Please close it!
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In an attempt to pull this back into realm of college applicationsā¦
I am interested in how this topic dovetails with the thread on the ethics of backing out of ED, and what is considered acceptable behavior in an age of holistic admissions.
The argument that the current admissions landscape invites and rewards unethical behavior resonates with me. I generally am a supporter of holistic admissions, test optional, etc, but that presumes people act honestly. If that baseline doesnāt exist, then I see the need for more objective measures. But those come with their own ethical perils and potential for gaming. Nonetheless, as soon as you evaluate someoneās backstory as part of their worthiness, as opposed to just āare they capable of doing the workā, the value judgements abound and the onus is on the school to do the impossible work of checking credibility. And then, hoo boy, the slippery slope argument of āpeople with rough pasts should be cut slackā creates all kinds of issues.
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Over the past year, as I sought to update my knowledge of the US college admission process, Iāve gotten the sense that what āsellsā with AOs at top schools are compelling narratives that not only indicate significant hardships/setbacks but that the story is tied neatly with a bow - akin to a movie with the quintessential happy ending. If thatās the formula for success, I can imagine that it would invite embellishment and even outright lies.
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She took the trauma from an ugly divorce and created a narrative that under scrutiny from U Penn and the Rhodes Foundation was viewed as false.
The crazy part is it worked. The only mistake was letting her story get in a newspaper. She received an undergrad and masters from U Penn for free and is off to Oxford for her doctorate.
There is almost no chance someone will get caught lying on their app, and the colleges seem fine with that. Heck, U Penn is cool with calling her first gen even though her mom has an MD from Iowa.
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I wouldnāt be so sure of that. Saying she was āadmittedā for a doctorate is not at all the same as saying she received funding. These are handled completely differently in the UK (and Rhodes can be one of those funding mechanisms).
It seems her address for service is still in Philadelphia. That would indicate she didnāt go to Oxford last fall as originally planned. I donāt see any likelihood of Oxford giving her funding after the Rhodes scholarship was withdrawn.
So my guess is sheās stuck in Philadelphia with no job and no masters degree and thought sheād get a quick settlement from Penn which now seems very unlikely. Pretty devastating for someone who seemingly has won all of the glittering prizes during college.
Here is the rebuttal to the allegations raised by UPenn and by many posters here. It comes from her faculty advisers, Anne Norton and Rogers Smith.
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Shutting down a debate without trying to understand the other point of view or accepting that there may be differences in opinions by claiming the moral high ground has unfortunately become the predominant way of communicating in this society.
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This part from the original article leads me to believe she is studying at Oxford
Fierceton was admitted to a doctoral program at Oxford despite losing her Rhodes scholarship and despite not yet having received her masterās. Sheās studying the foster-care-to-prison pipeline, just as she originally planned.
Also this part makes it sound like U Penn is planning to give her the masters but is considering a note on her transcript
The student-conduct office recently recommended issuing Fiercetonās degree, but imposing a retroactive suspension ā essentially a note in her academic file indicating that she had been disciplined.
Even after being caught her punishments are pretty light. She has undergrad and masters degrees from U Penn for free and is on her way to a doctorate from Oxford. Another name change before she finishes Oxford will solve the problem of future google searches dredging up her past, and the legal settlement with U Penn might result in nothing on her transcript.
The worst outcome from lying this whole time has happened, and she still gets a lot of benefits.
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To me, it sounds like sheās in jail. 
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A follow-up article to the newsletter excerpts I posted above:
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" Ironically, the most well-off can figure out the ways they are marginalised and communicate their supposed disadvantages more fluently. " === from that article. wow.
Reminds me of how itās been mentioned here in the past how number of kids who have doctorās notes for expanded time for ACT/SAT testing has grown in the affluent areas.
no idea what really happened or didnt in her life; but donāt like the idea of anyone gaining from truly marginalized kids. Just read the book last night: āthe thread that bindsā from 10 yrs ago. That kid had nothing.
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A judge has denied UPennās request to have the Fierceton case moved from Common Pleas Court. See the link for the article in Big Trial, āPenn Loses Round One in āPillow Talkā Conspiracy Caseā:
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My impression is that the young lady will soon be referred to as the "wealthy young lady "after receiving a substantial settlement from Penn. Just a guess, of course, but there appear to be too many negatives against Penn.
This case should serve as a reminder of one major reason (among many reasons) why institutions with deep pockets have established procedures for handling issues.
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Universities are hit with meritless suits all the time. As are almost all institutions with deep pockets.
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Even if meritless, I could envision a jury sticking it to the Big Guy, ājust becauseā.
So far, Plaintiffās attorney is doing of good job of trying this case in the press, and the press is eating it up, regardless of the facts. (See Sotomayer and 100,000 children in āserious conditionā because of covid. My point is that if a Justice can make up facts, a sympathetic jury can certainly do so.)
Juries also tend to dislike people who lie, and she makes a habit of it. The people on CC skew quite liberal, and even here she is not getting much support.
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Pretty confident Penn will choose a bench trial ( tried before a judge, no jury).
Well, it would seem if you supported her at all on here, you would get a lot of outrage from some corners. Then you would just say to yourself, ālet the court deal with this based on some facts and ignore the mob,ā and quietly not engage. Then it might seem like most people agree that she is wrong, if you were the casual observer.
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Penn has no choice as to whether or not the trial fact finder will be by a judge or a jury.
The young ladyās attorney has already demanded /requested a trial by jury.
This is a civil case,not a criminal matter.
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My prediction: This will end in a confidential settlement. No trial of any kind.
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