Many of you may have had a disagreement with your parents about what you should study or pursue in the university.
You might go for Business Administration, but they suggest you do Engineering. They might say Medicine, but you want to do Pharmacy. You might also try to convince them to study Radio, Cinema & Television, and they might keep on pushing on for Engineering.
On one hand, you want to study the specialty that you dreamed of, but on the other hand, you have deep respect for your parents, and you really want them to encourage and believe in your major.
It is certainly not easy. In some families, it will be easier to change the parents’ opinion than in other families, but there is nothing wrong with trying.
So, how can I convince my family about choosing a major?
You must first sit and think about your choice and do all the research. Is this major really your choice, or are you influenced by friends and family? Being influenced by the environment has a great impact on your choices. So for this, make sure to get rid of the negative influences and their opinions in your life.
So, go ahead and brainstorm. Take a piece of paper and write down the pros and cons of choosing a particular major as a future career path. Keep the following questions in your mind:
- Did you do enough research about the major you want?
- Is there a scope for this major?
- How is the demand for the graduates of this major?
- What skills do you possess that you think are perfectly suited for this major?
If you find convincing answers to all this, jot them down. In this way, you can make a concrete argument and discussion with your family.
If you are well-prepared, your parents will also be confident about your choice as well. Being prepared also shows that you are keen and committed, and when they see your persistence, they will definitely think about it.
It is advised to be precise and plan ahead. Start your research and planning from the ninth or tenth grade.
Make your arguments strong and rely on research
Parents always have questions prepared in their minds, since they worry a lot. Most of the time, they think about the following questions:
- Will you be able to get a job after studying this major?
- Are you sure this major is right for you?
- This major is very expensive, and it will not help you in the long run.
- You don’t know your best interest
- They might end up comparing with so-and-so relative or a friend of a friend about how they are successful in their studies.
It is important to prepare for these questions as part of your research.
Use creative methods
After you’ve gathered and prepared the information you need, now it’s your turn to deliver your message
“Mom, Dad, I want to study business administration…. Before completing your sentence, the response will be ready and expected, which is (NO).
Therefore, you will need more effective methods after applying which you can say your whole sentence, for example
-Run a YouTube video about this discipline, and tell your mom and dad to watch it with you.
-It is also possible to bring one of your relatives or friends who are successful in this major, so they can talk about its importance in the local and global labor market to your parents.
-A PowerPoint presentation with bar charts, statistical numbers, and interesting facts is all welcome information to help understand your idea and raise your score.
Make it entertaining, informative, and fun. Give it a touch of witty charm to get your parents to say “Okay” instead of “No.”
Show them your enthusiasm
Show that you really want this specialization and promise them that you will succeed in it and that you have set your future plans if they allow you to study this specialization.
Choose a major soon
If all attempts to change their minds don’t work, think can I study what they want and then take care of what I like in the summer as training courses? Or is there a way through which I can fulfill my desires and their wishes as well?
You can finish your bachelor’s degree in the major you desire, and then complete the remainder in the major that you love at the master’s level. For example, you like to study Nutrition & Dietetics, but they want physical therapy. In this situation, you can study physical therapy and then study only a year or two in nutrition, and thus you have earned two degrees without angering your parents.
If you can match your enthusiasm with hard facts, surprise them with things they didn’t know, or study a major close to the one you want to study, it’s easy for your parents to give their full support and also make your dream come true.
Learn about the most popular majors from here. Connect with our team on Studykoy to make this step easier for you