I will tell you the same thing my mom always told me (and I still roll my eyes)... patience is a virtue.

The perfect dog for YOU hasn't shown up yet. You will get your dog... you just have to be patient. Stop looking for it. When the time is right, a dog will come to you.

All my life I've been raised around my family's farms with horses. All the members in my family have had horses and all kinds of fun stuff. I'm the only one that has never owned a horse and I'm in LOVE. I've been begging for one since I could walk and I'm 21 and don't have it yet, but I'm not giving up hope. I WILL have my horse. You just have to say the same thing about your dog. You WILL have your dog. It may not be a yorkie, or a papillion, or a cavalier, but whatever the breed, your angel is waiting for you and for the right time...

I understand how you feel.
My mom never let me have dogs growing up. She was afraid of them.
I'd also write essays, do soo much research, get good grades, not party, etc... and it seemed like nothing was good enough...
However, when I was 17, I got my first dog (trade: I didn't want a car)! Now I have four!
So it could happen. You just have to be patient.
Also, you might want to wait on getting a dog---i couldn't live in a dorm because I had a dog, I didn't get to experience "normal" college life because i was focused on my dogs... I wouldn't trade anything in the world for them...but it is something to consider.

Sami

I think everyone here has posted such kind words. Both of my nieces on my husbands side ***had*** to have dogs. One was a Freshman in H.S. the other was a Senior...my Mother in Law was raising them. We tried to talk them out of it. They both got pitbull puppies. Husband and I made sure they had their shots, etc.

The older niece no longer had time for her puppy once she started college, and it "wasn't as cute" when it got bigger, so she gave the pup to her boyfriends parents where it is now an outside dog in Louisiana. Not good.

The younger niece has been far more responsible, and has spent her OWN money on food, toys, and vet care. She spent her money for an outdoor, roofed, locking kennel that my husband built for while she went to school during the day. BUT...now she is going to college, and says she plans on taking JJ. There are not many apts that will accept pits.

It was just poor planning, and living in the moment. I was 31 years old before I got my own dogs. You owe it to your pets to be stable environment. Your parents are saying no because they don't want to be responsible for a pet once you move on. Have patience, it will just make it sweeter when you get your special baby!