“Need”? Some larger non-elite schools (e.g. many state flagships) have a number of academically top-end students who, while a small percentage of the overall, are as large as some entire elite schools in absolute numbers. So a top-end student can find his/her academic cohort in more schools than just the elite ones.
Academically top-end students may be interested in sports and going out. Indeed, some smaller elite schools have a reputation of raging party scenes, and may have a very large percentage of students in NCAA athletics.