<p>I think this thread represents CC at its absolute best. The combination of moral support and practical suggestions offered by virtually every poster here has been nothing but positive and helpful. </p>
<p>Cucumber: The only thing I might add to the points already made is that I found your first post so compelling that I persisted in reading it through every paragraph despite its length. That says a great deal just by itself. I wonder if it would be possible for you to present your feelings about choosing a college and major to your parents in writing, with the preface that it is hard sometimes to maintain one’s clarity and objectivity when talking face to face. Perhaps you could cut-and-paste something from your two posts here, and add any relevant points you’ve gleaned from the responses you have received. I found myself especially impressed with your ability to see your parents’ point of view. I just heard a relevant aphorism from Joseph Bruchac, a very wise author of children’s books about Native American culture: he said there is an old Abenaki saying that we have been given two ears so as to hear both sides of the story. By the same token, we have been given only one mouth so as to listen twice as hard. You seem already to have absorbed that lesson. I hope your parents will also.</p>
<p>For whatever it’s worth, I had many friends in college who were English majors and went on to become lawyers and doctors. The ability to think and to write clearly that you develop in a history or English major will stand you in good stead no matter what career you end up pursuing. That being said, a minor in economics, given UChicago’s reputation in that field, will also be an asset, and does offer a chance to mend fences with your parents.</p>