Read the OP’s list. Did not read the other posts, sorry folks. ALL of the list can happen at a top tier research flagship! Small classes- honors. Personal growth- definitely. Etc. I get tired of people praising LAC’s. They work for some but certainly not all. Especially those in STEM. Obviously the majority do go to the larger schools- numbers. And each student has a unique experience. College is what you make of it. A large school offers many options a small one can’t- no need to fit into one model. Noting post #15 above my commenting. Sure there are many others on the same page we are.
Addenda. Looked at my post and the one above it. Disagree. When someone starts a thread praising one form of college it deserves a same thread rebuttal. Not all students should consider a LAC. My child certainly needed so much more. He got top liberal arts as well as top notch STEM at his big U along with all of the things on OP’s list.