Am I crazy to consider a T80 over a T5?

Hey all. I’m currently having an internal debate that I’m sure is being fueled by imposter syndrome. I got accepted into Hackensack, as well as schools like WashU and Hopkins. I have been very fortunate that money is not an issue. However, I am so worried about being “last in the pack” if I decide to go to a school like WashU or Hopkins. Meanwhile, what if I really excel in a school like Hackensack? It’s the idea of do I want to be a small fish in a big pond, or a big fish in a small pond? Yet, the amount of doors and opportunities that the “higher tier” schools have available cannot be understated, and I feel like I’ll miss out greatly if I don’t go. I truly do want to make an impact in medicine. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

That is very true that I cannot plan to excel at any medical school. My apologies for being presumptuous that because I got into Hopkins, I can immediately excel at Hackensack. That is a valid point, as all students are driven to be the best no matter what school.

Haha, I just saw your edits. Thank you for your advice, and congrats on your amazing cycle too!!

Med Ed said:

Implicit in your statement is the notion that a bottom student at Hopkins would be a top student at Hackensack. You will find that this is not true.

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I realize my thinking and wording were definitely flawed. I apologize for how I thought, it is truly not an appropriate or fair thing to say, especially to any student who worked hard to get accepted to any medical school. I was more worried with the idea that students accepted to schools like WashU or Hopkins have already an insane resume and ECs, so they could more likely get access to the opportunities available at such schools. I also hear that such schools may have “gunners” who jump on all and every opportunity without mind to their peers. Although by speaking with students at all the institutions I was accepted to, it seems peers may be more collaborative than it previously appeared. Now I feel like I’m just dissing every school’s class haha; I don’t mean to, and none of these statements come from a place of looking down on the school. It is more thinking about my own quality of life for the next four years.

Thanks all for the advice ! It has definitely impacted my choice of medical school.