<p>Hi guys...this is my first post. Help me out? </p>
<p>I was recently admitted to Tufts as a member of the Class of 2016. This should be news to celebrate, but I'm not thrilled with my family right now. </p>
<p>I want to double major in Biochemistry and Political Science, but as I'm Asian, my parents dislike the idea of majoring in the social sciences...and they say that I can ONLY major in the biochem department @ Tufts to go to med school later. Now, I WILL be a doctor, as that's my interest, but I also am very interested in politics. This troubles me, thus, and my parents, irritated, say that if I choose to major in both, they won't pay for my college education. I'm a poor HS Senior, and how the heck will I pay for my own college education? What should I do? I'm lost and confused, because I REALLY do not wish to give up Poli Sci...and my parents won't pay if I don't...Tufts is wicked expensive...and this is really worrying me. </p>
<p>^ They will … They’re very strict. I have tried to be a good student in school, and I think I have, and I listen to them…but on this I will not budge. And yes, they’ll make sure that I’m majoring in only Biochem if they pay.</p>
<p>And ^^ I can’t do Poli Sci as an elective because I REALLY want to major in it. It’s a true passion of mine. </p>
<p>Well, if your choice is between not going to college because your parents wont pay it and taking a few polisci classes as electives… which one would you pick?</p>
<p>Also, do your parents know that med schools dont really care what you major in as long as you take the required classes + have a really high GPA?</p>
<p>Get a B.A. in PoliSci, take the med school classes (Calc, chem, orgo, bio etc etc) and boom you’re done! This is especially important if you think you can get a higher GPA in PoliSci than Biochem.</p>
<p>^^ LOL, JoBenny, but I had the same thought. </p>
<p>OP, I don’t know your parents but I would bet they won’t refuse to pay for your education. They sound pretty ambitious for you and cutting you off because you’re double majoring is like cutting their nose to spite their face. What they MAY be thinking is that a double major could take time away from your science courses which could put med school at risk. It’s up to you to show them, by doing well, that’s not the case. Also, you may want to educate them a bit about medical school: do some googling and show them the zillions of current articles that show well-rounded candidates – even those who majored in social sciences and even, horrors, humanities! – getting in/succeeding in even the top medical schools in the country.</p>
<p>Can you print the biography of Jim Yong Kim and show it to your parents? Just a short excerpt…</p>
<p>“Jim Yong Kim grew up the son of Korean immigrants in Iowa. Campaigning for George McGovern in the 1968 Presidential race, he was drawn to social activism, but ended up studying medicine. Luckily, Harvard Medical School offered a dual-degree program in Anthropology and Medicine, and Jim was able to work on social activism and medicine at the same time…”</p>
<p>If you want to be a doctor, my advice would be to start out as a biochem major, get all A’s. Don’t worry about poly sci. (ok, maybe an elective or two).</p>
<p>Then when you’ve shown that you can do the work in biochem and maintain the grades, and when you’ve got your track record down, revisit the issue with your parents.</p>
<p>Tell your parents that the Poli Sci classes are “easy” to help boost your GPA for med school. Also tell them that Med Schools like students who have “diverse” interests (which is TRUE actually) and that would help in the application process (for med school) by making you seem “different” from the other applicants. Oh yeah and one of my best friends in High School MAJORED in HISTORY and took pre-med requirements and got into Med School - true story.</p>
<p>I suggest to just postpone this fight with your parents until later, when you have some college under your belt. Would they allow you to have a poli sci minor?</p>
<p>Unlike sciences and engineering, political science is one of those majors where it is possible to declare it late and still graduate on time, because there are not long strings of pre-requisites. (My son is a poli sci major, and although requirements vary at each school, at his school after you have taken any one of several intro poli sci classes you can take pretty much any upper level class. He only ended up taking one poli sci class his freshman year, and will have no problem graduating on time.) </p>
<p>Even as a biochem major, I assume that Tufts will require you to take some classes that fulfill distribution requirements. Study what the poli sci major requirements are, and during your freshman year try to pick a couple of classes that kill two birds with one stone - fulfill poli sci major requirements and distribution requirements at the same time. </p>
<p>Make sure to tell your adviser that you are interested in possibly double-majoring or minoring in poli sci. Look for poli sci related ECs to participate in. </p>
<p>Then a year from now, try to have the discussion with your parents again. Once you actually have some college experience, you will be much better able to argue your points.</p>
<p>I don’t even know how your parents would even really know. Usually you can change your schedule after parents have looked at it. You sign up for classes, your parents look, then you change it. I doubt they’d remember later what they approved. lol If they do notice, tell them that the classes are padding your GPA</p>
<p>But really, parents really don’t have that much control once you’re in college. You’ll probably have a lot more freedom than you think.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t get this kind of thing…waaaay over-stepping boundaries.</p>
<p>While this happens in all kinds of families, it is seemingly more prevalent in Asian families. I have seen it over and over and over. They are overzealous about success and also overzealous about the prestige of the college and then overzealous about how to raise kids and running (ruining) their lives. </p>
<p>The culture of Asian families is that absolute authority comes from the top down and there is no negotiation and kids are expected to do what they are told and not argue about it, they are expected to perform to perfection and are often abused emotionally and psychologically if they don’t. </p>
<p>I’m sorry, but its just what I have observed over and over. No…its not every Asian family and I am sure its a generalization, but most Asians who are honest will tell you that is the environment/culture they grow up in.</p>
