.

The family court went so far as to offer the families that applied, the same amount of money that a foster family would receive monthly for her food, housing clothing, etc (none of the families that applied took them up on their offer though).

From that terrible evening & for the next 3 months, she lived with my family (my parents, myself (16) twin sisters (13) & brother (10).

We shared my room, she slept in my bed right next to me, and she truly felt like another sibling to everyone in the house (which was the close knit support she needed after going through such a traumatic event).

Ultimately, her case workers thought that it would benefit her to have a space that was all her own... her own room, where she could just be.

Unfortunately, with 4 kids already, we couldn't provide that for her, so, she went to permanently live with another close friend who lived down the street.
It worked out perfectly, because our friend is an only child so they were better equipped to give her the individualized attention & support that she really needed, which ended up being the best place for her to heal & thrive at her own pace, comfortably, and in peace.

I so admire the way that all of our parents banded together the way that they did, because it was always about what was in HER best interest.

I mention my friend, because the case worker and family judge assigned to her case, were thrilled that so many families wanted to take her in & become responsible for her -- they made it abundantly clear that they without a doubt did not want to place her in the foster care system.

They went as far as to run background checks on every parent or adult living in the potential homes, because they so wanted to keep her out of the system.

That being said, we were a solidly working class neighborhood, mostly blue collar workers, not wealthy by any means, but what our town lacked in monetary wealth, we made up for with an abundance of love & rallying support for everyone in the community.

The judge did make a point of telling all of the parents, that they would exhaust every resource possible before even contemplating putting her in the foster care at the age of 16/17.

So, I find it curious that in neither the solidly middle/upper class community where she lived, nor at the elite private school she attended, that none of Mackenzie's extended family, friends/parents of her friends, stepped up to offer to take her in... even temporarily?

Rather they would allow her to enter a foster care system, which is widely known and habitually accused of being untrustworthy, broken, abusive and in DESPERATE need of reform?

It makes me wonder why nobody else... friends nor family, would step in to take her in?

I wondered the same thing. In my experience with teens, the foster system looks for alternative placement. It is unfortunate that didn't happen here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People sue because they thought it was a sure thing and they are enraged at someone taking it away from them. Someone has to pay, and it isn't going to be them.

Until, of course, it is. Suing = discovery.

Letting the sun shine on it would be the perfect defense, except for the fact that the sun is shining on the lies. And the truth is an absolute defense to libel claims.

+1

I think there is an element of magical thinking going on in both cases.

I actually think she sued, knowing she’d lose, to make Penn look bad. Just look at all the dirty laundry she’s aired! The wrongful death suit got way more publicity this way than it did on its own. Penn’s admissions practices look shoddy, and its lauded class mobility stats look to be cynically manipulated. And anyone with aspirations to be a Rhodes scholar knows now, as they didn’t before, that Rhodes must look on applicants supported by Penn with deep distrust.

And what does she lose? An MSW? Does she even really care about reforming foster care? Probably not.

Even assuming she gets nothing from the lawsuit, she walks away with a bachelor’s from an Ivy League university (summa!). Changes her last name again — she’s already had three — and disappears into a sea of Mackenzies.

Whatever the official fee arrangement, you know she’s not paying the bill for the lawyers. When the court rules against her, she’ll just add the judge/jury to the list of people who victimize her. And she never has to apologize. From her point of view suing is win/win, even given a 100% chance that she loses in court.

I think Penn comes out looking good here, not bad, other than highlighting its ludicrous first-generation definition. But otherwise I agree with you.

I do not think Fierceton will be able to easily escape this for employers that actually do proper reference checks. But you are right she will probably change her name again.

Perhaps, but it highlights that Penn was sloppy with the initial admissions check and bought the whole "I'm a victim" story without checking. And then went on to put her in a Master's program. AND support her for the Rhodes.
The Higher Ed Community is watching because there has been far too much emphasis put on identity politics, victim stories, "I have overcome" stuff and not enough on academic achievement. Many feel this to be the case. And here Penn is caught being duped not once, but thrice or maybe even more times by this young woman.[b]

What are you talking about?

It sounds like you have a real axe to grind with Penn based on your comments.

This girl graduated from high school as student body president, straight A student, captain of her lacrosse team, she won a leadership award her senior year, made all-district on her varsity soccer team, played basketball, ran cross-country, and earned a third-degree black belt in taekwondo.

A math teacher praised her “impressive depth of understanding,” and a history teacher marveled at how she “excelled in all classes and all activities.”

She would have been accepted to Penn regardless of her sob story, based on merit alone.

And if the "the Higher Ed Community is watching"... good!

She would've gotten in on "academic achievement" and didnt need the "I have overcome" stuff.

That doesn't make Penn look bad at all... but it does say something about her character.

What were her SAT and SAT subject test scores?

[Anonymous]

For the people saying she’d have gotten into penn on her own merits from a private school where she got straight As, was an athlete and student leader — that really is NOT a guarantee. I know a kid from a big 3 with leadership, perfect scores etc who ended up at RIce… top school, but not ivy and not penn. also, she absolutely embellished. Here are are own words: https://www.inquirer.com/education/rhodes-scholar-university-of-pennsylvania-mackenzie-fierceton-lafayette-20201122.html?outputType=amp

It’s a lie with a kernel of truth but embellished so much it’s false and a lie.

[Anonymous]

I also agree w the above posters about her ending up in foster care and not with family or friends —- either she orchestrated the whole thing to be in foster care for whatever reason or she’s so completely psychotic no friend or family would touch the situation with a ten foot pole out of concerns she claim abuse in their care or otherwise twist the situation.

[Anonymous]

Whether she’d got into an Ivy or not is speculation, she got it for 100% free! Plus a free master’s degree and free study abroad semesters. That’s like $400,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whether she’d got into an Ivy or not is speculation, she got it for 100% free! Plus a free master’s degree and free study abroad semesters. That’s like $400,000.

What is so interesting to me is that she must have covered her bets by applying to the other highly regarded Ivys. And they either rejected her (maybe they smelled a rat), or they accepted her but she chose Penn. She's a manipulator for sure, but Penn is highly complicit in all this to be sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How come all of her defenders ignore the part where she tried to scam more financial aid from Penn by claiming she supported a special needs half-sister who actually lives with her estranged dad?

Where was that reported? Do you have a link or a reference to a source?

Read this part of the complaint:

29 “Additionally, I partially support my younger sister, who will be starting college soon. I will then have the additional strain of working to put her through school and ensure her basic living expenses are met. Because she also has special needs, additional resources such as medication, testing, learning aids, and more create further expenses throughout this process.” She wrote the same in her 2018-2019 PFAS form. Ms. Shaw told OSC that Mackenzie has not provided, and that there was no reason to believe it would become necessary to provide, “basic living expenses” or medical costs for Cat (who does have learning challenges). Asked about this, Mackenzie told OSC (and it was separately confirmed) that Mackenzie set up a 529 account for her sister to use towards higher education. OSC understands that the account has approximately $6,000 in it at this point. According to Mackenzie, the seed money for this account may have come from her biological father, although she does not quite remember.

Still waiting for the defenders to spin this ^^^^^^^

She's a pathological lying fraud. Penn ought to take back her bachelor's too.