<p>My dad (an alchoholic) is dead set on me studying engineering and becoming an engineer. Originally, I was mildly interested in math/science, but as the years wore on I realized deep down how much I actually hate math/science and how absolutely boring and dull in my opinion, they are. I have a desire to become a lawyer or a public-office holder (I’m already a major national officer figure in youth/high school politics, democratic party) and after reading extensively about some of the things to keep in mind when going for law school, namely that GPA+LSAT = accepted/denied, I realized that since;</p>
<li>I hate math/science</li>
<li>I’m not very good at them at all, especially science</li>
<li>Since engineering majors give out some of the lowest GPA’s</li>
</ol>
<p>Thus: If I study Engineering, I will probally fail and never have a chance to get into a top law school even with a high LSAT. Personally I’m more interested in political science or philosophy, which I’ve heard are good preperation programs for law school anyway, and most of the time give out high GPA’s as well.</p>
<p>So thus my point is, how do I convince my parents to allow me to study these fields I’m more interested in instead of engineering which would prob. cause me to eventually drop out of college? My dad is hard-core deadset on it, and since he controls the money and also is a overarching figure himself, I’m quite not sure what route to take. I was thinking of going to a school w/ both engineering and pol/phil programs and then switching midway, mabye after my dad’s frevor cooled a bit, but that wouldn’t really repair the damage that the engineering courses I would have to take in the begining would do to my GPA (Since ill be skipping most general core courses w/ my 11 APs and some college classes).</p>
<p>IT- I'm sorry about your home situation. I hope you are able to find some peace and comfort with your friends and other family members. </p>
<p>now getting to the question-
did you check out University of Rochester?? Very fine school and it has the "Rochester curriculum" which allows you to take a broad range of subjects. They have engineering as well as the social sciences. U of Roch. was definitely near the top of my kids list. </p>
<p>As my d is now a senior at Cornell, it's been a few years since I really checked the U of R website, BUT: U of R has a few different merit scholarships to HS juniors. Your HS has to nominate you for the award in the winter of your junior year. (that's now!!) That includes the Bosch and Lomb awards and a Humanities Award (Susan B.Anthony/Frederick Douglass??) It had a different name when my kid went to HS. so please speak to your guidance counselor about U of R when you get back from Xmas break.</p>
<p>If you want to try to combine some engineering as well as the social sciences, U of R may have the type of curriculum which allows you to do just that.
Good luck!!</p>
<p>
[quote]
...and most of the time give out high GPA's as well.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No major gives out high GPA's. Just to be clear.</p>
<p>No particular advice, but I've known many in your situation, all of whom have come through it okay. Engineering-->Philosophy was my own change of heart, and while there were no serious consequences (just a period of bitterness and a few intense years of philosopher jokes), it still wasn't easy on my family. I hope this works out for you...best of luck.</p>
<p>ETA: Have you discussed this particular issue with your dad? Not just "I don't want to major in Engineering," but explained your interest in law school, the importance of GPA, your concerns with a technical major, your disinterest, and so forth? In a few cases that I've seen, parents have been dead-set on Engineering majors b/c they believe them to be the most employable/bankable. If it's clear to your dad that you do have a decent and viable career path in mind, maybe he'll be more accepting.</p>
<p>Well, I talked about it with him once and he said that he hates lawyers and would never want to see me become one, even though he didnt sound as deadset on it as the thing about engineering. So, eh. Later though he said that it was still far off and 'might' be a consideration AFTER I "get my engineering degree". </p>
<p>But the high GPA thing is based on what I believe I can accomplish - that I will personally be able to probally get a higher GPA in the social sciences rather than engineering because of my interests and abilities.</p>
<p>If totally impossible: Unlike college, it is possible to take out the full amount of tuition/living expenses in loans for law school. He will not be able to hold you down on that one. You can also pretend to study engineering when you are studying something else...or bail out later.</p>
<p>You know what also works? Just doing whatever you want and not telling him. Colleges don't even mail grades home, so he won't know what classes you're taking, and you can keep him thinking you're doing engineering. And then you can show him your acceptance letter to Harvard Law and he may change his mind. If not, Harvard has more money than God, and their loan forgiveness programs are excellent.</p>
<p>Worked with me....I told my mom I'm minoring in law and society and majoring econ because I had an interest in law and she was kind of against me studying law too, but now she jokes that "I'm gonna end up going to law school." after I told her I'm in the prelaw society and I plan to join mock trial next year. Of course, I also told her if I can't get a job in finance, I'll just go to law school and become a corporate lawyer. I think I'll do an IB internship sometime during college and then say something like "it didn't work out." And yes, law school's my first choice now, and finance is plan B.</p>
