I think plucking prestigious professors does help.JCougar wrote:Well, we've plucked two pretty prestigious professors from Iowa in the last two years, so take that for what you will.ihp12 wrote:I've written and erased five different theories on this question, but here goes....
You've gotta figure that since rankings are relative, WUSTL will have to improve at the expense of another school, or a combination of other schools. What schools might it rise against? The other middle tier midwest schools (non chicago and NW) are ND, UIUC, Iowa, ect. Since WUSTLs medians are almost the same or slightly better than these schools, it wont do it much good to poach top students from these schools, as their medians won't rise (or at least not much).
I think their best bet is to go after the top ranked schools near them that are still somewhat regional like Utex, USC, and UCLA. They are not likely to do well against UTexas, as the Texas economy seems like its gonna do well over the next decade. If the CALI econ stays down however, they might steal some people from USC and UCLA.
Texas might be in some trouble, though. It was just revealed that they have budget problems as bad as (if not worse than) California. If a liberal state like California has to raise tuition prices to make ends meet, imagine what a state run by right-wing demagogues might do to the cost of education...
There is a budget shortfall in Texas, and education probably will get cut some. In the long run however, if Texas's econ can continue to out perform Cali's, I think that the improved job prospects and lower living costs will draw some students East. Some might be scared b/c they heard on the internet that Texas is run by right wing demagouges, but I think a few might make the jump.
You want proof you say?
The current cost to rent a one way U-Hall from Houston to LA is $892. The cost to rent a one way U-Haul from LA to Houston is nearly double that at $1,554. Trouble is of course, that long run economic predictions usually aren't worth a damn.
