Career Path

[peterw244]

Hey all, I have a bit of a problem that hopefully you can help me in making a decision by monday (which is when i register for classes for next semester). I am a sophmore at an accreditted university majoring in business management at the moment. I went in with the intentions that I would get this degree to fallback on/for diversity/ect.. My main goal is to end up being a special agent for either the FBI, Secret Service, or U.S. Marshals. I was planning on possibly becoming a LEO or trying special forces in the military to gain a few years experience in the meantime. I can minor in criminal justice with a major in Bus MGT but im not sure how much that would help or switch all the way over to criminal justice. I've searched past topics here and heard that you should get something else to diversify yourself, and incase you get hurt but im not sure what to do. Like I said above, FBI SS or USM is my goal in the longrun but even adviors here haven't been that big of a help. Even the person who runs the criminal justice person said he doesnt know what each agency is looking for, many of them don't even require college or just 60 credits. I can see the Crim Justice major being good because you get an internship though but i need some advice. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. I got two tickets one stop sign(good excuse), 1 5over speed limit, no arrests or drugs, or anything else serious. Thank you

[Nobody]

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[purdinpopo]

I agree get a degree in anything but Criminal Justice, special forces, if you want to serve your country, do some seriously hazardous duty, great have at, but it is not something to prepare you for law enforcement. You might be better served if you want experience to fill in the time between when you get out of school and when you go fed, Apply to the State patrols. My experience working with real go-getter state troopers is that they all are gunning to be a G-man. From what I have been told, the hiring process for the feds is brutal, and long. The same can said for the State agencies but you will have a better shot, and the experience of the hiring process will help.

Learn a Language, Learn a couple, will stand you in good stead if you want to work federal.

[SD5326]

I beg to differ on the Special Forces popo. It might prepare you more than you think. Shooting, self defense, thinking "outside of the box", handling stressful situations
(e.g. when bullets are flying, you don't know how you're going to react until you've been through it), and mental toughness; all play big rolls in Special Forces and LE. If you're talking about laws and acting like and handling yourself as an LEO, I would say that is why they put you through an academy prior to being put on the street. No disrespect intended though. I'll definitely agree with you on get a degree though..... a neccessity this day and age. -OUT-

[irishlad2nv]

Hey all, I have a bit of a problem that hopefully you can help me in making a decision by monday (which is when i register for classes for next semester). I am a sophmore at an accreditted university majoring in business management at the moment. I went in with the intentions that I would get this degree to fallback on/for diversity/ect.. My main goal is to end up being a special agent for either the FBI, Secret Service, or U.S. Marshals. I was planning on possibly becoming a LEO or trying special forces in the military to gain a few years experience in the meantime. I can minor in criminal justice with a major in Bus MGT but im not sure how much that would help or switch all the way over to criminal justice. I've searched past topics here and heard that you should get something else to diversify yourself, and incase you get hurt but im not sure what to do. Like I said above, FBI SS or USM is my goal in the longrun but even adviors here haven't been that big of a help. Even the person who runs the criminal justice person said he doesnt know what each agency is looking for, many of them don't even require college or just 60 credits. I can see the Crim Justice major being good because you get an internship though but i need some advice. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. I got two tickets one stop sign(good excuse), 1 5over speed limit, no arrests or drugs, or anything else serious. Thank you


Peter, if you plan on getting into SF by going Army, you need to do so now or when you enlist, that is if they are still offering SF contracts off the back. Which even after Basic Training and Airborne School, you will still have a rigorous 2 years of training ahead of you to even make it through the SF course/schools. Then after that is all said and done, you still have your time of getting deployed, etc. Its not that simple as signing up at the local recruiter and joining up for just 3 years. Prepare yourself to spend at least 5 years in the Army if you go SF.

As far as the degree, keep the business one and keep CJ as a minor.

[peterw244]

Hey again, thanks for all the replies, I appreciate all the information you're giving me. I can also tell you a bit about myself so it could possibly give you some insight into what i should focus on doing. I've been working a part-time job for almost 5 years (none law enforcement related)andI'm 19 now. I'd really like to stay business management/criminal justice degree oriented....currently my major is Bus Mgt and minor in Crim justice, law school is not out of the question if i did major in criminal justice first, no arrests, two small tickets as mentioned above, alittle shy from 3.0 GPA from a acreddited university (Widener University Chester, PA), gunning for an eventual position as special agent in those top three agencies mentioned above as well, would not rule out trying other jobs first to gain experience (LEO, security, special forces -military, DEA). I'm not sure what else i can say about myself...I'd just need some guidance into what route i should take because the criminal justice degree route does seem tempting but it seems that most people would have that degree so its nothing out of the ordinary then again i don't know enough to make assumptions. Other degrees can help but im not sure how to approach it basically.......Bus MGT major Crim just minor....could i get into any place out of college? or try any of those jobs i mentioned above such as LEO, security, miltary, DEA.. to gain some experience first then apply? switch to criminal justice and hope an internship can guide my into the correct path? These are all the questions i ask myself and hope to find some answers here if possible. Thank you in advance.

[Nobody]

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[gomets11]

I know that applicants with a degree in IT, whether it is Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or the like are being highly recruited as well.A lot of schools teach MIS through their business college so you would still get the business background. Just an idea.

[peterw244]

thank you very much for your input Nobody and gomets11