What are the chances...

[scan]

...that someone will get hired that does NOT have a college degree, military experience, or LE experience?(to an agency that does not require those but does suggest them)

[mcsap]

OH, this can be done but you had better be smart, in great physical shape, a good test taker, read up on police testing methods including oral interviews and watched at least 200 hrs of "COPS" .

[rdp]

Why not go to college if you choose not to go into the military??

The military us a major commitment so college is an option for many.

The academy is a ton of bookwork. College prepares you for the academy as you learn some aspects of Criminal Law (or choose another subject) and it prepares you for all the academics.

At least college is one more thing you can say on the oral board and one more aspect they can look at as what you have done to show you are interested in LE.

[mcsap]

Join the Reserves/National Guard and go to college. In some states, the military ( guard/reserve) will pay for MOst if not all college. Is that a deal or what ?

[Charlie]

Scan--

Your question brings to mind the concept or thought of two ships colliding in the middle of the Pacific ocean!:D This does happen but not very often!

I think it greatly depends upon the agency doing the hiring. What THEY want or expect in a candidate.

Personally, I think that these days you really have the odds greatly against you if you don't have any prior military or, college or, the prior LE experience. At a lot of departments, it IS often a competitive process...

IS it possible to get hired without those qualifications? I'd say yes but not very often unless you got an inside hook going for yourself of some kind...
--
Charlie

[danah]

maybe if you know so officers that would vouch on your abilities

[choppa]

is it ok to have 4 years of college and no military experience at all?

[Switchback]

yes, choppa... assuming those 4 years of college resulted in a degree.

[choppa]

in class right now doin that actually

[K9 Police]

Scan,

From reading your profile I am assumming you have some trouble with education (?). I was trying to get a little more information because your question was a little difficult to answer without knowing your background. If you are having trouble in certain subjects, keep up at it. We have all struggled with something in our lives, and through determination got through it. I hated science; really could not understand any of it and frankly did not really care. Although, I worked at it and got the results I wanted.

As for college, if you decide that you want to go you don't necessarily have to get a 4 year degree. Go get a 2 year in law enforcement and I think it is safe to say that your chances of being hired would be good down the road. Military is another option if you don't want to endure more college. I really never was never interested in the military, but my brother is in Marines. He hated high school and decided to join the Marines out of school; and does a very good job at it. Find your strengths and accentuate those, while attempting to find something where you can work on your weaknesses. Same goes when trying to find a department. No department is pefect, but I wanted to work for one where I liked their positives and I could handle the weaknesses.

More information as to why you asked your question would definetly be helpful in order for us to answer accurately. But with no college, no military, and no LE experience your chances are not very good. Maybe a couple decades ago you would have had a much better chance, but law enforcement and the type of applicants is much different now from back then.

Any questions, just ask.

K9

[mcsap]

A 4 year degree is great. We pay extra for those who have a degree in CJ.

We give 10 points to the score of any honorably discharged active duty ( not reserves) veteran, regardless of what they did in the military.

[muskingumboy]

Originally posted by mcsap
A 4 year degree is great. We pay extra for those who have a degree in CJ.

We give 10 points to the score of any honorably discharged active duty ( not reserves) veteran, regardless of what they did in the military.

But I thought that a degree in another area of study was somewhat of a better Idea?

[K9 Police]

It depends on the department. Some departments won't pay you anything, even if you have a PhD. Other departments will pay you based on the grade level (BA, Masters, PhD, etc.) Some departments pay you on what type of degree you have. It really depends on the department. I wish I got paid more for my degree!

K9

[Stump]

Our department pays more for a degree, as long as it pertains to any job in the city. Basically, anything but fashion design will get you more money.

There are places that hire (here is one) without a college degree, but in order to move up the ladder in LE (Sgt or higher), you must have a degree.
GED counts as a HS degree, but it isn't the ideal situation. Have you gotten yours yet, scan? I hope you're still working on it.