FBI/CIA/DEA etc

I have heard over the years, that a LOT of Staties are former Marines.

I think that's pretty accurate. There are something like four rounds you have to make it through, and I think the physical exam is fairly rigorous.
 
I have a good friend is a current FBI special agent in Chicago and his route went USMC-Nebraska State Patrol-Omaha PD (bored with NE St Patrol)-Border Patrol-FBI. Per what he has told me, his experience is what got him into the FBI straight to special agent and. I would have to agree with other posters, experience is more valuable and do not get a CJ degree. Accounting, economics, Psych, Science, etc... I have a CJ degree and unless you specifically want to be a city, county, or state cop they are worthless.
 
A military background is excellent, particularly in the military police field. Also, you'll need pristine grades in college -- at least for FBI (I had a cousin who worked for them).
 
I have a couple connections with the Iowa State Patrol. So I think I've got a good shot with that. How hard is it to get into law school?
 
I have a couple connections with the Iowa State Patrol. So I think I've got a good shot with that. How hard is it to get into law school?
Not nearly as hard as it used to be. Enrollment is down, but it's down because law school has become so expensive relative to the job opportunities that await.
 
Squeaky clean... heck, my wife worked for a student loan collection company and she had to pass a basic federal background check. Went back 7 years and needed one person for every job, place of residence and then a few extras on the side for them to interview. The interview was just a mailed form but they needed somewhere around 35 people to talk to just for the basic federal security level. I am sure agents at the door of those people would be the next step up. I had a roommate in college who had to meet with reviewers because his former roommate listed him as a residence location contact. Met in Parks, and talked for about 30 minutes. Just locals out of Des Moines if I recall correctly.

Really the biggest thing to get is an internship, they are abundant and unless you screw up can bank on some sort of entry level position.
 
Not nearly as hard as it used to be. Enrollment is down, but it's down because law school has become so expensive relative to the job opportunities that await.

There are some law schools that are easier to get into than others. From my understanding Drake and Creighton are relatively easy to get in to. I really don't buy that certain law degrees are better, until you get up in the Ivy/Stanford level. If you want to become a townie lawyer go to Iowa, built in client base when you move near a trailer park outside of Davenport. :smile:
 
I think another good thing going for me is I would be willing to move to any city in the US

In this economy it is a slight edge, but we had someone move from Washington state down here to San Angelo for a $30,000 a year non profit job. WITH a wife and kid. I bet there are a lot of people who would move anywhere for $50+
 
If youve ever bought, sold, or tried drugs, you can pretty much kiss the upper levels like fbi goodbye. If you screw up the lie detector test, kiss it goodbye, which means you better tell them everything (including your internet browsing habbits) upfront because they ask.

Good friend was a guarantee lock for FBI. All he ever wanted. His dad is a big shot in Iowa Law Enforcement, knew all the right people and they said no problem, we will get your son in. Kid was an army ranger, graduated highly from John Jay College of Criminal Justice which is a feeder program, it was a sure thing. Gets to the tests and bombs out because of things you wouldnt even think of. You almost have to be raised under a rock to get in nowadays w/out having served on state or large city police for a number of years. Also, good luck being a trooper and responding to fatal accidents all day everyday and finding a way not to hate your depressing job.
 
If youve ever bought, sold, or tried drugs, you can pretty much kiss the upper levels like fbi goodbye. If you screw up the lie detector test, kiss it goodbye, which means you better tell them everything (including your internet browsing habbits) upfront because they ask.

Good friend was a guarantee lock for FBI. All he ever wanted. His dad is a big shot in Iowa Law Enforcement, knew all the right people and they said no problem, we will get your son in. Kid was an army ranger, graduated highly from John Jay College of Criminal Justice which is a feeder program, it was a sure thing. Gets to the tests and bombs out because of things you wouldnt even think of. You almost have to be raised under a rock to get in nowadays w/out having served on state or large city police for a number of years. Also, good luck being a trooper and responding to fatal accidents all day everyday and finding a way not to hate your depressing job.

I could handle it
 
...responding to fatal accidents all day everyday...

From 2004 - 2009, there were an average of 418 fatal accidents in Iowa per year according to Census data (http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1104.pdf). Iowa has 16 state patrol districts. Dividing 418 deaths by 365 days, and dividing again by 16 state patrol districts yields a whopping 0.07 deaths per day per district. Assuming that each patrolman works 40 - 60 hours per week, he will only be on shift for 1/4 - 1/3 of all of the fatal accidents. Taking all this into account, I estimate that any random patrolman will see an average of 2-3 fatalities due to car accidents each year. Hardly "all day everyday." Fatal accidents have been in decline since 1990. I imagine patrol officers spend the majority of their time in general patrol/making their presence known, speed traps, responding to minor accidents/breakdowns and training.
 
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If youve ever bought, sold, or tried drugs, you can pretty much kiss the upper levels like fbi goodbye. If you screw up the lie detector test, kiss it goodbye, which means you better tell them everything (including your internet browsing habbits) upfront because they ask.

Good friend was a guarantee lock for FBI. All he ever wanted. His dad is a big shot in Iowa Law Enforcement, knew all the right people and they said no problem, we will get your son in. Kid was an army ranger, graduated highly from John Jay College of Criminal Justice which is a feeder program, it was a sure thing. Gets to the tests and bombs out because of things you wouldnt even think of. You almost have to be raised under a rock to get in nowadays w/out having served on state or large city police for a number of years. Also, good luck being a trooper and responding to fatal accidents all day everyday and finding a way not to hate your depressing job.

You can still get in if you've tried drugs as long as you didn't abuse them or sell them. You must come clean though and be honest on your background investigation and lie detector.
 

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