I can't be the only one. Geez. Does everyone have to be pre-law? pre-med? Nothing personal, mom, but I can't be a lawyer!

I had a similar challenge with my parents - they were intent on having my decide my major right after I started college.  Initially I just thought they wanted to "control" me and my decisions.  But soon I realized they just wanted to ensure that I was taking my college experience seriously and that I wasn't wasting time (and their money!) by not declaring a major, setting career goals, etc.  I was deciding between business and music performance, two very different career objectives, and I think they were especially concerned that I might choose the music path and then not be able to support myself financially.  I decided that being open and honest with them about my career desires would be the best approach and spoke to them about the two choices I was deliberating.  After talking to them about this, they were very helpful and didn't seek to pressure me anymore.  We decided that for the first year I would pursue a double-major and then determine after the end of the year which I thought I preferred.  As it turned-out, I was a terrible musician and really liked my business courses - that sealed my decision.  Fortunately, I continued to pursue music as a side-passion and still play with friends in a variety of "pick-up bands."  College is your experience, even if your parents pay the bill.  It is a time to discover yourself and what interests you most.  For some people this takes more time than for others - don't be pressured into making hasty or ill-considered decisions which could (negatively) affect you for the rest of your life.  Rather, take the time to talk to your parents about your dreams, desires, and, most importantly, your PLAN to achieve them.  Once they realize you're a thoughtful person who has considered the pros and cons of various opportunities I'm sure they will support your well-considered decisions.

WOW, THATS AWFUL.IM NOT QUITE SURE HOW OLD YOU ARE BUT, I DONT THINK YOUR (MOTHER) SHOULD BE PICKING YOUR MAJOR. COLLEGE IS A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR YOU. WHY NOT BE THERE COMFORTABLE(WITH SOMETHING YOU WANNA DO?) JUST LIKE COMMENT #2 SAID"DONT GIVE IN!" MY MOTHER DID THE SAME THING TO ME. SHE WANTED ME TO BE A BUSINESS MAJOR, IM NOT GONE LIE I WENT FOR IT JUST TO TRY IT OUT. BUT, AFTER 2 SEMESTERS I QUIT.I TOLD HER, "THIS IS NOT FOR ME." AT THE SAME TIME I DID LEARN SOME VALUABLE INFO; BUT WASNT REALLY FEELING IT.NOW IM DOING WHAT I WANTED IN THE BEGINNING....PARALEGAL STUDIES! I WANT TO BE AN ATTORNEY AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR ME TO GO ABOUT IT. MEANWHILE THIS ISNT MY ONLY CAREER OPTION I ALSO WANT TO GET INTO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND CRIMINOLGY. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT....FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.WHATEVER MAJOR/MINOR YOU CHOOSE MAKE SURE YOU ENJOY IT (NOT ANYBODY ELSE.) ITS YOUR TIME, MONEY, EFFORT, AND DEDICATION. ALSO CHOOSE WISELY, MAKE SURE YOU CAN DO OTHER THINGS IN YOUR MAJOR AS WELL. EXAMPLE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN ITS THE BEST WAY TO SUCCESS! BEST WISHES ON YOUR STUDIES!

You have to remind your mom that your the one who's going to be stuck with same job/field for the rest of your life, not her. If you don't like it, you probably won't do your best and you probably won't be successful, which is what your mom really wants, right?

How about compromising by volunteering at places where you could experience the things you state you don't want to do.  That way you could be absolutely certain you don't want to pursue those careers.  Mom may be satisfied with this also.  I'm an adult student with a child and the only way I'll agree to letting her avoid certain foods or opportunities is if she will "taste" them first.  I'm satisfied that she isn't avoiding things just because she thinks she doesn't like them, and she is often surprised to find that she absolutely loves them!  It's also a way for you to experience different lifestyles.  Tell your mom you'll keep an open mind if she agrees to also.  Good luck! 

