First off, I gotta say: How bout them Wolverines? Final Four!? That’s awesome. Hopefully Beilein and company can go all the way and bring a national championship to Ann Arbor.
On another note, this brings me to my question- could Michigan’s unexpected success in the basketball season have an impact on the school? Like if Michigan wins the national championship, would that cause there to be a higher yield rate among this years admits and thus forcing Michigan to accept less students next year to avoid overpopulation which makes it more competitive? As a result of the school being more competitive, wouldn’t the schools national ranking go up?
Or could it be that Michigan’s success in basketball has little to no effect on Michigan as a school?
Really interesting question. I think overall people want to be with a winner. Whether it’s academic, sports or the whole package. I just think any success like this justs sorta puts the cherry on the top for some people… My son said that he had to walk through central campus and like no one was out at all. When he passed dorms, restraunts, bars and even quad dining halls like everyone was watching the game and screaming (in a good way). I just think that brings cohesiveness to the whole university experience and why Michigan is such a great place to work on go to.
It does have some minor effect as it is a kind of advertisement. However, when that happens more often, people will ne desensitized. Last time was 2013 for the final four. Also, the football team in the last few years was not bad either. You probably don’t know how bad it was some years back that there were free football ticket with the purchase of a Coke.
“I think overall people want to be with a winner”
I cannot agree more. I feel like top academic institutions like USC and Duke have become even more competitive not only because of there academics but also because of the success of their respective athletic programs.
I wonder if the same could happen to Michigan. @Knowsstuff
Michigan has been in the top level for years not just for team sport. Check out the number of gold medals in Olympics. There are many Olympians trained at UMich.
@tytbound… I think it’s already happening and has happened in the past. Michigan has high level of academics, one of the best hospital systems in nation, voted best city to live in. Best public university rated. One of the nation’s best research universities. Automated cars, every college has an Augmented Reality initiative. Great food. So it’s not just sports… One of the above can make someone want to go to Michigan. One of the reasons my son is there is not just his engineering interest is rated number 2 and they have a great business school… It was he wanted high level big 10 sports and school spirit. Michigan is really the whole package and the kids that get accepted are very lucky to go there. It’s a privilege to be there.
It happened to Nova two years ago and they had to put students up in hotels because their yield was so unexpectedly high
Exactly right. Nova’s applicant pool increased over 20% following it’s national championship and has had double digit increases since. Up here in Boston we call it the “Flutie effect”. BC was a run of the mill school until Flutie. Upon his arrival applications increased exponentially and BC became a more selective school. Since it joined the ACC it has become an elite school in terms of selectivity.
As for Michigan, I think the increases have already happened. @Knowsstuff hit the nail on the head. Our D wanted the same thing so UM and UW were at the top of the list…now we wait…anxiously…
Honestly, I think it happened with Harbaugh (as quarterback) and then Brady (as quarterback) then the fab 5.
This is news, never thought of it this way… but yes game day and night were cool to see all umich kids get together for march madness
Success on the field can have an impact on admissions. Winning the national championship in football in the 1997 season certainly had an impact on the number of applicants that applied to Michigan in 1998. If Michigan beats Loyola and then Villanova/Kansas on April 2, it is likely that Michigan will have a larger than expected applicant pool next admissions cycle. I do not think it will impact the yield this admissions cycle, not significantly anyway, but it could well have a slight impact on next year’s yield.
After Michigan entered the final in NCAA basketball in 2013 (although lost the game at the end), the 2014 class has over enrollment by near 5% (~300). Perhaps there is a delayed effect in yield rate. 
I just read the Wolverines are in the “Frozen Four” in hockey. Taking the sports world by storm. 
“Success on the field can have an impact on admissions.”
Football built up Notre Dame.
Yes, Frozen Four and Final Four. Too bad out Football program is still not not anywhere close to where it needs to be. Hopefully Harbaugh has a plan, and that his plan will work.
If not a bunch of the football players went to professional…
It might be another “down” year for football. MSU, OSU, and ND all on the road. Harbaugh has a lot to prove.
billcsho, I agree that last year, Michigan lost too many starters to the NFL (11 I believe) to just reload. But this year, Michigan is returning most starters.
tybound, Harbaugh is going to run out of rope if he cannot find a way to beat MSU and/or OSU, and win at least 10 games overall. If that does not happen, he will be in the hot seat. I realize that the schedule is going to be very tough, with road games at Notre Dame, MSU and OSU, and a tough home game against PSU, but the University hired Harbaugh with a very specific purpose in mind…and he is paid accordingly. If he were any other person, he would already have been in the hot seat. Any coach whose record vs MSU and OSU is 1-5 would be in trouble. If he loses both games next season, he will be 1-7 against our two chief rivals.
A lot hangs on Shea Patterson. If he is allowed to play, I think Harbaugh will have his missing piece on offense…if our OL coach can get the line to function adequately.
Couldn’t agree more @Alexandre
Well, there is just one game left. If Michigan can find a way to beat Villanova (it won’t be easy as it is arguably the most well rounded team in the country), we will find out if being national champions in a major sport impacts this year’s yield and next year’s applicant pool.
Go Blue!