Thank you all for your advice! I'm glad to hear that it is do-able, although maybe not the most efficient way to go. As I was exploring options, I came across the Dell XPS 15 laptop, which seems like it covers a lot what was mentioned here, and may be a more cost-effective option in the long run. I was curious if you all saw any issues with it that I should take into consideration before purchasing.
Here are the specs:
Processor: Intel Core 6th Generation i3-6100H Processor (Dual Core, 2.7 GHz, 3M Cache, 35W)
1TB M.2 PCIe Solid State Drive
500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)