<p>The "Flutie Factor" came up on another board and I thought it would be interesting to see what people think about it. I'd never heard of it but a Google search revealed that its the rise in applications at a school that corresponds with the success of the school's athletics teams. It's named after Doug Flutie whose "Hail Mary" pass "put Boston College on the map." Interestingly, the first article that pops up in a Google search is one from BC's alumni magazne that discredits the theory. Discuss ...</p>
<p>Of course they are going to dispute the fact because they would like to believe that there school attracts applicants based on the merits of the school and not on athletics. Take my school, Northwestern, for example: their highest number of applications in a year was the year after they went to the Rose Bowl! That was several years ago, and it hasn't been matched since.</p>
<p>Quality applicants might be a whole other story. Most of the people who like a school apply regardless of athletics because they have done their research. But those who apply on a whim are usually not as strong. But regardless of the quality of the applicants, it still increases the overall applicant pool.</p>
<p>That's pretty interesting. Winning in athletics certainly does get your name out there, but not necessarily to the type of kid colleges want to apply. Maybe I'm wrong. Hail Mary = BC name all over news, ESPN, etc = Kids go hmmm, Boston College, never heard of it, mybe I should check it out = more apps?</p>
<ol>
<li> Meaning of The Flutie Factor.
Sudden surge of applications for admissions to a certain college due to athletic successes on the field or court
In this case, Boston College had a 25 percent rise in applications after Doug Fluties heisman season
Also contributing to the Flutie Factor is the increase in the party atmosphere at the school
In this case, Boston College capitalized on its geographic location as a hot college town and its many bars and pubs that attracted college students
However, the Flutie Factor doesnt last forever, and in some cases it only effects admissions for one year only
Admissions officers pray for the Flutie Factor to hit their schools and many administrators have invoked it to justify their excessive spending on college sports</li>
</ol>
<p>If any one of you reading this post is interested in learning more about the Flutie Factor I would recommend the book Beer and Circus by Murray Sperber, a book which discusses how big-time college sports are crippling undergraduate education. I read this book in my sociology of sports class at the University of Washington, and I would recommend it to everyone if you're interested in undergraduate education and/or college sports.
<a href="http://www.bloomington.in.us/%7Esperber/%5B/url%5D">http://www.bloomington.in.us/~sperber/</a></p>
<p>I definitely agree that the kind of applicant who will apply based on the "Flutie Factor" probably isnt the kind the college wants (or the kind I want to spend 4 years with) but I'm not sure its just an evil ploy to get more applicants and thereby increase selectivity. I think college sports (maybe just when they're good?) do impact the sense of community/spirit/pride on a campus even for people (like me) who couldn't care less about the sports per se. I definitely felt that when I visited BC as opposed to Brandeis.</p>
<p>Husky, I'm curious to know if your sociology class ended up endorsing or debunking Sperber's book. I haven't gotten a chance to read it (and realistically probably wont) but the blurb you linked sounds pretty sensationalist and therefore, at least in my mind, suspect (though I imagine the apocalyptic tone/subtitle is more a function of the publisher's desire to sell copies of the book?)</p>
<p>I think it is more an issue of money. Alumni donated lots of money after successful sports seasons...it just happens.</p>