<p>Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Columbia, Duke, Penn, Brown, Cornell, Yale.</p>
<p>Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, Wellesley, Bryn Mawr, etc.</p>
<p>At research universities, you’ll have greater and more frequent exposure to research. At the liberal arts colleges, you’ll have a stronger grasp on the reading of the languages themselves.</p>
<p>Both research experience and language proficiency are necessary, but, whereas you can cover your butt with regards to the latter, you will be expected to demonstrate that you have the former.</p>
<p>That is to say, if you claim to have read so-and-so, graduate schools won’t call you out on the truthfulness of your claim. What they will look at will be a writing sample and statement of purpose, both of which you can BS if you have had research experience.</p>