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<p>When you say, “plans to study”, so you mean that he wants to take courses in those languages or do you mean that he has already decided, three years ahead of time, to major or double major in those languages? There’s a big difference in the implications for college selection. For example, those big language departments mini mentions could actually work against your son if he ends up majoring in Physics, but just wants to take some small Spanish lit courses and get accepted to the school’s study abroad program in Spain as a non-major.</p>
<p>As a general premise, I think it’s a mistake to START the college search looking at the trees (this particular Department versus that particular Department) rather than the forest (size, location, campus culture, and so forth).</p>
<p>It’s fine to look at the offerings at each school, but don’t get so caught up with the details early on that you lose sight of the big picture. The truth of the matter is that you have NO IDEA what he will ultimately major in. Most kids completely change their minds after going to college.</p>