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

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Ranking Systems

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Hjort

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28 Jan 2005, 16:02

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I have started writing reviews for a number of international programs. I look forward to hearing some comments on these programs.

Hjort

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I have included links to the employment stats for most of the schools in the Near Elite and higher clusters. Please contact me if there are any missing links.

Cheers!

Hjort

Hjort

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I have started adding the biographies of executives who graduated from the Transelite, Near Elite, and Near Elite Frontier schools. I have far more information than this available so feel free to ask about specific schools.

Wolf

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its helpful

MU2011CPA

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You have Vanderbilt as near elite, however, from what I can tell Vanderbilt is neither very small nor very specialized in any industry?

I would greatly appreciate any information you could give me with regards to Vanderbilt, as well as Wake Forest if you have any.

Also, what do you think about Wake Forest? I don't see it in any of the clusters, and somehow, OSU Fisher ranks above Vanderbilt and Wake Forest (two of my choice schools) on the BW rankings. In fact, I chose OSU as my back up school only to find out that BW has OSU ranked above BOTH of my target schools (Vandy, Wake)!! Looking at the stats and prestige, I just don't see how that is.

vdbhamare

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Hey really nice post ...very usefulll...

dzodzo85

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Does anyone have the US News b school rankings for 2013, in respect to the best general management MBA programmes of the year? I will be grateful as I want to have a quick look.

muaythai

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A social network book has different kind of stories that can satisfy you. Learn how to get more socialize and improve your career and life with it.

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