What are the chances

[Variant]

I know that this question probably grates on everyone's nerves, and is a bit overdone, but I guess I just need the opportunity to ask for myself.

I live in Indiana, and I'm 23 years old. I'm starting college in the summer to get a bachelors in Business Administration. I'm not currently working due to the lack of opportunities in my area which seems to have hit a dead end, unless you have a specialized skill/degree, which I don't currently have. I know I probably should have started sooner, but life happened, and kind of through me a few curve balls that aren't important to get into. However, I have a goal of making it into law enforcement whether I stay at the bottom the entire time, or not, is not the importance.

My background is pretty decent. I've never been arrested. I've never received a ticket. I've had one car accident when I was 16, 3 months after I got my license, and it was declared the other driver was at fault. I've only been pulled over once, due to the officer thinking I wasn't wearing a seat belt when I was, so he just let me go and apologized.

My family is a different story. My cousins and uncle were always in trouble with the police, and most are currently in prisons across the state. I haven't had contact with them in years, but I did grow up with them around a good deal, and was exposed to drug use on a daily basis, as well as various deals. Which I hope their stupidity, and mistakes don't ruin my chances of living my dream.

I've never touched illegal drugs, aside from taking one prescription pain pill in my teen years for actual pain. I haven't even touched anything harder physically. I average about 2 alcoholic drinks a year, my birthday, and new years. Which I didn't have my first drink until I was 22.

I have one debt I owe on a credit card I got when I was 19, and never paid off, which I intend to do once I have the money to do so.

I have no health problems, aside from being a smoker, which I need to stop. I started when I was 19.

I'm a little on the smaller side. 5'11" about 140 pounds. My metabolism is rampant. I'm going to see about getting a personalized diet/workout plan soon so I can bulk up to 16 or 170. As well as training in martial arts(Judo, Muay Thai, and Ju-Jitsu) at a gym that my DARE officer from elementary, and middle schools actually teaches.

Admittedly I slacked off in High School, but still manage to keep a 2.5 GPA, but I've grown a lot since I graduated.

I'm not looking to get rich, and famous, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to climb as high on the ladder as possible. I'm also not afraid to put everything I have into something.

Any advice, pointers, encouragement, discouragement, tips, or tricks are welcome. I appreciate your time spent reading this, sorry it was so long. I'm willing to answer any questions you may need answered to better assist me, or if you're just curious.

[retdetsgt]

I don't see any disqualifiers. A number of my relatives (cousins and uncles too) are ex cons. Like you, I kept my association with them to a minimum, but I wasn't going to skip a wedding or funeral just because a dope dealing cousin might be there.

As long as you meet the minimum height/weight ratio, don't sweat that either.

My old department hires based on written and oral board scores. The written is testing basic intelligence levels in vocabulary, some math, memory, etc. The oral board is simply an opportunity to look you over and see if you have some common sense, get an idea of why you want the job, etc. Everything past that is pass/fail. If you can get through those, I see no problem. Good luck!

[mcsap]

It's ok to be related to felons , just don't hang with them and you'll be fine. At 5'11" and 140 you are quite thin. get some bulk on you and quit smoking !!

[pac201]

Neither of my colleagues mentioned getting a job so you have a work history (even if it's at Micky D's) just do your best at work and school and things will fall into place.

BTW, I agree with both.

[G35 Mass]

You can pick your friends, not your family. Just separate yourself from them and their troubles.

The only thing of concern is your debt. Credit checks are part of background investigations, and there would be concerns that you may turn to abuse of power to pay off your overdue debt. There's no one watching you when you come across money or expensive items while on duty. Get that taken care of.

[retdetsgt]

I guess I assumed that you have been making payments on that one credit card debt. If it's not in arrears, there's no problem at all. If you haven't kept up payments and it's in collection, it's a problem.

[DeltaV]

Concentrate at school and do well. I know you said jobs are hard to get in your area right now, so if you aren't working then there's no excuse for you not to do well in school. Get involved in some campus activities and clubs, volunteer, etc. Gainful employment with employers who will give you good recommendations goes a long way, but if you are just going to be a full time student then you need to show that you do more than go to class, come home, sleep, and do it all again the next day.

Like RDS said, if your credit card isn't current and that has hurt your credit then it will be a problem. At least make the minimum payments to keep the account from becoming past due. If it's already past due then the quicker it is brought back into currency, the quicker your credit rating will improve.

[Variant]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I really appreciate you taking the time to do so.

Concentrate at school and do well. I know you said jobs are hard to get in your area right now, so if you aren't working then there's no excuse for you not to do well in school. Get involved in some campus activities and clubs, volunteer, etc. Gainful employment with employers who will give you good recommendations goes a long way, but if you are just going to be a full time student then you need to show that you do more than go to class, come home, sleep, and do it all again the next day.

Like RDS said, if your credit card isn't current and that has hurt your credit then it will be a problem. At least make the minimum payments to keep the account from becoming past due. If it's already past due then the quicker it is brought back into currency, the quicker your credit rating will improve.

Thanks for the tip. I volunteered at the Animal Shelter when I was a senior in High School, so I could probably still get back there. Also the hospital here is always looking for volunteers. I'll check those out as soon as possible.

I'm paying off my debts as soon as I can as well. I don't like having them. I paid down a lot since I lost my job, and they aren't sending to collections since they understand, and I contacted them after I lost my job.

I'm still looking for work, and don't really care what it is. I would prefer to work than sit around all day. It's hard but not impossible.