Have I ruined my chance to become a cop? Considering a CJ major

[mrgoodcat1]

I'm like everyone else and call BS on the pot smoking.

That being said the military & a degree will help. Not saying you will get hired but several years between you and the pot smoking an honorable discharge from the military and a degree will look good

I'm different then everyone else, if you want to study CJ then study CJ. Simple fact 99.99% of agencies out there do not care what your degree is in as long as you can say you have a degree. I'm a firm believer that someone with a 4.0GPA in CJ looks better then a 2.5GPA in Business (or whatever). Getting your degree is hard, getting a degree in a subject that you have no interest in is pretty much impossible.

The reason why everyone says get a degree in something else is just in case you don't like CJ or you get hurt you have something to fall back on. I don't agree with that school of thought. But I'm a minority.

You’d never hear someone tell someone who's interested in Business to get a computer degree just in case they don't like business. But people do that all the time with people who want to study CJ, to me it's the same thing.

Something happens down the road and you leave CJ then you can always go back to school. Say you spend 8 - 10 years as a LEO, even if you get a computer degree unless you keep up with the computer field while working as a LEO your degree won't be any better then a CJ degree. The computer field changes so often that everything you studied 8 years ago is so old it's worthless.

But hey that's just me, the guy with an AA in CJ, BS in CRIM, and one class away from a Masters in Sociology with an emphasis in CRIM.

end of rant

Thanks

@ROS: Seems like you have some attitude problems too with the way you talk to people, at least I admit mine

And im not lazy in general, I work out 6 times a week. I just am lazy about certani things like cleaning, sometimes even showering (still do it once a day), etc

[BJJVad]

I'm different then everyone else, if you want to study CJ then study CJ. Simple fact 99.99% of agencies out there do not care what your degree is in as long as you can say you have a degree. I'm a firm believer that someone with a 4.0GPA in CJ looks better then a 2.5GPA in Business (or whatever). Getting your degree is hard, getting a degree in a subject that you have no interest in is pretty much impossible.

So getting a 2.6 was not worth the hot girl in the class? That's how I picked my classes. Sat in the enrollment office and listened to what classes the hotties were taking.

So if anyone needs help with Interior Decorating, hit me up. I got a 2.6 in the class and I like earthy colors.

mrgoodcat1:

You will not get hired at 18 as an LEO. You will not get hired at 19 1/2 when you become eligible (most agencies), with that type of background.

You will need some sort of career to keep you busy so you will stay away from that type of lifestyle. You will need to keep it long enough to make it to an age where maybe an agency might pick you up.

You know what happens to a professional fighter when he starts looking down the road instead of the guy he is about to fight?

Lastly, you are not old enough for unless it's "Root Beer" in those mugs.

Approach your life like a set of stairs, one flight at a time.

[mrgoodcat1]

So getting a 2.6 was not worth the hot girl in the class? That's how I picked my classes. Sat in the enrollment office and listened to what classes the hotties were taking.

So if anyone needs help with Interior Decorating, hit me up. I got a 2.6 in the class and I like earthy colors.

mrgoodcat1:

You will not get hired at 18 as an LEO. You will not get hired at 19 1/2 when you become eligible (most agencies), with that type of background.

You will need some sort of career to keep you busy so you will stay away from that type of lifestyle. You will need to keep it long enough to make it to an age where maybe an agency might pick you up.

You know what happens to a professional fighter when he starts looking down the road instead of the guy he is about to fight?

Lastly, you are not old enough for unless it's "Root Beer" in those mugs.

Approach your life like a set of stairs, one flight at a time.

Thanks for your input

[1depd]

You've been beat up enough by the other posters, so I won't. Assuming what you've stated is the truth then all is not lost. Clean time is your best friend. By the time you graduate it will have been at least 6 years since your arrest. That is good, but 10 years of clean living would be better. If the opportunities are available to you, try to do internships, reserve officer, volunteer/work with campus security while you are in school. The more responsible work history to show you are motivated to change your condition the better. As far as the degree goes I would not change the major, but I would add either a second major or a minor. Accounting/finance is a decent one. The accounting/finance courses can be used in specialized investigations and some agencies that is all they do.

Since the implosion of the banking system it would make sense that many people who were thinking about taking the finance route would change their minds. In four years that will open many positions as there will be fewer people graduating with that education.

Don't expect to be able to land a LE job straight out of college with your history. If you do then great, but consider yourself lucky. This is another reason to find a minor or second major in something else you like. It will give you options when you graduate, if you are unable to land the LE job. CJ is a great degree, I have two of them. Unfortunately it is a specialized degree so it's application is limited. It would be similar to getting a degree in shoe store management. It is very specialized and outside of managing one of the thousands of shoe stores it is not very applicable.

[Wolfman]

[QUOTE=BP348;1056486]The reason why everyone says get a degree in something else is just in case you don't like CJ or you get hurt you have something to fall back on. I don't agree with that school of thought. But I'm a minority. - et al. /QUOTE]

BP is right that a lot of people say get it in something else as a fall-back plan. The other reason that I say get it in something else is that a lot of agencies NEED folks with other backgrounds - having a business or accounting degree may help you in investigating things of that nature, or having a degree in Public Administration may make you stand out in the promotion boards (way down the line) when they are looking for someone to become a department head.

I think there are merits to a CJ degree, but don't just get it because you think it will help you do better as a police officer or have a greater chance of getting hired.

IMHO all of the "basics" you need are taught in your academy and the REAL instruction is on the street.