The Flutie effect refers to what outcome of athletic success?

The Flutie effect refers to what outcome of athletic success?

• A. It boosts applications, donations, and national visibility
• B. It reduces campus enrollment
• C. It increases tuition costs
• D. It narrows donor contributions

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that athletic success can raise a university’s profile in a way that attracts more interest and support. When a school performs well on athletic fields—especially with national attention or high-profile moments—the name and reputation of the institution become more visible. That heightened visibility often leads to more applications because prospective students see the school as desirable or exciting. Donors respond too, increasing contributions as the school’s prestige grows. So, the outcome described is a rise in applications, donations, and national visibility. This concept is named for a famous example at Boston College, where a standout football season helped push the school into the national spotlight and correlated with increased applications and donations. The other options don’t fit this pattern because the Flutie effect is about positive increases in demand and support, not reductions in enrollment or tuition costs, nor a decrease in donor contributions.

The main idea is that athletic success can raise a university’s profile in a way that attracts more interest and support. When a school performs well on athletic fields—especially with national attention or high-profile moments—the name and reputation of the institution become more visible. That heightened visibility often leads to more applications because prospective students see the school as desirable or exciting. Donors respond too, increasing contributions as the school’s prestige grows. So, the outcome described is a rise in applications, donations, and national visibility.

This concept is named for a famous example at Boston College, where a standout football season helped push the school into the national spotlight and correlated with increased applications and donations.

The other options don’t fit this pattern because the Flutie effect is about positive increases in demand and support, not reductions in enrollment or tuition costs, nor a decrease in donor contributions.