PG, that sounds like it would be true between, for example, if an applicant was choosing between Williams or Duke. Our current college search is quite less selective, like UNC compared to Reed (reaches), or Lewis and Clark to NCSU (matches), or Lake Forest to Appalachian State (safeties). We only have the experience of the big public university so far, but are continuing to lean toward the LACs for smaller classes, more interaction with profs, etc. But again, my older D at NCSU loves it, so it always comes to fit.