Amid　concerns　about　creating　internationally　recognized　world-class　universities　in　China,　this　study　aims　to　explore　the　factors　that　influence　the　selection　of　two　prestigious　universities　in　China,　namely　Tsinghua　and　Beida,　by　high　school　students.　In　light　of　concerns　surrounding　the　establishment　of　globally　renowned　universities　in　China,　this　study　applies　Simon＇s　Bounded　Rationality　Theory　(Q　J　Econ　69(1):99-118,　https://doi.org/10.2307/1884852,　1957,　Models　of　bounded　rationality,　MIT　Press,　Cambridge,　1982)　to　examine　the　decision-making　tendencies　of　students　when　faced　with　limited　information.　The　study　analyzes　survey　data　collected　from　10　senior　high　schools　in　Henan　province.　Our　findings　reveal　that　students　lack　clarity　regarding　Chinese　universities　and　majors.　Students＇　misconceptions　about　Tsinghua　and　Beida　are　linked　to　insufficient　information　and　socially　entrenched　images　of　these　two　universities.　Students＇　social　environment　may　subtly　influence　their　choice　between　Tsinghua　and　Beida,　with　different　socioeconomic　backgrounds　resulting　in　varying　expectations.　Additionally,　we　identified　enrollment　strategies　that　impact　high　school　students＇　choices.　The　study　provides　policy　implications　for　Chinese　elite　universities　and　suggests　that　universities　can　enhance　enrollment　strategies　by　effectively　promoting　their　institutions.