Dad won't let me major in engineering... what do I do?

<p>tell your dad to stop being a sexist. but really, you should do want you want and what makes you happy, and its not like engineering is not a respectable profession. i hope you can find some way to do what you want, maybe you could go to school then declare your self an engineering major</p>

<p>Engineering is an outstanding career choice for a man or a woman - especially a woman because if you are good, you will be on the fast track to advancement. Great pay, job security. </p>

<p>There are probably networking groups or professional organizations for female engineers - try to find something out about that. Maybe a mentor could help you come up with information that might make Dad feel better. There all all kinds of engineers. You could try to educate your father (or enlist the help of mom) , but if you don’t think he is open to that then go to college and start with the basics to get your core classes. </p>

<p>If your heart is set on it, you might have to figure out how to complete your degree on your own terms ( and with your own cash). Good luck.</p>

<p>If I can, for a moment, I would like to quote a song called “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine.</p>

<p>“**** YOU, I WON’T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!”</p>

<p>Listen to that song and scream the last part of it (the part I typed) at your dad.</p>

<p>I agree that your dad is being unreasonable. What does he believe would be an appropriate major for a bright young woman?</p>

<p>Sorry, double post.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Agreement++;</p>

<p>Seriously though, your parents’ views should NOT discourage you from doing what you want or what you are good at. I have seen so many people with great potential be destroyed because their parents are conservative and stubborn. Don’t become one of those withered camelia.</p>

<p>Why should your father control your life?</p>

<p>Its not his decision, its yours.</p>

<p>“Unless your father reads over your application, he wouldn’t know what you’ve indicated is your intended major. Most parents aren’t that involved.”</p>

<p>I’m afraid I disagree with Northstarmom on this. I would avoid directly disobeying your father until you are out of the house and living elsewhere. There is nothing to be gained by picking a fight with him when it isn’t absolutely necessary. Yes, you may lose scholarship opportunities, but that’s the decision he has made. Unless he agrees that you should potentially apply as an engineer, he is not going to cooperate with your application for engineering scholarships. Most of the scholarship applications my daughter has completed have required, a very least, that I, her parent, sign off as to the truthfullness of the application’s contents. It’s going to be hard to get a signature from your father without him knowing what you are doing. Even if that isn’t a requirement, it’s sneaky and disrespectful. </p>

<p>Parents do change their minds-especially when presented with the evidence of their children’s success and happiness. Sometimes, unfortunately, it comes after the fact. Sometimes never. Living with your choices is part of growing up, but few people can live their choices when constantly in opposition to the person who supports them. Once you have more independence, you will be in a better position to make choices and defend them. (And what if you change your mind after getting to school and decide that engineering isn’t what you wanted after all? Pick your battles.)</p>

<p>“Most of the scholarship applications my daughter has completed have required, a very least, that I, her parent, sign off as to the truthfullness of the application’s contents. It’s going to be hard to get a signature from your father without him knowing what you are doing”</p>

<p>I’ve never had to sign my sons’ scholarship apps, and I have run scholarship competitions and didn’t require a parents’ signature.</p>

<p>I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the OP applying as a prospective engineering major to colleges where she may be able to get a full ride or enough scholarship money that the loans she can take out on her own (I think that’s $2,500-$5,000 a year, depending what year in college they are, is what students can get on their own). </p>

<p>The idea is that if her father isn’t willing to pay for her to major in engineering, she may be able to get scholarships and relatively small loans to fund her way.</p>

<p>I am a senior level manager working for a Fortune 500 engineering company and also I am an adjunct professor at a highly regarded engineering school. Engineering is a great field for females, in fact most companies are dying to hire more females. Engineering grads get paid very well also. Maybe your answer is to let your dad see this thread.</p>

<p>You should go to the Society of Women Engineer’s webpage and try poking around to see if they have any sort of member directory or mentoring program. See if there would be any way to find an established female engineer who would be willing to sit down and talk with you and your father about the pros and cons of being a female in engineering.</p>

<p>Also, you haven’t actually said what your dad wants you to do in college. Does he feel it’s just so you can get a Mrs. degree?</p>

<p>if things don’t work out i’d leave. like literally become an independent student (get a job pay own taxes etc). I personally can’t stand someone limiting my education. Because of your situation, colleges would be generous to you in financial aid. the main problem however isn’t the money, its your dad. You need to convince him or else ignore him and move on with your life.</p>

<p>i suggest declaring ur major as something other than engineering…then take a few engineering classes when you are actually in college…after taking the engineering courses there is a possibility that u might change your mind but if not you can always double major and look for scholarships to help u out…</p>

<p>If you’re applying to schools where there is no separate engineering college, or it isn’t impossible to transfer, talk to your advisors about your situation.</p>

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he doesn’t know what he is talking about.
Tell him for a girl to major engineering, you have much better chance to get scholarships and good job in the future. they wan’t to promote women scientist/engineers. my dad always wants me to be an engineer, except i don’t want to. we should either change roles or change dads.</p>

<p>Is he going to be in your life 20 years from now? NO. So why should he tell you what to do?</p>

<p>I am truly sorry that your father does not agree with your choice of academic endeavor. Engineering is wholly worthwhile and while it’s not the easy road academically or socially(I’ve met many the guy in my engineering electives who’s thought I just wanna get laid).
If at all possible, I would try to civilly convince your father because as previous posters have mentioned, there are some great scholarships to be found as a woman interested in engineering.
Goodluck</p>

<p>I’m sorry to hear your dad is giving you grief. I am a female engineer (electrical engineering and computer science degrees) who went on to law school and became a successful patent attorney (for 20 years). That may be a good route for you. Explain to your dad that you want to be a patent attorney and engineering is just the pre-requisite. Maybe that will work? Good luck!</p>

<p>my ap bio teacher said his parents are hardcore christians. When he told them he was getting a degree in evolutionary biology, they pretty much flipped out. Still, they couldn’t do much, as my bio teacher was paying his own college tuition and stuff with a part time job.</p>

<p>“like literally become an independent student (get a job pay own taxes etc)”</p>

<p>Even if you get a fulltime job and live independently, it’s very difficult to be considered a financially independent student when it comes to college costs unless one has a baby, gets married, joins the military or waits until age 24, which is the age that colleges consider students to be financially independent.</p>