Your top six are all European schools is that because of the schools themselves (campuses, facilities, work conditions) or because of living in hose cities?
Do any of your rankings take into account saving potential?
Premier/ Elite Tier
Personal
They are my preferences, and asking why, is like asking why someone likes chocolate ice cream over strawberry ice cream. That said my choices are a weighted combination of work environment and living environment. Its really not relevant though, because those schools are all run pretty well, and the kids are bright and attentive enough. Savings isnt very important to me, I have european style pension schemes in Italy and Denmark. I also have an investment account (a simple "time to retire" plan) from Hong Kong. I dont have any financial obligations (bills) from back in the USA.