How do you choose between a good university and an even better one?

Summary: I grew up in Michigan, my sister did Biology for pre-med at Umich and got into medical school at one of the top universities

I also want to study biology, but I want to go into research. Anyway, I'm reaching that age where you start planning which universities to apply to, and Cornell was at the top of my list until recently.

I study at a really good school, with high graduation rates and high entry rates to top universities. So, I was talking to my advisor about university options and I said that I had entered a dead end.

I could go to Umich; from what I know from my sister's experience, it's a good university: good courses, good environment, etc. But Cornell is a top-tier university.

I mentioned to her that Umich seems much closer to securing its place (despite not having such a high acceptance rate), and that Cornell seems so more distant.

She then asked me to make a list of what I find most interesting about these two universities (which are my two 'main' choices) and my doubts about them.

So, Umich is closer to me, it has a prestigious biology and neuroscience program, it's a large university. Cornell is one of the most prestigious universities in the US and the world, I've heard there are more opportunities to get into a lab, and there's the prestige of having an Ivy Diploma (which I imagine opens many more doors).

My problem with UMich is that I don't plan to stay in Michigan forever; I want to finish university and then go on to do a graduate degree at another university. And my problem with Cornell is that, well, I know myself. I have a history of depression since I was eleven years old, and I can only imagine how stressed and depressed I'll be at a 'closed' university, far from home and it doesn't seem to be...connected?

I'm not even referring to parties here, but it's a university that seems very focused only on studying, studying, and studying. While Umich has sports, a community, and although quite academic, it seems to have less pressure.

I think I lost sight of the main point of my post, but in short, I don't know if I should choose (and we're talking about hypotheticals) to go to Cornell, with its high academic rigor, prestige, and door-opening potential, but which seems too depressing to me and not very attractive. Or I could go to UMich, which is academically good (but I don't know if it's on par with Cornell), it doesn't seem like it will burn me out, but on the other hand it makes me feel like I'm going to get stuck in Michigan forever.

Just to clarify a few points: I'm looking to get a degree in biology and pursue a career in research (mainly neuroscience, biomedicine, or bioengineering) I want a university that opens doors for me, especially for opportunities at other universities, and that at the same time isn't stagnant.

At the same time, I apologize if I got lost or rambled during the post; I spent the night studying for a test and my brain isn't working very well.

Yes, I know I look like that image of the guy freaking out with the cardboard monster and fire that he himself created.