study abroad -- need to convince my parents

Would it be possible for you to bring this up with an academic advisor or professor and have them write a letter to your parents out of the goodness of their heart? It sounds like if they hear it from an authoritative source they may take it more seriously.

Best of luck getting this done. Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.

Kill them and take thier money. This way you can go to France, I hate parents like that...

In all seriousness,

Im studying abroad next year and very excited, I dont see how they would cut you off if the credits contribute to your GPA and major.

Dude, some parents are just super-set in their ultraconservative views like that. Luckily mine were not, but a lot are.

Tell them that you are interested high speed traffic signaling and wish to study the Train à Grande Vitesse. There are no high speed rails in the US, and the closest one is in the UK/France.

You can't. You have to decide whether you want them controlling your life like this. IF you really want to go, go. Suffer the consequences but you will have your freedom.

+1, they are paying for your education, they get to decide how they education is built. you want to do something specific, get a job and do what you want.

I am one that never believes in making idle threats. So I would suggest following the advice given here regarding some letters from professors and such explaining why this program is offered and the benefits.

I would also go to the financial aid office, and have them help you understand student loans. I would also start looking for jobs and such. Get everything lined up to leave the family.

At this phase in the global economy, I think it is absolutely ridiculous to think anyone should limit themselves to knowing one language, living in only one country, etc. That little bit of experience in France may help open the door to a European multinational company in the future, especially if you end up in management.

I agree with this. They're taking the position that it's their dime and you will do as they say. That's a hard position to move them from, and given that they've already cut your sister off they will follow through on it. If you want to go, be prepared to finish it on your own dime.

I'm pretty much in the same boat except... well, my parents are ok with it (I'm Vietnamese and studying abroad in France too).

I guess I take that for granted, but even if they weren't supportive, I would just rather they cut me off and I would strive on my own. Yeah, it's not easy, but opportunities like this don't come often after schooling.

Basically, if you really want to do it, then just do it. It's going to be hard, but at the very least, you can offer to pay for the time you study abroad. The most important thing is that you do what you want because, at least I hope that, you know what you want/need better than your parents do at this point.

I can sympathize, but I think you can find the resources to fund for this without your parents. Best of luck though.

This may not be the greatest advice, or advice at all, but...

I'm Vietnamese with conservative parents like the OP (maybe not so much). Growing up they were really controlling, I had to do all these crazy extracurriculars that really gave me no time for that whimsical childhood everyone refers to. They were all set on what I where I was going to college, what I was going to major in, and what I was going to do as a career.

The first thing I did was quit doing Taekwondo to focus on my swimming. They didn't like that. Then I went out with a Mexican girl. They didn't like that either. Then I chose not to go to an Ivy League. They REALLY didn't like that. I then chose to study polysci. Again, not too happy. Next I studied abroad in France my final year in college. Then I took a year off after college to travel and fuck around. I think my parents were at the point of despair after that one year.

I think what I am trying to say is that you've let this go on way too long. Strict parents can be broken down, but it has to start with something little. Gradually you will build up their tolerance for "disappointment." The simple truth is that if they are really as conservative as you say they are, you've got to take advantage that you're a guy, and it sounds like you're the only son. Your sister got "disowned" for doing something trivial because she's a girl.

From my experience, parents like these like their sons to be assertive, but you've got to be reasonable about it. Let's be honest- why the F would you want to go to France to study engineering? Yes there is culture and stuff to enjoy, but your parents are right in a sense. That's why you've just got to lay it out reasonably why going to France is a good decision.

You wanna go to France to party, enjoy the culture and because your parents are suffocating you, they're right it's not for studies. The logical conclusion is you gotta take loans and start being independant. Your relationship with them might even end up being nicer if you acertain yourself as an adult.

They don't appreciate you going to the country of their former oppressors.

And instead they say you should stay in the country of your current oppressors.