<p>cucumber,
It is your life, and they know that. Unfortunately, they haven’t accepted it yet. It’s hard for parents to let go, and it seems like you’re being very reasonable about it.
Fortunately, you don’t have to pick a major yet as far as the colleges are concerned, is that right? I don’t think you said what you had put down for Berkeley.
Probably the best thing to do at this point is to tell them you want to keep an open mind, look at Chicago with the POSSIBILITY of an econ major, and go with your friend. You will then go with their blessing, you can check it out once and for all and see if it’s the school for you . You wouldn’t need to choose a major until your sophomore year at UChicaago, and by then you will have a clearer idea of what you want to do. You will also be an adult. You will have lived for two years away from home, you will have matured, and if you find your passion, your parents will come around. I really believe this.
If on the other hand, you don’t like Chicago, you can try the same approach at Berkeley.
Your parents really need to know that for business, the common route is undergrad school (major not important) and then business school. Same for medicine and law. Your undergrad major really only matters if you plan to get phd, as it should be a related field, but even then, there’s a surprising amount of leeway.
Undergrad years are for exploring and finding yourself and your path. But right now, you need to pick a school. Don’t let the whole “major argument” get in the way of that decision. Let it go - tell them you’ll consider econ, you’;; consider anything at this point. </p>
<p>Good luck,dear. Something tells me you have much to look forward to and you’ll be successful wherever you end up.</p>