I'm sorry about expressing an unpopular opinion here, however I can't help but see this as a good thing. First, degrees cost a lot of money and they have to be

I'm sorry about expressing an unpopular opinion here, however I can't help but see this as a good thing. First, degrees cost a lot of money and they have to be paid back, in full, with interest, by the borrower (which is the student in most cases). Second, there has been a wild upswing in the last 30 years toward humanities majors, and either no growth or even a decline in STEM majors. (Source: http://2378nh2nfow32gm3mb25krmuyy.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EducationTabarrok.png http://2378nh2nfow32gm3mb25krmuyy.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp..., whole article at http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2011/11/college-has-been-oversold.html http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2011/11/col...) Third, there is absolutely no reason why a person can't major in something that prepares them to do well in today's increasingly automated economy, then study the humanities on their own after they have a secure job. (This is a little autobiographical, but I majored in Molecular Biology, worked for awhile, then started working in software. Now I read a lot on my own! In fact, I think it's pretty normal for people in technical fields to branch out into other things as they get older...) Given all of that, I think that these parents are generally doing their kids a favor here. There are so many people already buried under student loan debt they have no hope of repaying because they didn't choose wisely when they were just starting out.