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<p>How’s his reading level? Can he read a Chinese newspaper in traditional and simplified characters yet? That’s the minimum to show one has demonstrated 3rd year proficiency at Chinese programs like Oberlin’s or other programs. </p>
<p>In any event, the college’s Chinese studies department will give placement exams to ensure he is placed in an appropriate level. </p>
<p>He may also want to look into Middlebury and check many other LACs and LAC-like universities like UChicago and Princeton*. </p>
<p>One thing to also consider is that there are many more excellent Chinese and East Asian language/studies programs nowadays than was the case when I was in college in the mid-late '90s. </p>
<p>Moreover, one reason why I selected Oberlin was because it has a strong East Asian Studies program alongside history and politics. The East Asian studies department and its students tend to be closely-knit like a warm family. </p>
<p>*Incidentally, the textbooks we used at Oberlin when I attended were the same ones used by Princeton’s Chinese language studies program.</p>