<p>Just saying, it's ALOT to read and I'm too lazy to make a TL;DR summary at the bottom.</p>
<p>I got accepted into my number one choice, but my parents had wanted me to go to a college closer to home. My number one choice (Virginia Tech) is about four hours away from home but it is the better school for my major (chemistry). However, the college that my parents wanted me to go to (George Mason) is ALOT closer to home (about 30 minutes away without traffic) and it's cheaper than the one that I had wanted to go to. Virginia Tech is about $1000 more expensive than George Mason, but has better credentials. Anyways, my parents and I (mostly my dad) had fought over where I had wanted to go. </p>
<p>A week later, they come up to me and say to think carefully about my decision since the college that I go to will be my home for the next four years. I did, and over the course of the night, I weighed my options. I looked at the pros and cons of both Virginia Tech and George Mason. George Mason is cheaper and in a more urban area then Virginia Tech, but Tech has the better reputation and is more suitable for my major. </p>
<p>I told my dad that night that I now wanted to go to George Mason, even though I desperately wanted to go to Tech. My parents were ecstatic, and when they had asked why I had responded with "It's because I'm not very street smart, and I don't know what I will do if i get into any trouble down in VT". It's a BS reason really. Anyways, we had paid the matriculation fee that night also; I signed up for orientation, did housing, and accepted my FAFSA over the course of that week. My parents were really proud of me and promised me that they would buy a car for me next year.</p>
<p>The real reason why I didn't choose to go to Virginia Tech is that I thought I was being selfish by going to a college that I had wanted to go to and majoring in what I had wanted to do. My parents want me to become a doctor, but I want to go into chemistry and do research or work in a crime lab instead. I felt guilty about it, and I haven't told anyone about the truth surrounding my decision. So I decided to make a trade of some sort: going to a college that my parents would like while I major in the subject that I wanted. I thought that it would alleviate some of the criticisms that they would say to me.</p>
<p>I still want to go to Tech very badly, but since I had decided to give in, I don't have much to complain about do I? I promised myself to not talk about it anymore because what's done is done. However, I would like some guidance on this issue before I completely bury it away.</p>
<p>You can have a great time and get a great chemistry education at either school. Some people put a lot of stock in rankings, but the reality is that at ANY school, what you get out of it depends on what you put in. One of the best incoming grad students in chemistry that I’ve ever known did his undergraduate work at the University of Tulsa; meanwhile students coming from some larger schools with stronger academic reputations had obvious gaps in their understanding of chemistry. If you rely on the school’s reputation to educate you, you’ll come out lacking.</p>
<p>Philosophically, I have serious problems with parents who try to make the college decision for their kids, and even more so with parents who try to choose their kid’s career. I’ve had those kids in my class many times, and they’re always miserable. But in terms of the schools themselves, there really isn’t a wrong choice and you haven’t hurt yourself by committing to George Mason. You now need to embrace the opportunities that GM offers and bloom where you’re planted.</p>
<p>Personally no offense, you made a terrible decision. VT is $1000 more so basically you decided your next 4 years based on a $4000 extra that if you worked hard could probably make that in one summer. You didn’t follow your heart instead you were too afraid to stand up to your parents.</p>
<p>George mason is a great school and youll do well and hopefully end up loving it. </p>
<p>Now that your going to GMU try as hard as possible to only look at the bright side and have fun. Its college, plus your getting a car!!! So not all bad haha.</p>
<p>STOP. The decision in made, don’t look at the cons. Go over your pros of GMU and embrace them. Look at the bright side. A car, making your parents happy, close to home, urban, saving money… Learn to love the school. Now for your career path, you will need to discuss with your parents, its your career, not theirs…</p>
<p>College is only four years - a career decision could last much longer and is worth fighting for. If you have to pick your battles (and it sounds like that’s what you did), then save it for your career choice. However, do not have this ‘battle’ before you need to: There is no such thing as a ‘pre-med’ major - just a series of pre-reqs you have to fulfill (including a year each of organic and inorganic chem). So you can major in chemistry, do the research you love, and take the classes in forensics and aim for the career you want. When it comes time to apply to grad school, that’s when you talk about how much you love the choice you’ve made and express your hope that you’ve demonstrated maturity and good judgement in the last four years, so now it’s time for them to trust you as you take the next step towards your chosen career. </p>
<p>And no, you did not make a bad choice. I know you feel a bit ambushed and badgered by your parents (who ought to have backed off), but you made the best decision you could under the circumstances. There were no ‘bad’ choices here, just the one you wanted more, but decided wasn’t worth the fight. Enjoy the perks they are offering in exchange. And make the most of your next four years.</p>
<p>Yes they will be getting me a car but I feel as though they are bribing me with it. So I won’t be going along with it. Even if they do get me one, I’ll probably just tell them to sell it back.</p>
<p>Also, I’m trying to look on the bright side. Most of my friends will be going there, and my boyfriend will be too hahaha. Also, I enjoy the city more and there’s always things to do around here.</p>
<p>It may be a bribe - but it may also be that they want you to understand, in a tangible way, that by picking the cheaper school, you have more options: If you don’t want a car, ask if they will support study abroad for a year, internships instead of paid positions over the summer, extra money for nicer housing later on, or perhaps even help you pay for graduate school. It’s not the car that they are offering - it’s the opportunities that go with not being financially constrained to such a degree. </p>
<p>Keep in mind too that they may not have been able to afford the other option, but were embarrassed to say this to you - they may have felt they were letting you down. By choosing the less expensive option, you let them save face a bit. I realize you probably would have preferred honesty from them - if they can’t afford it, they should have said so, and said it up front. But you don’t get to pick your parents. Instead, be glad they want to pay for your education.</p>