Thank you both! After reading your input, I did a bit more research and uncovered exactly what you told me about the performance of these two processors. Insane how intel is lagging behind AMD- I had not realized.
As for the suggestions, I am a bit fixed on the RTX 2060 or 2070 (as The Sloth recommended) because the software manufacturers recommend the RTX over all else, especially in laptops!
Additionally, I really liked the Eluktronics RP-15. A good combo of processor and GPU, but i couldn't find one with a hybrid drive or a built in webcam? The Zephyrus seemed great, but it was lacking a few things (like a built-in webcam, again, needed for classes). Overall, though, I think it's the top pick for me despite the RAM being 1/2 integrated and 1/2 dedicated, making it expandable only to 40GB if I drop a bunch of cash on a 32GB stick.
Thank you for helping me! I've learned a lot based on your recommendations. Very much appreciated!