I suspected that was your plan and it makes sense since you should be a lock to get into UMass (Honors?), Brandeis, and Northeastern. So, the question is would you take the offer if you got into any of your big 4 and why? If the reason is reputation, I get that and say, “go for it.” But if the reason has to do with taking advantage of the faculty and resources that those schools offer, you will find those same assets at the other schools I suggested
I asked you about 10 years from now because too often discussions focus on the college rather than the student as though college itself is the destination. It isn’t. It’s more about what you will get out of the college experience. It sounds like that is where your focus is. I hear you talking about college as an experience of personal growth & development, and then seeing where that takes you, keeping your options open. That’s great! That’s what LACs are all about.
Because you mentioned the possibility of teaching, I think it’s good to factor that in. If a college offers that, then it’s available to you whether you choose it or not. If the college doesn’t offer it, then you’ve ruled out that option as part of your undergraduate education before you’ve even started. Of course you can teach in a private school without a teaching certificate, but you would be doing so without any training or preparation. Or you could pursue college level teaching by continuing for a PhD. However, if you want to have teacher certification available as an option, your list would narrow to UMass, Brandeis, and Bowdoin. I would add Bates from the list of schools I suggested. UMass is excellent for teacher preparation. Despite its location, the Amherst public schools are surprisingly divers (57 different languages spoken) so teachers can be prepared for any teaching environment. Brandeis offers a unique BA/MA program, which can be completed by the summer after senior year. The Bowdoin program requires an additional semester in the fall after senior year. The Bates otigram is straightforward.
Finally a word about UMass since you love it. Amherst is the quintessential college town. Not a better place to spend 4 years IMO. A big plus is the fact that you have not cut yourself off from studying at an elite college because of the 5-college consortium. Amherst College is minutes away in the other side GI the green and as a UMass student, you can take courses there. The Amherst/Northampton area offers almost everything that college students love about big cities. It has an endless supply of great restaurants. It has an endless supply of other college kids from a wide variety of backgrounds. And it is the 2nd biggest booking venue in New England, so music and the arts are easier to access than in most cities. And there is free bus transport all around the 5 college area.
Best of luck in your search. Whichever College gets you as a student should count themselves lucky! 