<p>I really want to go to Purdue and Rose-Hulman for engineering in college. But I can't even show genuine interest for those schools in front of my parents. Everytime I do, they start giving me a lecture about the importance of going to a "prestigious" university, like Stanford and Harvard (both of which I can't get into). They always tell me how those four years at a "prestigious" college will determine my future/how successful I am. They've even threatened not to pay tuition unless it's a "good" school. I just think I will be a lot happier at Purdue and Rose and just wish my parents would give them a chance. =[</p>
<p>No, luckily I actually have mature, realistic, and open-minded parents. Those tuition threats might just be blank ones. My suggestion: apply to the schools you want to go to as well as the ones your parents want to. After that happens, then reconsider based on what schools you actually were accepted at. Maybe try to get a full scholarship to Purdue, then your parents have no control over your choice. Become famous and do something important in life with that lowly Purdue diploma. Then, rub it in your parent's faces. And your parents are fools to think you can't become anything by attending a so-called "non-prestigious" school.</p>
<p>I had a teacher that went to Purdue. She said her parents threatened to stop paying tuition if she got a C in a class, but when she studied hard and still only got that C they didn't yank the money. Maybe they're bluffing.</p>
<p>You could always bring them to this site. The parents here are incredibly intelligent when it comes to the quality of lesser known colleges. Of course, les parents could also stumble across the chances thread and find a troll post and command you to become Queen of the Universe, asap. </p>
<p>When you talk to them, tell them that you know the Ivies are good schools but that, ultimately, they're just an athletic league. There are other schools that are less selective and offer the same quality opportunities--perhaps even better in the world of engineering, which isn't exactly the Ivies' strong suit. Show them the Results threads on the Ivy forums and say, "Look, I know these are awesome schools, but even people who are more qualified than I am get rejected. I'd rather look for a school that's realistic for me to get into and has the programs I need. I will go farther in a program that suits me, and that's how my future will be determined--by how I do in my surroundings, even if they're not covered in ivy."</p>
<p>Or something a bit less cheesy, haha. But you get the point.</p>
<p>"The parents here are incredibly intelligent when it comes to the quality of lesser known colleges."</p>
<p>I don't know about that. They came here for one thing, and it's exactly what Modulation's parents want. Otherwise, they wouldn't be here. Personally, I pity all the parents that are a part of this forum.</p>
<p>lol my parents are the opposite..they believe that going to a not-so-prestigious-college is better off because medschool is like more than 60k a year..so basically they're being practical..and they are kinda right..i mean to be a doctor its not only a long way to go..but a pricey one too</p>
<p>The parents that you describe sound like a real pair of nutcakes! Purdue and Rose Hulman both are great schools. Has your guidance counselor talked with them at all about schools that are good matches for your interests, grades, and personality? Maybe they will listen to another adult.</p>
<p>No, fortunately, I have open-minded, tolerant parents.</p>
<p>I think if you really don't want to go to those schools, bs your applications so that you'll surely get rejected. Your parents can't do anything if you really get rejected.</p>
<p>Rose is a wonderful school. I would take a visit and show them. I would also pull the retention rate on engineering on both Rose show them. Be sure to show the engineering program at any other school not just the retention rate as a whole while comparing other schools.</p>
<p>talk to 'em. sit them down and be like, "well MIT, stanford, duke, WashU, JHU, georgetown etc etc are all not ivies but they are just as great."</p>
<p>i hate it when parents do that. mine actually thought JHU was crappy b/c they've never heard of it... but then they don't speak much english and i'm also the only and first child. not to mention, they've only been here for less than 10 yrs and only recently (as in the last 1.5 years) have i started to look at colleges. however, they ARE understanding. the only thing is -- they don't want me to go to a school more than 2 hours away......that's like kinda a joke.</p>
<p>2 hours? That would only leave me with UCLA, Caltech, CSULA, CSUDH, USC, LMU, Pepperdine, Occidental and the Claremont colleges. :) There are probably a few more.</p>