Being a parent my self I want the best for my child . What u need to do is to remind the parent that you dont want to work for a job that you may hate for the rest of your life. You want to do something that you enjoy working for or twords. If you are not going to enjoy it why should i do it.. And aske them have they ever forced to something they hate. Then Why r u forcing me?

Talk to them gently and loveingly and remember thy just want the best for you.

my mom wont exactly let me do what i want 2 do either. i want dance clesses . cuz i was in winterguard and marching band all years of high school.naturally i want 2 keep preforming and stay in shape.....but my mom thinks i should focus more on my studys and says get dancing  after all my basics? idk how long basics r and how many i need 2 take ..ugh the whole thing is rediculous.

WELL

i didnt read all of the post's..... but when i read the title...... i didnt have to!

im only 21. i just turned 21 n since i was like 15, i've been hearing it in my ear, that i have to do as she says-with this whole school thing-BUT! Im not going to lie! as much as she b*tches and talks sh*t.... I understand her when she says that as soon as I have a foundation, I am established, n making my OWN money..... I can do watever i want to.... N its true n my eyes.

im almost done with my associates and by the age of 23, i should be making MY OWN money and have my OwN SH*T.....

So my final thought on this topic is.............. I CANT WAIT!

I would say follow your own path also, because your not going to be happy if you do what everyone tells you. If you follow your dream and do something you like then you'll go even farther.

Im gunna tell anyone that has this problem. Do what you want. If you go to college trying to earn a degree you dont want then you dont need to be there. This is 4 years of effort in a specific field and if you dont like it it will be a very hard thing to work with. Your better off doing what you want to do and learn what you want to learn. Its your life anyway.

Omg, my parents are the same way, well at least my mom and step dad. They want me to be so much like my sister, straight A student, and I'm not. I just hate when people tell me that I can do better, it makes me not want to try. I get to do two electives and my mom won't even let me have one that I can do because I want to. I do dual enrollment this year and I decided to take People of the World. My mom found out and flipped. She was like, "What the h*** do you need that for?" I would like to minor in business and she doesn't think that class will help to learn about the world and different cultures. I would just like to have parents that back off when it comes to school. My mom found it so weird that during soccer season my grades are higher but that's because I have something to get good grades for that minute. It's just hard to do something for the future when you don't know what your future has in store.

This is one of those moments where you don't let someone control your life or how you are going to live and work. Find another way to pay for school and thats probably why you are here on fastweb. Cut your strings and walk your own path. You will be much happier.

Everyone is right. Im a college freshman and my parents never told me what I should major in, so I dont know exactly how that feels. But, from hearing people with that similar situations usually their parents choose the majors for them because it could possibly be something they wanted to do but could not manage, or maybe they just want it to run in the family. Do what you want that makes you happy and able to take care of yourself.

IT IS YOU LIFE- IT IS YOUR DECISION- IT IS YOUR CHOICE ON WHICH ROAD YOU WANT TO TAKE IN LIFE. DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO NOW OR 30 YEARS LATER YOU WILL END UP IN A RUCK AND HATE WAKING UP EVERYDAY TO A LIFE THAT YOU DO NOT APPRECIATE. YOU WILL WAKE UP AND FIND THAT YOU ARE NOT LIVING TO THE FULLEST CONTENT!!! THERE IS ONLY ONE LIFE TO LIVE SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPURTUNITY!!!

Though your mom may want the best for you, she needs to understand that her idea of the best major may not be the best for you. You are an adult now and it seems to me that she is not letting you be one. Every adult has to start from somewhere and choosing a major and a college is a first step. Explain that in the end, you are the only who has to deal with choices made for your life. Someday, you may have a family or if you decide not have you one - you will be an adult. I feel that if your mom wants to pick your major for you, then she ought to place herself in your shoes and attend college for you and go to work for you as well.

Good luck on what ever coice you make. In the end whether you choose to take the major your mom wants you to take, it will be your choice whether you want it or not because she cant force you to take a major -it's up to you.