Villanova Applications Increase In Light Of March Madness Success
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Villanova's success on the basketball court is translating to a winning season for its admissions office.
Villanova's director of admissions Michael Gaynor has worked at the University for 34 years, and he's seen 'Nova reach the Final Four three times. Each provided a bump in applications.
He says applications have been up for three straight years -- this year, up to a record 17,266. And that's with a January application deadline before the Wildcats were ranked number-one in the country for three weeks.
Gaynor says a championship basketball team could nudge more students who are offered admission to choose 'Nova.
"I think in terms of the students that we tend to attract, that are very spirited and spiritual, I think it does matter. It could certainly swing the pendulum in a favorable direction our way," said Gaynor.
Gaynor says this year's applications came from 96 countries and 49 US States -- Alaska being the only one without a 'Nova applicant.