These days, we think of a law clerkship as a high-prestige post, but back then in Louisiana, people took the word "clerk" literally.

NPR: Excerpt: 'When Everything Changed'

Comprising the bulk of the top 10 list are small liberal arts schools like Sarah Lawrence College in New York, Kenyon College in Ohio and Bennington College in Vermont--all high on prestige and low on student-teacher ratios.

FORBES: America's Most Expensive Colleges

The new thinking is that the most useful thing ministers can do for emerging sectors is to use the pull and prestige of high office itself.

ECONOMIST: London's high-tech start-ups

Sam Nunn would be a shrewd selection for secretary of state is partly rooted in Nunn's prestige, high enough to protect the president elect from domestic lobbies in foreign policy battles soon to engulf his administration .

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Another Saddam In Syria?

They may not bring the best returns, but they can deliver less tangible benefits like excitement, prestige, contacts and a high profile.

FORBES: End Game At Liverpool

High tuition levels are often viewed as a sign of prestige or quality by the industry, according to Mr. Tamanaha.

WSJ: More Law Schools Haggle on Scholarships

The festival is an important auction market for purebred camels, and as well as commanding high prices, award-winning specimens can confer immense prestige on their owners.

CNN: Head turners of the desert: A camel beauty pageant in the UAE

Meanwhile, as colleges seek more prestige and higher rankings, many are emphasizing scholarships based on high grades and test scores, not financial need.

NPR: Paving a Path for Poor Students' College Dreams

But during the Afghan war there has been a new toughness in the Pentagon's message to countries that long for the prestige and influence that may come from fighting alongside America in high-tech, high-intensity warfare.

ECONOMIST: The war in Afghanistan