<p>I know as a child of Asian parents you are supposed to obey them. It is very hard for American kids to put themselves into that mindset. I don't think I can fully get into that mindset myself. </p>
<p>However, there are some universal truths about the parent-child relationship as one goes off to college: parents think they know what is right for you for one, when often they don't, and the second is that it doesn't surprise me at all that you list yourself as living in MA and Northeastern is in MA. They may really be sad about losing you as you leave the nest. The argument for NE may simply be an argument for wanting you to be close.</p>
<p>The final thing is that they will ultimately respect you more if you stand up for yourself. This seems to be a universal truth about parents. My Dad railed against me when I went to live in Asia after college, but a couple of years later he was bragging about how I speak Chinese, etc.</p>
<p>I would look at things rationally and not emotionally, though, in coming up with a response for them:</p>
<p>1) They are going to miss you. Tell them you promise to come home at least once a month from Princeton to see them (if you can afford that). Maybe every two months.</p>
<p>2) Pharmacy as a field. How safe is it? Do your homework. I thought the field of pharmacy had been collapsing for several years now mostly because of the change in the shape of the field. I could be wrong, but get the facts. You can debate these facts with them. It seems that if you want to go to work in the field of pharmacy these days, you end up working for a pharmaceutical or biotech firm, at best. Have you thought about studying pre-med or biology in school? If so, there's an easy answer right there: you can end up in the medical field coming from Princeton. No need to go to Northeastern. If you want to study something more liberal artsy, this argument breaks down. But what would help is if you have as clear a plan as possible in mind and and are able to present it to them cohesively. I want to study x and to law school or some such thing. Back it up with well-thought-out reasoning. Since you said you want to go into business, get a recruiting list for graduating undergrads from Princeton. Show your parents what they do and how much they start out at salary-wise. That should be very persuasive. Put a presentation together for them on it.</p>
<p>3) Money. Ultimately, they hold the keys to this it sounds like. Because if they don't help, you can't go to Princeton (though maybe you could go loan-funded to Brown) it sounds like. Let them know, if they accept it, that you'd offer to pay them back after you graduate. This is complicated; maybe you've got siblings that will need their financial help too. They also have to think of them. It may be the only fair thing for you to do ultimately for you to go to NE; you haven't shared your situation financially. One thing you could do to demonstrate how much you realize what a sacrifice they'd be making is to tell them you are contacting Princeton to ask for more money. Get some coaching from folks on the best way to approach Princeton for this, and then do it.</p>
<p>Get over this idea that you'll be disappointing your parents if you go to Princeton. That idea is laughable. The parents of about 99% of the people on this board would be proud as punch to have kids go to Princeton. They may fear your giving up a so-called (investigate this!) stable field to chance the unknown. They may feel financially strained to the breaking point to send you there (and in this case you may need to pass up Princeton). But disappointed they will not be, no matter what they tell you!</p>
<p>God gave you a good shot at going to Princeton too -- and the other places -- if you want to look at it like that. This is not persuasive to me.</p>
<p>When you've gone through the rational reasons and shot them down, all they'll be left with is the emotional ones. As I said, try to manage those too: 1) I'll come home. 2) I have a good plan to ensure my security. 3) I'll pay back your loans to me over time.</p>
<p>I am not going to tell you to go to Princeton for sure because it's not clear without knowing your parents' financial situation what would be the best thing to do. However, I can tell you if you go to NE and get a pharmacy degree and it turns out to be something you don't really like, that could end up feeding enough unhappiness to last a lifetime -- and your parents surely don't want this, especially since they'll have the blame for it. It's your life: live it.</p>