Didn’t get in any this year, need recommendations for next year

[dbwes]

Not sure where everyone got the impression that St. Olaf is still taking applications -- I don't think that's the case.

[ellemenope]

#13 post...but I didn't check out its accuracy. After all, everything posted on CC is true, right???

[dbwes]

^ellem -- Of course!

[reidm]

Mom5 -

First, there is no way that anyone on this board can identify you or your son. Not enough information.

Second, a gap year is not a problem for admissions next year, but no matter what it is it is unlikely to qualify your son for the 7 schools he applied to this past year. GPA, and likely class rank, are going to be too low.

Third, if his goal is graduate school in the social sciences, and he is shy, a small liberal arts college is the way to go. Much easier to get personal attention in that environment. And his stats, despite the GPA and class rank, are strong enough to make the USNWR #10-60 liberal arts schools viable options. (Just don't apply to #10-16!) Social sciences are not resource intensive, so almost all selective LACs have solid social science programs, PLUS most of them need males to retain reasonable gender balance. Good luck!

[2collegewego]

mom5,

No one can figure out who your son is but I'm sure this thread is helping a lot of people in similar circumstances.

[Momzie]

You mention your son is interested in social sciences. If you're thinking about law school/poli sci or something like that, most cities have a program where students who have a second language (I'm thinking that this may be you guys) can volunteer at a court house to translate for people who speak English as a Second Language. (You can also do this at a hospital.) This would be a neat extracurricular volunteer activity which might help your son learn more about law, the judicial system and American politics -- suggesting that he's got some applied knowledge to go with his academic knowledge. Also he'd make contacts with judges and lawyers who may have gone to college in your area and who might be able to advise him with applications and recommendations. (My roomate in college was Chinese-American and she volunteered in a program like this for years and now she's a VERY SUCCESSFUL lawyer!)

[Schmoomcgoo]

Would he consider applying now to schools with late deadlines or rolling admissions? There are some fine schools that are still accepting applications for the Fall. I personally couldn't let a brilliant kid like your son wait through another admissions cycle not knowing if anyone will accept him. Even if he doesn't want to go to any of the schools he applies to at this point, at least he'll know he's wanted. What about Loyola Marymount, Butler U, IIT (probably doesn't fit the "social sciences" requirement) Michigan State, Bard, Indiana Wesleyan? They are not Ivies, but they do have a share of the best and the brightest.

USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2008: Schools with late or rolling admission deadlines