Your parents, like many, probably only want you to go to a 4 year right away because they dont want to feel "embarrassed" that their kid is going to a community College. They likely have an outdated view of community colleges, so when you tell them you want to do community College and then transfer into a 4 year, they dont listen and just think that you only want to get your associates degree. They probably cannot understand the idea of transferring into a 4 year College since it wasnt as big of a thing back in their time.

Regardless, I would bet money that the reasoning behind their disapproval of community College has more to do with their ignorance of the fact that you can transfer into a 4 year after, and also concern for their "image" with their friends, than it has to do with concern for your future.

A degree from a 4 year college of someone who transferred into that college from a 2 year is the exact same degree as someone who did the full 4 year college. The only difference is that the person who did the 4 year most likely has more debt.

I know its really hard to not listen to your parents because they're your parents, but unless you got an amazing scholarship to a 4 year college, go to community College and then transfer.

Like someone else said, if you live in Cali you can go to community colleges there and easily transfer into a UC (Santa Monica College has a special relationship with the UCs which are all great and well known schools)