Can’t you just not tell him? I mean, FERPA laws give you privacy as a student. He isn’t paying any money for your education, so it doesn’t matter what he says or thinks. And sorry but any parent who says “I would hate you forever if you ever worked in corporate” is not a parent worth keeping a relationship with, even if you chose to not go into corporate America.
OP stated: “however, my scholarship only covers tuition so I commute from home.”
OP, I am so sorry to hear this! I had a similar (but clearly less hostile) situation when I was in college; my father wanted me to major in something business-related, but I chose a major that I knew that I’d get top grades in, since I was heading to graduate school and needed a high GPA. My father blew up and called me all sorts of names, but I proceeded with my major anyway, and my plan worked out fine.
It seems to me as though your father will object to any job you take in the future that will involve working with men- and don’t nearly all jobs? So if you major in something other than economics, your father will have a reason to blow up at you again in the future over similar issues.
If economics is a “must-have” major for you, I’d do that. But it sounds like you have multiple options, all of which are good for you, so I’d probably pick another option. But I’d be prepared for another run-in with your father in the future. At least you’ll be out of the house then.
Again, sorry that you have to deal with this.
Could you plan a schedule that would allow you to double major in economics and a subject acceptable to your father?
Since you are commuting from home, you apparently live close enough to NYU to have your dad come with you to talk to your academic advisor, or visit the career center. Perhaps he will understand your point of view if explained by someone else.
I would suggest you make an appointment with your academic advisor ASAP to explain that you would,like his/her help in explaining majors vs jobs or grad school to your dad.
I agree with thumper. Make an appointment with an advisor or even a professor who can explain to your parents the value of an economics degree. And the fiscal importance of declaring your major right away.
Personally, I’d pick a major that would acceptable to your parents while taking courses in economics. Applied math really could be a great way to go. My son is an applied math major with a concentration in statistics and a focus in economics. That’s actually what the major is called, lol. A lot of the courses he is taking would be valuable for a business career (if that’s what you end up pursuing). He is hoping to go the actuary route which could have a specialty in healthcare. I was an economics major, and you probably will need Calculus 2 anyway for most programs.
I have to say I really feel for you. But I think the most likely path to success it to get your degree and then make the determination whether to pursue a career that isn’t in line with your parents hopes. You will be more equipped to create those boundaries with your parents when they are no longer supporting you financially. Although it may still be painful for all involved.
While econ or finance are great backgrounds to get a job in business, many degrees can do the same for you if you do well. You can major in econ and be on a premed track as well, if you really want to provide the head fake to your dad. Others mentioned a double major, another option is to major in something you enjoy and minor in econ. You could also just major in econ and tell him you think you’d ultimately like to be an econ professor. Sorry you have to go through this, he really sounds beyond old school. However, I think you have some options to get around it delicately.
I’ll study math or cyber security, you don’t have to meet anybody trying to detect who’s trying to break in.
If you can’t shake people hand, business is not the field. How do I know this, one Indian person told me a Muslim guy refused to shake her hand after an interview. He didn’t get hired. If your culture does not allow it, you must respect your culture.
I’m sorry for your having to deal with this cultural issue with your father! That cannot be easy.
The majors that come to mind for me are Math, Statistics, and Actuarial science. These are within striking distance of Economics. Perhaps you could minor in Econ or load up on Econ electives. Maybe get there through pursuit of an MBA later on.
Good luck!
Nonsense.
As long as explain your refusal to shake hands as a cultural difference (which should be evident anyway from your manner of dress), I don’t see why it would be a problem. An astute potential employer might even be reminded of an advantage of hiring you – you have an understanding of a different culture that many others do not.
I don’t think it is necessarily that her dad completely misunderstands the major. I think it is that he doesn’t want her working in a “corporate” environment, especially with a lot of men. What he probably doesn’t realize is that most hospitals, for example, are part of larger corporations these days. It is hard to escape corporate America! But you don’t have to tell him that, either.
Another thought is whether you could minor in Econ, and major in something else.
Another reason you might need to stay somewhat in your parents’ good graces is if they fill out the FAFSA for you. Not sure if you are getting any grants or need based aid, but if you need to fill out the FAFSA, you need their cooperation. So pulling the “FERPA protects my data” approach suggested above could backfire there, too. Legally it does protect your data, but your parents can easily choose not to cooperate if you play hardball when they ask for data.
This student can still apply to medical school even with a degree in economics. The student just needs to take the requisite courses for medical schools (which I believe changed for this application round…so the student would need to check).
There are plenty of doctors out there…and other healthcare providers who did not major in a life science in undergraduate school.
Don’t read too much I to Op’s user name. Silver and Stein are just short names for 2 schools at NYU; the Steinhart school of education and the Silver school of social work
I don’t get the impression that the OP wants to be a doctor, though.
I don’t get the impression that the OP wants to be in medicine either…but I DO get the impression that is what her dad is expecting. She can do,the courses necessary for medical school applications which will satisfy her dad, hopefully. Major in a different field that is of interest to her.
After she has her bachelors degree…and a job…it will all be a moot point…except for dealing with the relationship between her dad and her.
“I would hate you forever if you ever worked in corporate.” Good for you for starting to question a culture or tradition which leads to a horrible controlling sentiment like that.
Agree with poster upstream. Most hospitals (which seems to be what the dad wants) are owned by huge corporations. Many of these hospitals are also absorbing medical office practices. I don’t think working in health care puts one out of corporate America.
Try sociology with finance or econ minor!
Also, not sure how hospitals work in the arab world, but US hospitals may be worse than corporations in terms of the troops fraternizing with each other, or worse, those with power exerting it for sexual gain. Long hours, high pressure, tight quarters - the classic setup for people wanting to “get together”…