<p>I’m going on my big college tour next week, and I planned to only visit Swarthmore and Middlebury. However, since the drive takes me right through Vassar and Bard, I figured it would be a decent place to stop. I’m not sure which one to visit though. Both have their own distinct perspective, and I really can’t decide. I am planning on majoring in foreign language (Russian and German), doing a lot of community service, and studying abroad if that helps. Anybody with advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks</p>
<p>I’d say visit both. I think they’d both have what you’re looking for - although what impression you’ll get in late June when visiting I’m not sure…</p>
<p>Bard is strong in both German and Russian studies and has affiliations with universities in Berlin and St. Petersburg. [Bard</a> | Study Abroad For Bard Students](<a href=“http://www.bard.edu/globalstudies/bardstudents/programs/sponsored/]Bard”>http://www.bard.edu/globalstudies/bardstudents/programs/sponsored/) Bard is also starting a program in Kyrgyzstan: [About</a> AUCA & Bard | AUCA - Bard](<a href=“http://auca.bard.edu/about/]About”>http://auca.bard.edu/about/) in case you’re interested in going somewhere off the beaten track!</p>
<p>You will also pass very close to Amherst/Hampshire/etc., Williams, Skidmore, and Bennington, to name a few. That could be quite a trip. As far as Bard and Vassar go, Vassar is very, very similar to Swarthmore. The talk after the tour is nearly identical even down to the questions asked. (Where do you think we get the most applications from besides NY? Answer: California) Bard is much different. That said, my older daughter applied to all the schools I mention above, and I think would have been happy at any of them.</p>
<p>I’m obviously biased about Bard, but especially for a German and Russian major I’d say visit Bard. I don’t know how good Vassar’s foreign language department is (I assume very good) but particularly the Russian and German areas of foreign language are fantastic at Bard. Most students I know who take foreign language classes take German and Russian because of how renowned those to areas are here. Bard is affiliated with a school in Berlin and has it’s own liberal college within the University of St. Petersburg called Smolny.</p>
<p>Bard is also unique in that you can study abroad for a semester, but if you take intensive language classes, the course usually ends with a month or so in the country of origin for you to study there and live there. I’ve had friends go to both Berlin and St. Petersburg during the summer.</p>