Anonymous
Post 01/01/2014 17:46     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:My daughter is going to NOVA for 2 years with a plan to transfer to an in-state school (her goal is UVA or William and Mary.) She is interested in becoming an FBI agent and asked our relative who works in law enforcement for advice on a good college major and other tips. Our relative didn't have many tips because he's a detective in a small town, but did say that he doesn't recommend majoring in Criminal Justice. His recommendation is to major in Accounting. Daughter really isn't that interested in Accounting and preference is to major in Political Science or History based on her interests.

For those of you that work for the FBI, or have spouses that do, do you have advice for a young person on how to prepare for an FBI career?

What college major(s) do you recommend? What sort of jobs and/or internships should she be pursuing? Are there specific colleges/universities (within VA and/or affordable) she should think about transferring to that would enhance her prospects for getting hired?

She assures me that she won't do it, but what happens if during the college years, she decides to experiment with the substance that was recently legalized in Colorado, or has friends that do and she is around it?

Finally, does the FBI accept people who have a diagnosis of ADHD, or take medication for ADHD (as we understand it, the military does not)?

Thanks in advance for any advice.


You mean MARIJUANA? It's okay to type it on the internets, OP, nobody is going to come after you. Sheesh. If your daughter is anything like you I don't think law enforcement will be a good fit.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2014 17:12     Subject: Re:Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:It strikes me as odd that a mom is helping a college-age DD figure out a job/career path. I can't imagine my parents ever doing this for me. If I wanted to figure out something I had to do it myself.


This is how Boomers raise their Millenials.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wait-but-why/generation-y-unhappy_b_3930620.html
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2014 16:59     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:FBI is a joke... Tell her to stay far away. I speak from direct experience. It's as old boy/rigid as it comes. Not cracked up to be what as it appears in Hollywood.. Far from it. She would do better focusing on one of the other govt agencies.


Couldn't cut it hon?


a PP here ... actually, it's the Famous But Incompetent types (FBI) who continually could not cut it in my professional world, which involved criminal investigations in a specialized area of law that often involved science, sometimes technically complex.

They frequently did not even know or understand the basic elements of the crime they might be investigating, to the chagrin and horror of others who were going to have to work with them. I once watched a couple of earnest FBI types make a presentation to a high level group of 30+ US Attorneys and senior line prosecutors. As I listened I realized that they did not even know the elements of the crime we were discussing and that their elaborate hypothetical "sting" operation was useless.

At the end of the presentation the others in the room looked at me (the senior person from the agency overseeing these statutes) and I had to politely tell them that this was an interesting idea but that, unfortunately, there was no prosecutable crime involved in their scenario.

Famous But Incompetent, indeed.


Sadly, my FBI agent husband (who I thought would be offended) agreed with this, and a lot of other negative stuff on this thread. As the FBI wife, my biggest problems are with the transfer policies, which have taken me about 5 years to fully comprehend, and the institutionalized cronyism.


PP here (who you quote) ... yes, it's not something that makes me happy or anything, we have a right to expect better for all the money we spend on the FBI (their budget for paper clips probably exceeds my agency's entire criminal enforcement budget) ... discouraging.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2014 16:26     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:FBI is a joke... Tell her to stay far away. I speak from direct experience. It's as old boy/rigid as it comes. Not cracked up to be what as it appears in Hollywood.. Far from it. She would do better focusing on one of the other govt agencies.


Couldn't cut it hon?


a PP here ... actually, it's the Famous But Incompetent types (FBI) who continually could not cut it in my professional world, which involved criminal investigations in a specialized area of law that often involved science, sometimes technically complex.

They frequently did not even know or understand the basic elements of the crime they might be investigating, to the chagrin and horror of others who were going to have to work with them. I once watched a couple of earnest FBI types make a presentation to a high level group of 30+ US Attorneys and senior line prosecutors. As I listened I realized that they did not even know the elements of the crime we were discussing and that their elaborate hypothetical "sting" operation was useless.

At the end of the presentation the others in the room looked at me (the senior person from the agency overseeing these statutes) and I had to politely tell them that this was an interesting idea but that, unfortunately, there was no prosecutable crime involved in their scenario.

Famous But Incompetent, indeed.


Sadly, my FBI agent husband (who I thought would be offended) agreed with this, and a lot of other negative stuff on this thread. As the FBI wife, my biggest problems are with the transfer policies, which have taken me about 5 years to fully comprehend, and the institutionalized cronyism.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2014 12:13     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Learn a hard foreign language, like Arabic or Chinese. Applicants that speak those languages that aren't from those cultures are attractive candidates (easier to get through background checks and clearance processes, if those are necessary).

Also since hiring is tight all over, also consider intelligence agencies like CIA or DIA. Each has a different tone. There's a lot of BS and classism at FBI - if you're not a special agent, you're garbage. Some fascinating work, some great people but a lot of stupid rules and people who like to enforce them.

Tell her to stay off the drugs, but yes, "experimenting in college" is usually not a problem anymore. But if FBI is her goal, why bother at all?

applicants that speak language but are not from those cultures?


For example, it's easier to get cleared if you are an Arabic speaker with no foreign family ties, than being from Detroit and having half your family living in Syria or Lebanon. Ditto Chinese - much easier to be not of Chinese descent with no family in the People's Republic.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2014 11:27     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:FBI is a joke... Tell her to stay far away. I speak from direct experience. It's as old boy/rigid as it comes. Not cracked up to be what as it appears in Hollywood.. Far from it. She would do better focusing on one of the other govt agencies.