<p>Mostly Asians only respect medicine and math/engineering. They regard everything else, notably the liberal arts as weak and some sort of character flaw. Which of course is absolutely absurd and WRONG! </p>
<p>And yes, they disown and disavow and cutoff kids who don’t follow their narrow minded ambitions and directives. Its very sad. Seen it done.</p>
<p>I’ve seen kids in Youth Orchestra have nervous breakdowns because they werent number one violin and didnt get straight A’s.</p>
<p>I agree with the general consensus, go to Tufts, major in biochem (or whatever science you decide) and take as many poli-sci classes as you can in your major. From what I gather, med schools do like double-majors or people who major in a non-science subject so I’d talk to the pre-med adviser once you get to school and see if you can get information about that. If you find out that having a double major could enhance your med school chances, maybe your parents will listen.</p>
<p>I was a business major in college but have a passion for history. While I didn’t double-major, I took a lot of wonderful upper level history courses at college (I was often the only non-history major in the class). I did not double major in part because it allowed me the flexibility to pick and choose classes of particular interest to me since I did not have to fill any specific requirements for a degree. To me the classes/education were more important than having two majors. Don’t worry so much about if you can double major or not, just find elective classes that interest you.</p>
<p>And I understand your parents are difficult, but you are also very fortunate to have them paying for your education at a great school (even with their conditions). Good luck.</p>
<p>I wonder if at some point, the kind of pressure that Sovereign describes won’t be determined to be Emotional Abuse and these parents may find themselves in legal trouble? That may be the only way to stop excessive and ridiculous and DANGEROUS child-rearing practices. Child Protective Services shows up and tells these parents that they’re guilty of Tiger Terror. ;)</p>
<p>I would find ways to quietly take the classes that I wanted to take. Let them see the schedule, then change it the next day. Grade reports often just list a course number or some vague thing that they probably won’t even know that the classes are. Keep telling them that the classes are Gen Ed. lol</p>
<p>Show them this article from last Sunday’s New York Times Education section. Starting in 2015 (with your incoming class) the MCAT is shifting its focus to require more social science emphasis. There will be a new section dealing with psychology and sociology (not exactly, Pol Sci), but you might be able to use it to bolster your arguments. However, don’t let them see the charts (linked on the left) because they show that most med-school applicants majored in the sciences, ;-).</p>
<p>There’s a reason why nearly all pre-med students major in science: Once they take all the classes they need to take for medical school, they might as well major in it – and usually don’t have time for anything else. Realistically, you probably would need to major in a science, but if you can get as many political science classes in as possible (“to fill general college [or similar thing] requirements,” you can tell your parents), then you might be able to pull a double major or minor off kind of at the last minute.</p>
<p>i imagine your parents view Poly Sci as a direction for the less motivated.</p>
<p>I bet they will understand and approve of your passion if they can connect an ambition to it. I would recommend writing an essay that details your career goals - civil rights attorney, US Senator, Foreign Ambassador, etc…</p>
<p>this will not only help you focus on your future but will help to communicate your passions to them. heck, this can also be used to garner scholarships if your folks choose to not support your ambitions.</p>
<p>The key to this suggestion is two fold:
to write it out. Many Asian cultures do not view their children as an authentic or as a credible resource. Perhaps they are ‘culturally conditioned’ to not take your point of view as worthy. By reading your statements in an organized and articulate form, they may attach more credibility to your wishes.</p>
<p>2) by organizing and articulating your thoughts, you will benefit by attaching a physical plan making your wishes a certainty vs a dream. remember, defined goals are FAR more likely to happen than hopes…</p>
<p>There’s a reason why nearly all pre-med students major in science: Once they take all the classes they need to take for medical school, they might as well major in it – and usually don’t have time for anything else</p>
<p>This is true…when you look what STEM majors require for lower division and you look at the pre-med pre-reqs, they’re often very closely the same…</p>
<p>pre-med pre-reqs</p>
<p>1 year of Gen Chem (2 semesters or 3 quarters)
1 year of Bio (the one for majors)
1 year of Ochem (the one for majors)
1 year of Physics (the one of majors)
Calculus and/or Stats
optional: BioChem, genetics, Cell bio, more math, etc.</p>
<p>With all of those pre-med credits, it is often just easier to major in bio, chem, or similar.</p>
<p>I do not get the OP’s parents point. I sort of get you must be a pre-med and major in a science … which the OP is covering by being a pre-med with a biochemistry major. Why is having a second major a bad thing?<br>
Would they prefer the OP load up in extra science courses? This could easily hurt the overall GPA and hurt med school odds.<br>
Are they afraid it will cause the OP to take extra classes and possibly hurt her/his GPA and odds for grad school? (if true this might be a legit concern)
If the second major fits within the normal elective suggestions why do they care … do they want to pick all the electives also?</p>
<p>If the OP wanted to only major in Poly Sci and be a pre-med I can sort of see the parents objection (I do not agree but can see the position) … however if Poly Sci is a second major I really do not get the objections … and also agree it seems you could probably get to the double major without your parents explicitly being involved (at least until you are a senior).</p>
… They’re very strict. I have tried to be a good student in school, and I think I have, and I listen to them…but on this I will not budge. And yes, they’ll make sure that I’m majoring in only Biochem if they pay.</p>