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Monday, March 26, 2012

The Final Four are not necessarily good university choices


The Final Four are finally revealed: Kentucky & Kansas, Louisville & Ohio State. This kind of college sport tournaments are entertaining and a good occasion for new athletes to make a name for themselves, but they are often misunderstood as a good way of selecting a school. When a university wins the March Madness event or any other kind of competition, more students enroll. According to assistant professor Jaren Pope, winning the March Madness championship leads to an increased number of applications.
Any student who applies to a university because of its athletic programs is seriously misguided. Some universities spend a lot on their athletic programs, but this does not mean other programs get the same kind of financing. Marketing departments understand that winning the March Madness tournament is good for admission and some universities will do everything they can to attract the most talented players. This means a regular student has no chance of getting selected for the basketball team.
When choosing a university, a prospective student should focus on the degree they are interested in. Finding out how many students graduate in this degree and whether or not they find a job right away is a good way to spot a good university. It is also important to pay attention to new buildings being constructed, to the quality of the accommodations and to the availability of scholarships and other forms of financial aid. These are the signs of a university where money is spent on the students – not on athletic programs which can only help a handful of students.

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