I don't have hard data, but in my mere 43 years of experience, stars or tenured non-stars don't move around 4-5 as a rule; perhaps once or two. Point is good to go where there is depth; not just one person. Jeremy's point is great is to look at completion rates and where people are placed. Not necessarily the same thing. Some top schools in Sociology cocoon their students but they eventually wind up with good jobs. Look too at drop out rates. I decided between Harvard & Columbia (in 1963) because Columbia's incoming grad cohort in Soc was 40 and 2nd year cohort was 20. Harvard's incoming cohort was 20 and 2nd year cohort in 19. I avoid the columbia hypercompetitive experience. Talk to the students who worked with the profs at the place. And visit. Nothing like face time to pick up vibes. NetLab welcomes all visitors. Barry Wellman _______________________________________________________________________ S.D. Clark Professor of Sociology, FRSC NetLab Director Department of Sociology 725 Spadina Avenue, Room 388 University of Toronto Toronto Canada M5S 2J4 twitter:barrywellman http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman fax:+1-416-978-3963 Updating history: http://chass.utoronto.ca/oldnew/cybertimes.php _______________________________________________________________________