ehhhhh. For most, I’m not buying that.
I think they see - Amherst or Williams are top schools or Harvard and Yale and apply for that reason alone.
They (and most) have no idea what goes into any ranking.
That’s why we hear top 20/30 all the time - without anyone having a clue what went into it.
They just think top school means a path to life success. And they are letting US News define top.
It’s the same reason someone won’t go to LSU, no matter how cheap or strong it might be - but it’s ranked 169. Is it really any different than most any other flagship? Yet some flagships draw nationally….LSU doesn’t.