Dartmouth versus no brand college [Hofstra] for premed

Hi everyone, I am set on a Medical path and want your advice if Dartmouth premed workload will spare me time for research, shadowing and volunteering. I hear most Dartmouth students take 1-3 gap years before applying to med school.Is it because the academic classes are hard leaving little room for anything else ? I will need a high GPA to apply to med school but dont want to take gap years. Dartmouth takes pride in academic rigor and likely many of my AP credits may not transfer over. I am not keen on liberal arts, and the quarter system as well the mandatory foreign language requirement really worries me.
In contrast, I have a admission to Hofstra universoty pre-med track where the course load will not be extreme, relatively easier classes like OChem leaving room to build profile and prep for MCAT. I will also have access to their med school for research. however, applying from this program does not give me connections or school prestige as Dartmouth would. Cost is not a consideration. What would you suggest ?