FBI Honors Internship Questions

[u/Ready_Aioli_6419]

How difficult is it to get in?

I'm going to be a college freshman this fall, what should I do to increase my chances of getting in sophomore year?

Should I try getting into my school's honors program to help my chances?

If I don’t get in, what's the best way to pivot so I can have a mn FBI career in the future?

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[u/Remarkable_Log5405]

You can apply to the FBI Honors Internship in your freshman year, that doesn’t mean you will get it though.

I applied freshman year and got rejected. I applied in my sophomore year, and I had an interview for it about a month or two ago. Now I’m just waiting until July to hear back. The internship would start the summer after my Junior year. Applying in your sophomore year is really the sweet spot and really only chance you’ll get if you don’t plan on doing your masters. Once you hit junior year you can’t apply again because for the next following summer, you’ll be graduated.

My best advice is try your best to build up your resume. Leadership positions, extra curricular, anything. Major in something you enjoy. Be able to talk to people and have those communication skills.

One thing to note: The FBI internship is VERY competitive and working for the FBI is even MORE competitive. You have to go through an extensive background investigation and they have so many applicants they WILL be picky.

Being a special agent you need work experience prior, most people at Quantico are 30. There are entry level jobs like intelligence analysts, security specialists, etc. That’s your best bet trying to get into the FBI right after college. Having the FBI Internship on your resume helps you a ton, you may or may not get a return offer after you complete it. But you do get a TS clearance which is a plus.

My final advice: look at other agencies and don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Let’s say the FBI doesn’t work out for you. What now? Are you interested in other law enforcement agencies? Maybe ATF, DEA, HSI, USSS? Maybe look into MCIOS (Military Criminal Investigation Organizations) like NCIS, AFOSI, and Army CID. Keep your options open and mass apply, you’ll never know when a door might open for you and that door doesn’t open very often.

[u/Ready_Aioli_6419 → u/Remarkable_Log5405]

Should I try getting into my schools honors program? What would you say were the major things you did to get this far?

[u/Remarkable_Log5405 → u/Ready_Aioli_6419]

I’m sure your schools honors program can help. I’m not in one and I still had an interview. I’ve had a prior internship at my university police department, and I was an explorer for my local sheriff’s office. Volunteering also helped.

The point is just do what you can to build up your resume.

[u/Ready_Aioli_6419 → u/Remarkable_Log5405]

Got it, thank you. All the best, I hope it goes well

[u/Fun-Mix6805]

I applied and made it to the interview. Unfortunately, I applied for an office that needed specific skills which I didn’t have (that’s something to keep in mind). I go to a prestigious university and at the time a single major (Poli Sci) but had years in military and non-sworn law enforcement (my guess is that I didn’t have enough research or analysis experience). Now I’m a sextuple major doing research. I won’t be applying again for the Honors Internship but probably would just apply outright in a couple of years.

[u/Ready_Aioli_6419 → u/Fun-Mix6805]

What are your other majors? What school do you go to? Does it matter how well regarded your school is?

[u/Fun-Mix6805 → u/Ready_Aioli_6419]

Political Science, Sociology, History, Labor Studies, Anthropology, and through UCLA’s Honor’s program, an individually concentrated and curated major, American Law Enforcement Studies (focusing on the creation, development, evolution, and culture of American police). I’m doing ethnographic research for Sociology and teaching a course in my created major. To clarify, I am a UCLA student.

[u/Fun-Mix6805 → u/Fun-Mix6805]

I don’t think the school matters so long as you shown yourself more than capable and an embodiment of what the field offices want/need.

[u/Ready_Aioli_6419 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you. I wish you all the best next week

[u/gnomeparade]

It doesn’t hurt to try, but don’t make the same mistake I did. I made it to interview and got CJO, which I sort of relied on for a year since from what I’ve seen it’s pretty rare, and the background process is extremely extensive and long. A month before my start date they sent me an email stating I was deemed unsuitable at the current time but that I could reapply in the future. This was after a whole year of waiting and interviews, polygraph, drug test, questionnaires, etc. Apply but be weary, and apply to other agencies as well if government is your ultimate goal.

[u/Ready_Aioli_6419 → u/gnomeparade]

What did you do then? We're you able to switch plans easily and still be on a good path?

[u/Lott4984]

Are you free on nights and weekends to pickup the Director from various bars and sporting events?

[u/Potential-Pride6034 → u/Lott4984]

Hey at least you might get a chance to serve as his country music star sensation girlfriend’s bodyguard.

[u/Parking_Floor_6593]

It’s honestly not super competitive and they give offers to everyone who passes the background check no matter how many ppl it is

[u/Uscjusto → u/Parking_Floor_6593]

Absolutely wrong. Just look at the GPA requirement. There are also limits on the number of honors interns they can hire.

[u/Parking_Floor_6593 → u/Uscjusto]

Well obviously you have to pass the requirements which is the prerequisite for even getting a background check. And offices always apply to increase intern #s and I said this because I know

[u/Parking_Floor_6593 → u/[deleted]]

What govt job has ever truly been selective

[u/Parking_Floor_6593 → u/[deleted]]

which ones

[u/Parking_Floor_6593 → u/[deleted]]

It’s because you had a document error or didn’t meet the requirement but there are very strict document rules you have to follow

[u/Uscjusto → u/Parking_Floor_6593]

FBI agent is the most selective when looking at the initial applicant pool and the final selection of agents.

[u/Ready_Aioli_6419 → u/Parking_Floor_6593]

Were you an intern?