<p>Guys I need some help. So basically my problem is that my dad is dead set on me going to Cal because he thinks ranking is everything and it's just the better school. He thinks shipping me seven hours away will be a good thing to help me grow up. The only problem is that I really want to go to UCLA.</p>
<p>Of course he is not FORCING me to go, but he's thoroughly disappointed at my mindset. My mom, on the other hand, is fully supportive of my decision and thinks I should go through it. However, it's hard to sleep at night making such a big decision that conflicts with my dad so much - after all he is paying for tuition and has always been there for me growing up. Do you guys have any advice on how to deal with this sort of guy? He's just too caught up in rankings and thinks Cal's advantage in "prestige" makes it the only sensible decision. </p>
<p>Btw, I'm planning on majoring in Business Economics at UCLA because I didn't want to live the crazy cut-throat lifestyle that would come from trying to apply to Haas at Berkeley and also because I want to learn a little more before taking such narrowed courses.</p>
<p>Any help would be great guys, and also tips about bus econ at UCLA and recruitment!</p>
<p>Your dad will always feel disappointed and sad unless you can somehow make him understand that rankings (especially when two colleges are near the very top and close to one another) don’t mean much. It’ll be tough, but ask him why he thinks because one magazine says one school is “3rd” while another is, say, “5th.” His answer should serve as a starting point for you to destroy his arguments. There is really no way to get him to realize how hard line he is being without making him realize putting that much emphasis on rankings is obsessive and unhealthy. Not sure about his other reasons (such as making you grow up) that are probably tied to his personal beliefs about his family, but definitely make him understand the relative worthlessness of rankings when compared to reality.</p>
<p>You are the one who will be spending the next four years of your life at one of these schools. My daughter is a senior at UCLA. When ever she tells someone she goes there, or we tell someone our daughter goes to UCLA, people are always very impressed. UCLA is plenty prestigious. The main thing is that YOU have to be happy where you will be. In the end it is not the school or the degree that gets the job, it’s the person. Being in LA has been invaluable for my daughter as she has already had 4 internships in advertising/marketing, which is her area of interest. UCLA has a beautiful campus, beautiful weather, very motivated and dedicated students from all over the world. It really isn’t that different from Berkeley in that it is a world class university where you will have endless opportunities. </p>
<p>I have 2 daughters and we let them both decide where they wanted to go to college. I would never, in a million years force my daughter to go to one school over another, especially when the two schools are really equivalent. As a parent I advise you to stick to your guns and make your father understand that where you will be happy and where you will thrive is the right university for you. good Luck!</p>
<p>To be honest, I think you should just go to Berkeley.
If you can make your dad happy AND attend the more prestigious university, then its a no-brainer.</p>
<p>Take it from someone who spent their teen years doing things I absolutely hated in an effort to make my dad proud: don’t let him get to you. Go where you see yourself spending the next four years of your life. Not many high schoolers get to choose between UCLA and Cal, so just that in itself is an accomplishment.</p>
<p>My parents are EXACTLY the same you have no idea. My father has done the entire ranking/prestige/whatever card with me. My mom and dad both want me at cal, and im leaning toward UCLA right now (still considering CAL). my best advice is look up worldwide ranking, and dont look up graduate business programs. The truth is, business majors dont really rely on WHAT school you go to, its the opportunity. Im going into pre med, and ucla would be a better fit, but they cant get over rankings. The thing is, they would rather see you do well at a school than fail. ucb prides itself on its dropouts, and ucla does not. its the grade inflation that helps you. i think you need to sit them down and show them the stats, tell them they are ranked maybe 3 apart (which is the difference between a few kids honestly…) and show them that its your life now, not theirs. they cant decide everything for you…either way you cant go wrong best of luck and hope we both solve this!</p>
<p>You should go to Bruin Day with him! Who knows, maybe it will make you love UCLA even more and he will just see the happiness on your face and be totally convinced!</p>
<p>Well… it’s at least worth a shot haha. (Not to mention, they have some presentations directed at parents.)</p>
<p>Definitely going to Bruin Day actually! Taking the entire family, my sister’s now an alumni too so Im hoping she can do work with my dad ahahaha. And wow I never knew class sizes could get so big, is that not a problem at UCLA?</p>
<p>I just need that concrete evidence to let my dad know I’ll be successful in a business career going to UCLA even without an actual Business Administration degree I guess. Thanks so much for the replies guys!</p>
<p>For UCLA, I believe you also have to apply for the Business Econ major, though it doesn’t seem as hard to get into as Haas. However, I do think Berkeley Econ > UCLA Econ regardless so Berkeley is your best option anyhow. </p>
<p>And remember, as a Business Admin. major at Haas, you are only a couple of courses away from double majoring with an economics degree.</p>
<p>OP, did you ever visit Cal? If not, then you should at least visit it before you decides to go to UCLA, IMO.
Don’t get it wrong though. My son likes UCLA better than Cal, and I’m not forcing him to go to Cal. But I suggested that he should at least visit it during any admitted student events so he can get a better idea what Cal is, not just judging his likeness by “thinking”.
At the same time, like other posters suggested, you should take your dad to the Bruin day too.
Good luck!</p>
<p>Two years ago, my son was admitted to both UCLA and Berkeley engineering schools. I wanted him to go to Berkeley because their engineering school is ranked higher. He wanted UCLA. He said he felt at home at UCLA and that was the school for him. He loves UCLA! UCLA is tough but he’s happy. You are going to spend the next 4-5 years at the school you choose. You need to pick the school you feel most comfortable. Good luck!</p>
<p>I bet your dad is the type of guy who will be disappointed in you if you don’t become a doctor and make at least $100,000 for your entry level job.</p>
<p>I say you go to Cal just so you won’t have to deal with your parents.</p>
I agree with this … with little information it sounds like your Dad will “be disappointed in you” if you do not make the same decision as he would like you to … not just for this decision but lots of life decision. The thing is it is your life not his … as long as your parents will pay I’d vote go to the school you prefer.</p>
<p>When I picked my school a million years ago I picked a highly ranked school but turned down a higher ranked school … and my Mom disagreed so much she didn’t talk to me a for a week. She got over it … the next time she was with her family she was embarrassing me bragging about my school … and a few years later she had NO memory of being mad at me about me choice.</p>
<p>Just go to the college that will make you the happiest. Your dad will understand once you go there and see how happy you are. Your mom is supporting, so I guess she can turn your dad around within 4 years.</p>
<p>Aha well my dad won’t be disappointed, he just wants me to go to the college with the best opportunity. </p>
<p>And yes, I did visit Cal. While I didn’t hate it I still just love UCLA that much more. There honestly just isn’t a competition when I compared the feel of the two schools. Bruin day was just awesome! But in the end, my dad did say that I should stop considering his opinion so that I can make up my mind on my own decision. So thanks for all the input guys!</p>
best of luck and hope we both solve this!</p>