I think @warblesrule makes a good point. At large universities choice research spots tend to go to squeaky wheels, and success can be relative to how comfortable a student is with aggressively seeking funding and competing for limited opportunities with graduate students. It’s ultimately a matter of fit. Some kids thrive in competitive environments and don’t mind jostling for attention; others are intimidated and adrift.
As others have suggested, try to arrange a few visits at LACs like Swarthmore and some of the others mentioned in this thread.