<p>High-stats students are students with the greatest freedom to choose a college. If they are choosing to enroll in high concentrations at some school, then I think it is reasonable to assume its quality must be high. However, it’s possible that some prestigious colleges have reputations that persist even after their quality declines. It’s also likely that some famous, prestigious colleges have reputations that overshadow some equally good colleges. </p>
<p>So, if you’re an excellent student just starting to look for colleges, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to consider high-ranking, highly selective schools. However, you should research them carefully. Look at statistics like average class size (which is fairly high at some fairly prestigious schools). Browse the online catalogs to see if they even have the courses you want. Visit schools on your short list to see if you like the atmosphere. Be open to the possibility that some smaller, less famous schools might suit you better.</p>