Fuck all that high reputation bullshit...
Go to most big schools out there... look at the class size, and look at who you're actually being taught by.
Large research schools basically take your money, give it to professors to do high end research, and this leaves you to be taught by graduate students.
It's effective in some ways, and it works i suppose, but really... after being at a large, competitive school and then going to a small school where LEARNING YOUR SHIT is a premium rather than finding Element 118... I've found that its much better preparation for the real world job climate than is the large research schools.
If you can get into your UC Berkeley, UCLA, Washington, Michigan, Ivy League, and other high end schools, then I don't doubt why you wouldn't go there... but do your research and find whats best for you. They weren't the best for me.
I'm finishing up my stuff at a small school in Oregon, 20 mins from a ski area, and within 5 hours of about 25 others (Including both HOOD AND TAHOE). I have my professors' phone numbers and addresses and I have even had lunch with a few of them just to discuss random shit (and to get on their good side ha)
This situation works out really well for me and I feel like the environment has allowed me to self-motivate better than always feeling like I can't be top dog, and I'm therefore dirt like I was at a big school.
Above all, it's fucking affordable, and has a 72% job-after-college rate for graduates with a Bachelors. (or at least I remember reading that somewhere)