Media attention may increase 'U' applications

An upsurge nationwide in University-related news - about both the national football championship and two lawsuits over the admissions policies - may have an effect on the number of undergraduate applicants for the Fall 1998 incoming class.

"I think most students who became excited about Michigan early on in the process have sent their applications in," said Ted Spencer, director of undergraduate admissions. "We're in good shape in terms of the application pool this year."

With the deadline for undergraduate applications still a month away, Spencer said it is too early to tell if there will be a jump from last year in the number of applications submitted.

"There's no indication that things are worse than last year," Spencer said. "You have to be very guarded in looking at the numbers - we're hoping for the best."

The recent nationwide publicity about Michigan's Rose Bowl success has had an effect similar to advertising, Spencer said.

"The more you put the name of a product in front of people, the more opportunity they have to know who you are," he said.

After Northwestern's trip to the Rose Bowl in 1996, the number of undergraduate applications rose 21 percent, said Chuck Loebbaka, director of Northwestern University's media relations.

"There's no evidence whether there was a direct connection," Loebbaka said. "By that time, a lot of students had already applied to the school of their choice and a lot of applications were already processed by that time."

Loebbaka said Northwestern's academic reputation probably had more to do with the increase.

"There is some impact, but it's hard to measure," Loebbaka said. Students "don't just apply because the football team is good - the academic reputation is the main reason."

Edward Reppa, director of guidance for Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, Pa., said successful sports teams are not a consideration when most students decide where to apply.

"I think there are several influences - friends, family history," Reppa said. "There are a percentage of kids who do look at a school and what kind of program it has. Another category is the success of its football team or basketball team, that gives it a certain notoriety."

Reppa said about four students from the Pittsburgh school apply each year to the University, while most stay in state.

"We do have a significant amount of interest in Penn State and University of Pittsburgh. When their school is doing well athletically, they see an upward surge in applications" for those schools, Reppa said.

Tom Hillemeier, a senior at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, said publicity in the news has not affected his decisions about where to apply.

"I've talked to people that have gone to them and I got a book about the 110 best schools," Hillemeier said about his research process.

Hillemeier said he has not considered championship teams as much as teams on which he could compete himself.

"I've looked at location and the sports teams," Hillemeier said.

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