Hey newbie!
I'm a third year Psych major. I started out an International Relations major but realized it wasn't what made me happy...psychology was. I switched and am so much happier.
It's true that it's a long road. But so is pre-med, and I'm sure your parents would have no problem if that was your intended major! People somethimes think psychology is a fluff subject, but it's not. My focus is neuropsychology, which requires a lot of bio and chem classes on brain function and behavior. It's not just Freud anymore!
Some schools (like mine) offer a five-year program tht lets you graduate with a Masters as well as a B.A. This can be really beneficial if you double-major, say Sociology and Psych. And when your grades are high and your GPA is stellar, grad schools will be banging on your door! And grad school, while difficult, can be done whie you are gainfully employed, working on research projects within the community, in an internship, or a paid position. Some companies will even pay for you to go to grad school while you work for them, especially the government. Keep this in mind.
You don't have to go all the way to a Ph.D to be succesful, either. There are 3 levels- Ph.D, Psy.D, and MSW. Social workers and public service employees most often have an MSW. It doesn't require as much schooling and lets you get directly involved with the public. A Psy.D. may be worth looking into ifyou are most interested in research or higher-level social work. If clinical psychology- seeing patients in a private practice, etc- is your thing, a Ph.D. is in order. There are many options, and you don't need to limit yourself now.
My parents weren't thrilled about my changing majors. My father wanted me to go with something more secure, as yours does. If you can't make them feel more comfotable by simply talking to them, seek out a guidance counselor, or local therapy practioner. Ask them how they got started, what they studied in school, tc. Write to the psychology department heads of the schools you applied to (emails and snilmail addresses should be on their websites) and explain that you are having a hard time convincing your parents. They should get back to you with ways to talk to them, and some may even offer to contact them. Basically, show them you are adult enough and serious enough to make this decision. Do the research, present it calmly and efficiently, and hopefully they will understand!
Good luck... and if you have any quetions, feel free to PM me
