<p>I am a rising senior (current junior) who has done exceptionally well in school and on standardized tests. As such, while I understand that no school is a "lock", no school, with the exception of something like Juliard (which isn't what I'm looking for) is truly out of reach. I plan to major in engineering, and as such, currently MIT is at the top of my list. </p>
<p>The problem is, my parents are absolutely opposed to me applying to Stanford and Caltech, because they do not want me to go west. While those two schools my first choice, I would say that they are both definitely in my top 4. If I am not lucky enough to get into MIT, and didn't even get the chance to apply to Stanford and Caltech, I would be very disappointed with myself. I feel like I would have been missing out on a great opportunity, due to no fault of my own.</p>
<p>So my question is: How do I get my parents to allow me to apply? What should I say? And be honest, is my want to apply to these schools unreasonable?</p>
<p>there are tons of great engineering schools on the east coast other than MIT. Georgia Tech, University Of Illinois and Rose-Hulman are ranked by US News above Caltech for engineering. Michigan, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon and Purdue are also amazing engineering schools.</p>
<p>If you are really insistent on going out west, I would make sure that you are prepared to not see your parents a lot any more and that you are prepared for the long travel times. If so, keep working your parents since you have time. My parents didn’t want me to apply to schools in the south for a long time but after a visit and A LOT of persuasion, they finally let me (I managed to get rid of their stereotypes of the south). What are your reasons are that your parents don’t want you to go to the west?</p>
<p>just so everyone understands, I’m not really interested about hearing other engineering schools I should apply to. I have two safeties and a whole list of matches. About not seeing my parents… I could care less. I’m not going to see them no matter where I go to school.</p>
<p>My mom doesn’t want me going west because its far, and my dad doesn’t want me going west because of the cost of plane tickets. I think its pretty trivial because plane tickets are nothing compared to the cost of college. Moreover, my mom doesn’t want me to go west because all of the ivies are in the east.</p>
<p>hmm you do have to consider the cost that your parents will have to pay for: plane tickets…it’s insignificant but considering how much your parents are paying for your education, that’s a lot when you can stay closer and pay less to travel. And tell your mom that ivy league schools are traditionally not as good as other schools for engineering.</p>
<p>My mom is very biased towards Penn because she’s an alumni and we live in the area. She always tells me that they have a great engineering program, and I always reply: MIT, Stanford, and Caltech’s is better. I think she’s afraid that if I go out west, that I won’t come back, but I’ve told her that wherever I go, I’m not coming back home, so I don’t really understand why she’s so anti-california schools.</p>
<p>yeah there are 20-30 schools that one could argue are better than UPenn for engineering, anyways keep persuading them, parents really don’t want to let their kids “go” just yet (understandably) but one day if you keep persuading them, they’ll know what is right for you.</p>
<p>OP- Too soon in the process to be fighting, you got 6 months, so pick your battles wisely. Finish all your applications very early and maybe they will let you slip the forbidden 2 into the pile. Gotta act mature if you want to go west, young man.</p>