<p>Cucumber, I recommend reading Loren Pope’s books Looking Beyond the Ivy League and Colleges that Change Lives. Even though you are past the college selection stage, Pope makes an eloquent argument against the necessity of pushing the pre-professional track during the undergraduate college years. In his descriptions of the value of the liberal arts college, he makes some compelling arguments that may help you make your case. For example, he makes the point that very few people stay in the same job or even the same career indefinitely, today. It’s more important to develop the abiliity to be a critical thinker since that is something you will take with you for the rest of your life. If you were to train exclusively for a narrowly defined path, anything might happen - that career might even become obsolete! He also asks you to take a survey of the successful adults you know. In the majority of cases their college major is totally unrelated to their current career. The ability to develop critical thinking, leadership, and research skills in an excellent undergraduate institution are all invaluable and many times translate into an individual who is more flexible to adjust to the vagaries of any future job market.</p>
<p>Maybe your folks really just need the reassurance that you are serious about your future and have given some thought to all of this. There are kids who are totally unmotivated. That doesn’t sound like you at all! To me, it sounds like you are very intellectually curious and want the opportunity to explore your interests - an admirable thing! </p>
<p>There has been a tremendous cultural shift in the last generation, even for people who are not relatively new to this country. Now, it’s taken for granted by most people that an 18 year old, as an adult, should be making the decisions that will affect his or her life. This has not been the case here for that long of a period of time, and there are many people within all different groups in which the practical reality is no different today. That reality is that if the parent is the one subsidizing the education then whether or not they should, they still CAN influence many of the decisions made in many cases, adult or no adult. </p>
<p>I can imagine certain extreme scenarios under which even many open minded parents would take the ultimate position, a kid performly extremely poorly due to irresponsible behavior, for example, may be asked to withdraw from school, get help, take a gap year etc. before the parents might consider funding the education again. So, a big difference in outlook for some parents is in the degree of control and where they draw their limits. </p>
<p>You sound like an incredibly mature young person and your ability to be sensitive to the reasons your parents feel the way they do is a great reflection on your character. It’s also your greatest asset because by empathizing with them, you can keep the dialog going with them, while still continuing to express your feelings on the subject. I wish you all the best of luck with this!</p>