MIT somehow has the best esprit de corps around. I went to a little nowhere college, and managed to get into an R1 Uni for my doctorate, but I'll never have the feeling of "That's my place!" that it seems like these guys do.
At an institution where teaching is important there’s more “infrastructure” for it so you can manage to be exposed to less of the research side. At MIT research is most of the institute’s activity, so you get to be part of significant and/or obscure work if you want, and most do.
Plus, as I like to joke, that “if you aren’t arrogant when you get there, MIT will beat it into you”.
Y-yeah, those MIT people are crazy...
And for third place I'd say anyone who rowed crew at an Ivy League school. I've met several of those, too. Nice enough but always in their own league.