I suppose I had heard about the Carnegie classification system without knowing what it was called. Classifying higher learning establishments in a meaningful way provides a number of benefits to potential faculty members that can give the applicant a good idea of the research background of the university. I was aware of the research tier levels and their importance to the university in terms of accreditation as well as funding sources, but after reading the classification methods, I gained a better understanding of the requirements for classification level. The classification system can give a good inside view of the type of institution to prospective applicants to understand what resources might be available as well as publishing requirements that they will need to fulfill.