<p>For me, my parents are against me going into engineering. They say I'm not experienced enough and that I would be at a serious disadvantage compared to others who have been building/fixing things since about 10 years old so they're against me going to engineering, especially mechanical, civil, etc., though I am mostly thinking about computer/electrical so I don't think it should be too bad. Any others in the same boat as I am, please share your experiences :)</p>
<p>w8 w8, if u go into engineering, why would u be building/ fixing things? do u mean like computers? i know ppl who have built their own super computers. they usually just get their parents/ parent’s friend to help the,. I dont think they have that much prior knowledge to entering. like my mom, this is somewhat relevant , she was a comp sci major (hardware) and didnt have any experience. she’s with a job today though. ur parents should be glad its not “social engineering” or psychology. </p>
<p>@Kaiser1418 I can see what you’re saying for CS/CE/EE; it’s just that I have thought about Mechanical and Civil in the past as well and my parents have been very hesitant about that</p>
<p>When I was first interested in physics my Mom said that pure science degrees don’t have good job prospects and she doesn’t want me going into a bad field like that. She wanted me to do engineering. Although, I did enjoy Honors chem and so far I’m enjoying AP Chem so Chemical Engineering is an idea.</p>
<p>Either way I want to get a PhD and do research, but I think my opinions have changed a little bit. With ChemE I can have a lucrative major right outside of undergrad or still go do “sciency” things in grad school. A bit glad she pushed me to that anyway.</p>
<p>Engineering degree programs are designed for people without prior experience. You’re less likely to do well if you don’t have aptitude for the subjects or you don’t like them, but a lot of people don’t even have the opportunity to do take engineering classes or do formal engineering activities before college. I don’t see why you couldn’t take a couple of introductory classes and see what happens. I always read that it’s easier to switch out of engineering than to switch into it. </p>
<p>I am in a similar situation as you. Unfortunately, my favorite subjects are considered “useless degrees.” My parents are pretty against me majoring in English, but they would actually like to see me in Engineering. As far as your parents worrying about a lack of experience, that’s what college is for- to gain that knowledge and experience. </p>
<p>My parents don’t know what I want to be when I grow up but they’d probably want something math or science related. Which would be fine since I want to be a teacher, I could major in math or science and then teach it. But I don’t think my parents would approve of me being a teacher. Oh well, what they don’t know can’t hurt them.</p>
<p>I never really had any pushback from my parents about wanting to do Math/Physics, but my Dad never understood why I didn’t want to work on wall street.</p>
<p>My mom’s not too crazy about my desires to study journalism/English, but thankfully she’s getting better about it…I think. I think she’d rather I major in some sort of science field, but my top instate choice has a pretty good journalism program and requires a double major for all journalism/media/mass communications students, so hopefully I can appease her and study chemistry (assuming AP chem goes well) alongside journalism. </p>
<p>On the other hand, my stepdad wants me to be an engineer or pharmacist, but one out of two parents isn’t a bad start, right?</p>
<p>I feel you @ThatPurpleKoala … I think AP chem will be a great way to see if you’re fit for the science field. I’m taking it right now and it’s actually a lot of fun 
Who knows, you might end up loving it :-bd </p>
<p>My (Asian) parents are totally against me going into Journalism. Like most stereotypical Asian parents, they want me to go into the medical field or law 
They just want me to study anything with a direct path to money, basically. I’m sure many other Asian Americans could relate.</p>
<p>My mom has always wanted me to be a doctor and was disappointed when I told her I wanted to pursue computer science. On the other hand, my dad doesn’t seem to care.</p>
<p>Three years ago, when I first told my parents that I wanted to major in astrophysics, they were disappointed. They said that there weren’t many jobs in that field and that I wouldn’t be making a lot of money.</p>
<p>I guess they kind of forgot because last year I was at a college fair with them and they were bugging me about what I wanted to major in and my mother seemed indifferent but my father was excited and even gave me a few lectures on the physics part of astrophysics. </p>
<p>My mom knows that I love math but I really only like it when it’s really challenging and “fun”. She says I should be a math teacher (i can’t explain things for my life) or an accountant (eww boring).
Last year I told her I wanted to do scientific research and she said “THAT SOUNDS SO BORING!”
This year I changed to biomedical engineering and she goes “WHAT? That’s for boys” ;she has no idea what biomedical engineering is. I still haven’t told my dad about it. I’m probably gonna get some kind of long lecture from him. </p>
<p>Literally the only career my parents approve of is engineering.My biggest passion is English, but they want me off their pay roll. Fair enough. Journalism? Similar story. Business? “What, with those white collar East Coast Wall Street drones? No.” Law? “Lawyers are arrogant but at least you’re off our pay roll. But do you really wanna be one of those corporate drones that only cares about money?” English undergrad and then law school? “No, what happens if you don’t get into law school?” City planning? “That’s a dead end”. Political science or international relations? “Politicians are crooked. Also, not enough money.” A minor in French? “Nobody uses that language, and the French are crooked and full of themselves.”</p>
<p>Not really sure what to do here. Does the fact that I would be miserable in an engineering job really have no value as long as I’m making money? Are business and law still not viable options even though I feel my skills work a lot better with these fields and that I would be good in them? Am I really not allowed to make for myself the choice between a big paycheck and a fulfilling career? </p>