How to Achieve Your Dream of Becoming a Professor Despite Parental Opposition

If you have the intelligence and the self-discipline to succeed in either a career as a medical doctor or a professor, you know the decision ultimately rests with you, not your parents. While they may decide not to financially support your education, if you are truly suited to be a college professor, you can find a way to make it work without their assistance.

The Challenging Path to Becoming a College Professor

The road to becoming a college professor is long and challenging. It can be just as demanding as becoming a medical doctor. However, the opportunities for employment in medicine far outweigh those for becoming a college professor. Graduates don’t typically start as full professors; they start as instructors, often on a part-time basis. Advancement to assistant professor might offer slim opportunities, but many professors remain at the assistant or associate level for their careers. Few achieve the coveted full professorship.

Furthermore, if you choose to pursue a professorial path, you will need to complete a Ph.D. program. Some highly competitive fields demand it just for admission. Be prepared to move frequently as you seek employment. My own relative, a mid-30s college professor, has already moved to three different universities in his profession.

Convincing Your Parents to Support Your Dreams

While you maintain your independence, you don’t need their permission to become a professor. You are an adult, and they have the right to choose not to support you. However, it’s your life, and you should follow your dreams regardless of their wishes.

Express to them that your dream is to be a professor, not a medical doctor. Emphasize that your ambitions are your own and that you will pursue them regardless of their support. The golden age of college professorships is long gone, and you should be prepared for many years of financial hardship and professional challenges as you seek a tenured position. As someone who left this path 25 years ago, I can attest that it has only gotten worse since then.

Direct answer to your question: 1 no one on Quora can definitively know what may convince your parents; 2 there may not be a way to convince them. However, before making your decision, consider the following pathways:

Pathway 1: Combine Medicine and Professorship

Most medical doctors can also become professors. Pursue a medical degree, followed by a residency. Afterward, apply for professor positions at universities and medical colleges. This dual role can satisfy both you and your parents.

Pathway 2: Engage in Basic Research as an MD/PhD

Consider combined MD/PhD programs that waive tuition and provide a stipend, allowing you to focus on academic research. The residency could be replaced by a postdoc in a research lab. By the time you decide to stay out of the clinic and commit to a professorship, the prolonged educational journey would make your parents' influence minimal.

Pathway 3: Pursue a Non-Medical Field of Professorship

If you are interested in subjects like history or the fine arts, choose a pre-med major and supplement your coursework with classes related to your passion. After completing your bachelors, you may need additional master's degrees or coursework before applying for a terminal degree program.

Pathway 4: Use Financial Aid or Loans

Alternatively, tell your parents you will study whatever interests you and consider taking out loans, if necessary. Depending on your financial situation, this might not be ideal, but it is an option.

The reality is that there is no straightforward path to becoming a professor. You might major in a subject you like and then explore opportunities for postgraduate work. Medical doctorate programs, on the other hand, are more direct but still challenging.

If someone tells you they want to be a college professor like it's a choice akin to becoming an accountant, you might question their understanding of the field. If this describes you, consider studying pre-med courses until you decide on your path. Even if you fall into a medical career, there are far worse outcomes than becoming a medical doctor.