Hi! My DD is a HS senior, and planning on majoring in Criminal Justice. Looked a bunch of schools, but her preferences are all over the place. Anyone study this major at SUNY Albany/Juniata/Utica/York College of PA/Westfield State (MA)/Molloy? She has a 4.0 unweighted, test optional, chasing merit (hence the wide variety of schools, including others not listed). Any others she should consider?
What are her career goals?
The criminal justice major is typically for students interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement, etc. I’m trying to be diplomatic with my feedback, but it may not be the best fit for a 4.0 student, depending on career goals.
5 Likes
It depends on budget and desires.
When someone says chasing merit, that’s not necessarily the right way to approach things.
Some schools full pay cost less than others with merit - so you should really set a budget figure. How much are you able and more importantly willing to spend each year?
Is she regionally biased - meaning this mid atlantic north east list that you have? or can she go anywhere. Or to certain regions?
Is size a concern - you have tiny and large listed.
Does she want Criminal Justice or Criminology?
How is her rigor - does she take APs and other hard classes like psych?
Is she test optional due to low performance or she never too a test? If she took one, what is her score?
1 Like
Oh believe me, I get it, but I appreciate you being “sensitive”. lol Her goal is to be an FBI agent. I’ve explained that those majors are very generic, and convinced her (thru showing her the FBI website/job descriptions, etc) that she should try and major in accounting, since that’s what they are looking for. Albany has a 4+1 program and offers internships (tho not guaranteed), and Juniata has internships/study abroad, and a possible 3+1 program.
1 Like
Great questions! I didn’t even think to put that info in. She does not do well on standardized tests. Will graduate with 12 AP classes and a few Honors classes. Her 4.0 is unweighted. She played 2-3 varsity sports throughout most of HS, but has since lost her passion for them. We are on Long Island, and our rule was a school that was no more than a 5 hour drive from home (give or take). Was looking for under $30k/year, as we don’t qualify for need-based aid, but I know that’s tough. Even Albany (in-state for us) is roughly $30k/year.
We’ve visited a few schools in MD, PA, but quite honestly, she is a PITA in deciding what she likes/doesn’t like about certain colleges. Rather than looking Into all the program options, she’s looking at aesthetics (“I don’t like The brick buildings”—even tho a few she liked DO in fact have brick buildings lol). She really isn’t considering any other major (at least from our discussions; and since I’m “just mom”, she doesn’t want my advice lol)
1 Like
She scored mostly 3s on all her APs.
How set is she on the major? She can be any number of majors and work for the FBI. I would also take a look at SUNY New Paltz and Geneseo- they do not have that exact major but they have others that she may find interesting. Is she fluent in another language?
Ok…I see she isn’t interested in any other major. I think SUNY Albany would work well given her interests. Has she considered her plans in case the FBI doesn’t work out? She doesn’t have to answer that right now.
Many kids look at aesthetics. Yes, $30K all in will be tough.
Which math class is she in Senior Year?
In theory, some of those APs could reduce her tenure - and thus the budget?
Accounting is a great major - but maybe not great for her. Wouldn’t be for me or my kids 
I took the list from 3rd party and used Criminology, not Criminal Justice and not a lot in the NE. Are you open to a flight instead of a drive - from Islip, Southwest goes to many places?
I don’t know the cost - well they publish at $3465 a semester…not sure about room and board - John Jay / CUNY
A bit far but WVU - big merit - you can run the scholarship estimator - TO might reduce the aid.
Not sure others will have criminology. My kid’s school has a Crime, Law and Society minor that one might do with Sociology…but it’ll neither be $30K or in a 5 hour radius. But the point being - maybe there are other “niche” programs at schools that aren’t majors but can still get her the exposure she wants.
I would really study the desired outcomes of criminology vs. criminal justice and make sure Criminal Justice is the right major…or is criminology the right major?
Check course catalogs - including sociology which will have criminology courses.
Millersville has a Criminology major. You might get close budget wise.
Hofstra has big merit…they have crimonology as a minor.
SUNY Cortland
U Hartford - looks like a mixed program. How deep they go merit wise i’m not sure.
URI - they go deep in merit.
I would agree - it’s not necessarily the best major to get into the FBI - but kids do want to study what they want to study.
Perhaps she can reach out to an FBI agent or two for an informational interview? But I’m guessing criminal justice isn’t the right major vs. criminology - but that’s why she should check the course catalogs for schools that have one or the other or both.
3 Likes
Which courses/subject matter areas does your daughter like or dislike ?
Chemistry ?
Not a fan of Chemistry, so ruled out Forensic Science
She is taking Calculus BC and college stats. She is looking Into Homeland Security as well. As far as her back up plans if neither work out? She has zero clue. I actually graduated as a CRJ major (a gazillion years ago), but was working f/t and going at night/on the weekends.my initial plan was law school, but I was working as a real estate paralegal while in college. That ended up being my career for a long while. Now I’m in banking. Couldn’t tell you how I ended up here from where I started, but it worked out!
Criminal Justice may be the easiest major offered by accredited schools. When examined by major, criminal justice majors score the lowest on average on the LSAT (law school admissions test). Criminology majors do slightly better on the LSAT.
For Homeland Security: Would she consider majoring in cyber security ? Opens up lots of job options in both private & public sectors.
6 Likes
She looked Into John Jay; but with it being mostly commuter, she would either have to take the train (2 hours each way) or get an apartment (crazy expensive/not very safe in/near the city anymore)
I mentioned that, but she’s not Interested in computers
As a second major, certain foreign languages are in demand by the US Government (which often funds foreign language study). But, typically must be able to qualify for a security clearance for US Government positions which seek foreign language ability.
3 Likes
I mentioned that to her as well, but she is not interested. She took Spanish for 6-7 years, was in Foreign Language Honor Society, but did not like a teacher (she had her for 2 years in a row) and decided not to keep with it.
1 Like
Unfortunately, most of the world today is similar in what it needs - whether private or public organizations. Skill sets that are often data oriented and database/computer oriented.
Has she researched any of the Politics, philosophy, economics majors?
It appears she’s ruled out typical suggestions for FBI hopefuls of accounting, data science or languages. No worries. She needs to do something that is interesting for her but will also give a leg up towards her career goals.
Can you provide more information to help guide suggestions?
She has not, as of yet, but probably because I was the one suggesting them. A friend of hers graduated last year and is majoring in Finance, so she wants to ask her for suggestions. She wants to get suggestions from One of her favorite teachers as well.
1 Like
A couple possibilities, one of which hasn’t been mentioned yet:
DeSales (PA ): About 2200 undergrads at this residential campus. Looking at the net prices, it seems as though there’s a shot of getting this school within budget. Offers a degree in homeland security, in addition to criminal justice. There’s also a data analytics/Applied AI track within the homeland security major, which counts as a minor in data analytics. From the school’s website:
Homeland security is a wide field that includes terrorism in general, counterterrorism, intelligence, critical infrastructure protection, disaster preparedness and response, cyber security, and terrorist financing.
Coursework in the homeland security program focuses on developing skills in critical thinking, leadership, and decision-making to complement tactical knowledge.
@tsbna44 already mentioned Millersville for its criminology program. This school with about 5800 undergrads also offers degrees in emergency management, occupational safety & environmental health, and social work as well as a concentration within geography or a separate minor in geospatial applications. Some of these fields seem as though they could be a natural shift for someone who was originally interested in criminal justice, should your daughter decide she wants a shift.
5 Likes