The “higher end” colleges you mentioned will not offer any special opportunities that you can’t get elsewhere. It’s all on you…
My daughter attends a strong public university and is deciding whether she will eventually apply to medical school following some time off to pursue another opportunity. She has what she needs to apply… but she took the initiative and went after it. Nobody knocks on your door and offers you community service with underserved populations. The opportunities are there but you need to go after them.
Can your family afford the schools on your list?