<p>You're in a bit of a situation. If your father controls the money, then of course he will be able to influence your education. As such, with your father in control, you will probably be forced to take an engineering curriculum that you have no interest in. I assume you'd much rather prefer political science.</p>
<p>As such, my advice is to stop relying on your father for funding, take a loan out, and study what you want. You will be able to pay back the loans after you graduate.</p>
<p>Don't let pops ruin your life because he's a capricious ****<strong><em>. There are all sorts of good suggestions here. You can simply lie and tell him you're engineering courses are going great. Plan for the law school (LSAT, applications etc..) privately. If the *</em></strong> hits the fan you can simply take out loans and pay for your own education. </p>
<p>This will be a lot easier if you live away from home. Hopefully you're living at college. Either way, if you play your cards right, they won't find out until you're in law school, which will break their heart, but you'll be old enough by then that you can condemn them to hell.</p>
<p>The key is to show them. Take an engineering class and get an F in it on purpose. They will probably change their mind.</p>
<p>Only do this if you're desperate. I did this in high school although I didn't go as far as to get an F, but it was bad enough to convince my parents that I should study econ and law instead of whatever they wanted me to do.</p>
<p>I would recommend persistence. State matter-of-factly whenever the topic comes up that as much as you admire engineers, that's not how your mind really works, and tell him that you plan to play to your strengths by focusing on subjects for which you have an affinity while you're an undergrad in preparation for law school. Tell him you have too much respect for him, and for how hard he has worked for his money, to ask him to subsidize a course of education for which you have little aptitude.</p>
<p>as stated before your grades will not go home without you permission. Also, many good schools have some kind of core curriculum and freshman requirements. Which gives you plenty of room to maneuver as long as you don't go to a strictly engineering focused school, which you can accomplish by the " i want a well-rounded education" type conversation. You should also be able to access some type of counseling/guidance once you are away from home, that wil enable you to deal more effectively with the situation. Good luck to you. In the long run, being successful will give you confidence, you may or may not win your faher's approval, no matter what you do. Live for yourself. (IMO)</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice everyone, I think I will try to follow the route of first going to a school w/ a general core curriculum and then after its over manuever my way into a eco/political science major or such. My dad was originally considering only engineering schools for me (RPI, RIT) but he already agreed that I can try out a few more broad schools in terms of educational curriculum, so it may just work! I'll still try to talk w/ my parents about it but if it all fails then I dont want to get a 2.0 GPA in college and will try the predescribed method.</p>
<p>I go to RPI, and I am in the accelerated management/law program. It turns out this program is a feeder to top law schools. RPI has the power to nominate students to Columbia. If you have a good GPA, and you get an LSAT score somewhere in the range of Columbia you are in. If you wanted something different from Columbia you simply apply on your own. Most kids go to either Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Cornell, Columbia, UVA, and Chicago.</p>
<p>The good news for you is that there is no set program and there are no required courses for someone who is thinking of attending law school. In other words, no major is going to prevent you from going to law school. I would recommend that whatever your major you take some writing classes that require some critical evaluation, which may be helpful to you later. You may also want to consider a class in introductory logic as well. Otherwise, try to do your best in whatever major you choose and worry about law school later.</p>
<p>Engineering will not only give you a great degree, but will also give you a great boost for law school. The below does not give a great description, but patent law practice is more favorable for people with the sci/engin. background than a more liberal arts background.</p>
<p>College students who are contemplating the field of patent law as a career choice should major in engineering, physics or the natural sciences (such as chemistry and biochemistry). In order to eventually practice in this field, an aptitude and liking for science and technology is an absolute must. College students should also take, in addition to courses in the desired technical subject, courses which cultivate skills in organization and communication. An understanding of marketing, economics, accounting, mathematics, and languages, though less essential, will also be helpful. A college student who has not made a firm career decision can follow the course of study outlined here and finish college prepared for a career in science or engineering, business, law in general, or patent law.</p>
<p>One intellectual property law career position that does not require a law degree is that of an examiner with the USPTO. The USPTO generally requires that an applicant for such a position have a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in a scientific or engineering subject. An applicant is not required, however, to have a law background, but may later acquire legal training at a local university while working in the USPTO. Interested students should contact the USPTO for its current technical requirements.
taken from: <a href="http://www.abanet.org/intelprop/patentprep.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.abanet.org/intelprop/patentprep.html</a></p>