My daughter went to a top LAC. Her childhood friend went to a LAC most people have never heard but provided great merit aid. Her aim was always Med school. We live in the PNW and one of the best Med schools in the area and probably the country is UW. My daughter’s friend from her graduating class, also on the Med school track as well as her childhood friend, both applied to UW. Her friend from her graduating class was accepted rather quickly her childhood friend was not. I will also mention, both are excellent students. Her childhood friend went on to be accepted at another pretty decent Med school although not as highly ranked as UW. She is somewhere back east now doing her residency. At the end of the day, both are doctors. One path was less bumpy, the other took a lot of effort and patience applying to many schools but in the end incurred less debt.
Do what is right for you.