Many readers have expressed confusion regarding the Cluster Ranking System. The model stems from, well you guessed it, a cluster analysis of business schools. As with any ranking system (whether it is of NCAA football or GPA) one should use scholastic rankings with caution. Further, these rankings concern only general reputation of the school and often schools have domain specific ranks that are much stronger than their general rank.

Why use cluster analysis instead of a strict, floor to ceiling ordinal list?
Primarily because these strict ordinal lists have the danger of forcing distinctions among programs of virtually identical standing. In addition, the variables that we use to measure scholastic quality and opportunities are extremely imprecise. Thus, we are deluding ourselves if we believe that we can make meaningful distinctions among schools of similar standing. However, we can make broad distinctions among schools of dissimilar standing.

Why not simply use a "top 5, top 10" list?
These lists are disfavored since they suggest that schools are highly discontinuous in their opportunity sets. For instance, the #11 school (however defined) might be mistakenly viewed as being meaninfullly inferior to the #10 school. Another reason that these lists are disfavored is that the standing of institutions rarely change as rapidly as their standings in league tables change (Yes, glaciers do move, but one should not confuse them with cheetahs).

Why not call them Tier I or Tier II etc.?
I suppose one could use these terms, but I prefer the descriptive labels. I like the way that the labels call attention to the proximity of the cluster to the elite schools. Thus, Near Elite makes it clear that these are prestigious schools if not quite on the level of the most esteemed general reputation schools.

Why do these clusters include only US schools?
This is certainly a legitimate criticism. The main reason concerns the type of information available from each school. However, one can rather easily project non-US schools onto this cluster system. For instance, INSEAD and LBS could be included in the Elite cluster.

Ultraelite- The 7 most esteemed US schools, essentially the top of the elite group.

Elite- The most selective group of school (used as both a generic term for all 16 top schools and and a specific term for the schools just below the Ultraelite)

Transelite- The schools that overlap with many of the Elite group. This handful of schools essentially "blends into" the lower edge of the Elite group.

Near Elite- Usually relatively small and highly specialized schools. Within specific domains such as finance and marketing these schools are outstanding.

Near Elite Frontier: These are nationally recognized programs that are less selective than the Near Elite schools. Many offer outstanding opportunities for budget conscious consumers.

Hjort

Perhaps this helps for General Reputation:

UNC TransElite
UVA Elite
Ohio State, Thunderbird, BC, BU Near Elite Frontier

Hjort

hey hjort,

which schools would you include in the ultraelite , elite, transelite, and nearelite rankings ?

that would be great i kinda saw a pattern there. thanx again

thanx for the great list hjort, it is a really helpful tool for all of us.

surprised not to see cornel and michigan not in the ultraelite cluster. whats your basis for placement in clusters - general reputation/recruiters/gmat scores ... etc??

very well put hjort, thanx for clarifying it.


kayser

This classification is the cornerstone on which Hjort helped me to select my schools and believe me this made my life much easier.

The whole process of selecting the schools otherwise does not have a scientific bend to it....

About - CVs being great and blah blah blah....Paul dont worry. CV writing is an art and most CV's can be tailored to show strength.


Finally, I would like to add that the Cluster classification should be assisted with cluster by specialization. The combination of the two would help in shortlisting the schools better.

Regards
_________________

To be or not to be....

Over time I would like to put up information regarding specific domains such as finance and marketing. Sadly, however, this is one of those projects that will have to wait . . .

Hjort

I have created a separate post for UC Irvine.

Hjort