The EduData Podcast

March Madness - Data Edition

Episode Summary

The conversation explores the impact of college sports success on college applications. They discuss the 'Flutie Effect,' which refers to the increase in applications to a school following a successful sports season. They also examine the correlation between March Madness performance and future increases in applications. The conversation delves into the utility hypothesis and the attention hypothesis as possible explanations for this phenomenon. They highlight the importance of timing, the influence on different subgroups, and the need for further research to distinguish between these mechanisms. The takeaways include the importance for institutions to capitalize on sports success for marketing purposes and for applicants to consider the overall fit of a school beyond its athletic achievements.

Episode Notes

The conversation explores the impact of college sports success on college applications. They discuss the 'Flutie Effect,' which refers to the increase in applications to a school following a successful sports season. They also examine the correlation between March Madness performance and future increases in applications. The conversation delves into the utility hypothesis and the attention hypothesis as possible explanations for this phenomenon. They highlight the importance of timing, the influence on different subgroups, and the need for further research to distinguish between these mechanisms. The takeaways include the importance for institutions to capitalize on sports success for marketing purposes and for applicants to consider the overall fit of a school beyond its athletic achievements.

Articles:
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/online-colleges/does-march-madness-performance-drive-college-application-rates/

http://devingpope.com/assets/files/Website_Sports%20Econ%20Attention.pdf