MD Trooper

[gtiman]

Ok, I asked a question yesterday about police academy so here goes another one. I have one accident on my record, wasnt my fault, I was at a red light and got rear ended. No tickets. Never been arrested, and starting this summer I'm starting to take LE classes at my local college to try and get an associates degree. I'm 18 now and will be 19 in september, I have to be 20 to even consider being a trooper here in MD. But being around let's say 21 with an associates degree would my chances be good with the information I have given you over getting into the academy?

[CashCrop]

Not a LEO but I surely dont see any problem with it. You were not issue a citation, how can that be held against you?

Would have to be an awful picky BI, dont ya think?

[gtiman]

Well I'm trying to make sure too because of my age. I mean I'd like to know how many troopers actually get accepted into the academy at the minimum age you know? Hopefully I'll be able to because this is something I've been thinking about for a while, and now I'm getting closer to the age requirements. I'm already in good physical shape as well. Any other tips or info guys?

[CashCrop]

Just from the advice Ive seen on this site, I can offer the following advice,

Prepare yourself in the educational sense, some departments give preference to those with CJ degrees,,

Make yourself adept with computers.

From my own field, I can say try to prepare yourself by getting real world exp doing LEO related work. Now what entails LEO related work, I'm not sure (I'm in the IT field)

See if you can join an explorer or ride-along programs. Perhaps some places will allow you to become a reserve officer, however I dont think that's likely..

Try to come up with things that may look better on your resume/CV.

[Jcrazy]

From what I here from people who have tried, the MD State Police is very hard to get in to and most people put in several apps before they are accepted. It sounds like you are on the right track though and with your age you have plenty of time to make your self a desirable candidate. Good luck.

[phuzz01]

Make yourself adept with computers.

I never thought that this would really make a difference, until the field of applicants had been narrowed down to the last five, and I had my final interview with the Colonel. Turns out, he had been a computer guy before going into LE, and he was very interested to know, in detail, what computer skills and proficiencies I had. I am pretty convinced that it ended up giving me that little edge that I needed.

[gtiman]

Thank you guys! Im pretty proficient with computers, I already work for my local county government in a warehouse so I work with computers keeping track of inventories and type up many letters and whatnot. My main concern isn't school or anything like that, I enjoy school. What I'm worried about is the fact that I might not get accepted until I'm 30 or something like that. I mean I know if I have all the qualifications needed the chance is good that I still won't get accepted, but I'd like to be close to the age of 21 when/if I go in.

[daNattyFatty]

read my reply here: http://forums.realpolice.net/showthread.php?t=13333

and yes, the MD state police are very hard to get into. don't get discouraged though.