<p>^^^If film is an already identified area of interest, then sure, it makes perfect sense to choose Vassar over Swarthmore. I’d say the same for Neuroscience, without even knowing whether Vassar has Neuro–Swat’s program simply isn’t that well-developed. </p>
<p>But for the undecided student, for in the OP’s case a student whose present interests are equally well-served at multiple colleges, overall breadth does matter IMO. One can still study film or neuroscience at Swarthmore, even if it requires more cognates than in a stronger program; while a very few students have special-majored in linguistics at Vassar, the available course offerings would make such a major pretty suspect (i.e. I assume that the student would be taking core theory courses in an abroad/exchange semester, since those areas cannot be covered in cognates).</p>