I'm also baffled as to why my son wants a career in law enforcement and specifically the FBI or ATF. Not sure where he's getting it from given his father's absolute distrust of anything related to the U.S. Government.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Last time I checked, you need a law degree to work for the FBI.
Michigan state is relatively conservative as far as major universities are concerned. FReeper Carry_Okie has a daughter attending MSU.
First of all, what can you afford? Are the schools offering scholarships? It makes no sense to got to Tulane at $40k per year for a low paying job in law enforcement.
Second, I would do a little research with key words like “worst colleges” and “party schools”.
Hard Work University / College of the Ozarks is tuition free and has a Criminal Justice program
https://www.cofo.edu/Page/Academics/Academic-Programs.93.html
Become a plumber or an electrician first. At least then he always has something useful and honorable to fall back on. Better money too.
Not sure where you are located. Maybe your son is thinking about long-term job security and retirement bennies.
I know a fine young man, quite conservative who became a town constable [small village here]...wanted to get into the state police....went to Norwich. His excellent marksmanship abilities got him drafted to the AFT [argh! I know] but as far as I know, he hasn’t been laid-off from his job. And has a decent pension to retire on.
Norwich University, Northfield, VT
have you looked into Liberty University School of Law (in Virginia... definitely close to D.C.)... it ranks decently among law schools...
We found 1 school in Indiana ranked in US News and World Reports that have a criminal justice program; #100 Ball State University, Muncie, IN
According to Kiplinger’s, Indiana has 2 universities ranked in the top 100 for “Values in Public Colleges”, #65 Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN; and #76 Purdue University, West Lafayette, IL
http://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/criminal-justice-schools/indiana/
http://www.criminaljusticedegreehub.com/top-10-traditional-criminal-justice-schools/
community college. 4 years military. obtain GI funding. finish up last two years at state school.
Job.
Rebellious teenager.
Affordability is important. BUT, be sure you look at the total price. Some private schools may meet the price of public schools once scholarships, all activity fees and room and board are figured in. You CAN negotiate! My kids went to Rice (Houston) and Trinity (San Antonio), two great schools for less than the price of major land grant universities in the mid-US.
ALSO !!! I caution against a pure law enforcement degree. I am in law enforcement and most of the state and local agencies require a college degree, but NOT a law enforcement major. The most boring people in law school were the pre-law majors. They knew almost nothing of interest. The truly capable students were the accountants, the engineers and the folks like nurses, and others with some experience in a different discipline.
Just something to think about. If after 10-years in the tough and not especially financially fruitful world of law enforcement your son wants to do something else, he needs some real options that the law enforcement degree would not help.
Just my opinions.
Oldplayer
Criminal justice is not “specialized” as other majors. Therefore, your college choices are not as dependent as, say, law school or med school.
So, money matters. Do your Fafsa and see who gives you the best deal.
Your son will let you know where he feels most comfortable.
Questions we asked are retention rates and graduation rates. What are the other popular majors? There is a good chance he will change his mind.
Go online and do some general searches on your schools. Look for crime issues, and general news stuff. That will tell you a lot. Read comments posted about schools.
Look at the dorms. Are they clean? Do you feel safe there? What’s the “vibe.” Look in the common areas. Are they maintained or is it threadbare and worn out? Where is the school spending their money?
Does he have friends at any of those schools. Talk to their parents. One of my kids school is great about dealing with the money side. Bills are clear, clean, and accurate. The other, well known college, has nasty people working in their office.
They will all pitch you like used car salesmen. Don’t buy into it. You are getting ready to spend about $100,000. Make sure you feel good about the place. Make sure you feel comfortable leaving your kid there.
I know it sounds silly, but for the first couple of years it doesn’t matter where you go—the classes are all the same. Ask about any special programs for upperclassmen. Do they do internships? Where have kids done them and how effective are they.
If you can audit a class, do it. Not for the prof—but to check out the upper class students. In a classroom you see the full spectrum. You can tell a lot about a program that way. And you can pick the brains of the kids afterwards.
If your son is basing any of his decisions on a girlfriend, buddy, or sport—smack him up side his head. That stuff won’t matter in six months.
I’ve been though this twice. If you have any ? Along the way, feel free to PM me. The folks in these schools can sometimes make a first time parent feel like an idiot. Don’t let the process intimidate you. YOU are the customer.
If you know anyone who could put him up in the NYC area (including the suburbs) the tuition at John Jay College is pretty reasonable.
Follow the money. Published tuition at a private college is “sticker price.” Nobody pays sticker price. If they won’t provide an aid package that makes it affordable, they don’t really want you. Look elsewhere.
Pick the school that will leave you the least in debt. But the best choice would be for your son to change his major to engineering.
Get in touch with a Congressional Republican and ask for their advice. Or, go to your regional Republican HQ. It sounds like you live in Chicago or thereabouts, so Republican anything may be hard to locate.
Perhaps better yet, write to Paul Ryan and ask him. I bet you’d get good, prompt advice.
Indiana State University has a very good program in Law Enforcement. Worth looking into.
My best advice is to get the US News and World Reports guide to colleges and pick one that will give your son a challenge but not overwhelm him or be too easy. In other words, his test scores should fall at about the 2/3 - 3/4 range for the school. He’ll have to work for his grades, but he won’t be lost either.
My son used us news and world report college rankings. Meh did a lot of research on rankings for his major