Couldn't cut it hon?


a PP here ... actually, it's the Famous But Incompetent types (FBI) who continually could not cut it in my professional world, which involved criminal investigations in a specialized area of law that often involved science, sometimes technically complex.

They frequently did not even know or understand the basic elements of the crime they might be investigating, to the chagrin and horror of others who were going to have to work with them. I once watched a couple of earnest FBI types make a presentation to a high level group of 30+ US Attorneys and senior line prosecutors. As I listened I realized that they did not even know the elements of the crime we were discussing and that their elaborate hypothetical "sting" operation was useless.

At the end of the presentation the others in the room looked at me (the senior person from the agency overseeing these statutes) and I had to politely tell them that this was an interesting idea but that, unfortunately, there was no prosecutable crime involved in their scenario.

Famous But Incompetent, indeed.


My DH from another agency works with FBI often. He always marvels at how well they present themselves but agrees they are pretty useless. Consider other federal agencies too.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2014 11:13     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:FBI is a joke... Tell her to stay far away. I speak from direct experience. It's as old boy/rigid as it comes. Not cracked up to be what as it appears in Hollywood.. Far from it. She would do better focusing on one of the other govt agencies.


Couldn't cut it hon?


a PP here ... actually, it's the Famous But Incompetent types (FBI) who continually could not cut it in my professional world, which involved criminal investigations in a specialized area of law that often involved science, sometimes technically complex.

They frequently did not even know or understand the basic elements of the crime they might be investigating, to the chagrin and horror of others who were going to have to work with them. I once watched a couple of earnest FBI types make a presentation to a high level group of 30+ US Attorneys and senior line prosecutors. As I listened I realized that they did not even know the elements of the crime we were discussing and that their elaborate hypothetical "sting" operation was useless.

At the end of the presentation the others in the room looked at me (the senior person from the agency overseeing these statutes) and I had to politely tell them that this was an interesting idea but that, unfortunately, there was no prosecutable crime involved in their scenario.

Famous But Incompetent, indeed.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2014 11:09     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Learn a hard foreign language, like Arabic or Chinese. Applicants that speak those languages that aren't from those cultures are attractive candidates (easier to get through background checks and clearance processes, if those are necessary).

Also since hiring is tight all over, also consider intelligence agencies like CIA or DIA. Each has a different tone. There's a lot of BS and classism at FBI - if you're not a special agent, you're garbage. Some fascinating work, some great people but a lot of stupid rules and people who like to enforce them.

Tell her to stay off the drugs, but yes, "experimenting in college" is usually not a problem anymore. But if FBI is her goal, why bother at all?

applicants that speak language but are not from those cultures?


Like PP said, easier to get clearance.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2014 11:08     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
DH is with a different LE agency. His nephew is also interested in federal LE. He's also advised against criminal justice major. Says agencies can teach you what you need to know in this regard. Also recommends accounting or some other area of expertise, like science or comp sci, that would allow developing a niche.

Good luck to your daughter. I agree with a PP who said why bothering experimenting when she has such an end goal.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2014 09:53     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:Learn a hard foreign language, like Arabic or Chinese. Applicants that speak those languages that aren't from those cultures are attractive candidates (easier to get through background checks and clearance processes, if those are necessary).

Also since hiring is tight all over, also consider intelligence agencies like CIA or DIA. Each has a different tone. There's a lot of BS and classism at FBI - if you're not a special agent, you're garbage. Some fascinating work, some great people but a lot of stupid rules and people who like to enforce them.

Tell her to stay off the drugs, but yes, "experimenting in college" is usually not a problem anymore. But if FBI is her goal, why bother at all?

applicants that speak language but are not from those cultures?
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2014 01:02     Subject: Re:Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:It strikes me as odd that a mom is helping a college-age DD figure out a job/career path. I can't imagine my parents ever doing this for me. If I wanted to figure out something I had to do it myself.

Op is trying to steer her dd in the right direction. How is that odd? At 31 my mother controls my evert move. Drives me nuts. I went to college and follow her every order. Yes sounds crazy but some parents don't want their children to fail and pick the path their children should be on. Op is not doing this.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2013 23:53     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
DH is an FBI agent and I just read him your post. He says accounting (not criminal justice) is a good major for wannabe agents. Something like world studies would work if she would be interested in being and analyst. Stay away from green leafy substances. Try to intern at the FBI during college. Any reputable college is fine (ie don't get an online degree from U of Phoenix). Apply early (at age 23), as soon as she meets age/work requirements. In other worlds, don't try to parlay some other career into a career in the FBI. Be flexible--if they're not hiring for agents but they offer you something else, take it. It's easier to become an agent once inside.

Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2013 22:56     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
Your kid sounds awesome, OP. I'm sure she'll do well in life.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2013 22:44     Subject: Re:Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:It strikes me as odd that a mom is helping a college-age DD figure out a job/career path. I can't imagine my parents ever doing this for me. If I wanted to figure out something I had to do it myself.


That's because you and your parents suck at parenting. I feel sorry for your kid(s).
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2013 22:42     Subject: Becoming an FBI Agent
Anonymous wrote:FBI is a joke... Tell her to stay far away. I speak from direct experience. It's as old boy/rigid as it comes. Not cracked up to be what as it appears in Hollywood.. Far from it. She would do better focusing on one of the other govt agencies.


Couldn't cut it hon?