What High School Electives Would I Need To Take?

Question

I am planing on going to college at Penn State for Criminal Justice/Law and I am not quite sure which electives I should take that would help me best. I am taking Sociology and American Government but I am a junior and only have 2 elective spots each year. Which other classes would help me best for my desired major?

Answer 1

Civics would be the best bet.

Does your school offer a work-credit program, where, maybe you can find a job at a local legal firm or, if they have it, can you join an "Explorers" group at your local police dept?

In my day, "Explorers" were comprised of any high school student whose relative or friend was a cop. The job entailed mostly minor paperwork, learning self-defense and police procedures, but the exposure to daily, real-life goings-ons at a police station (and, rarely, a ride in a police car as an observer) couldn't be beat! Back then, we didn't get credit for it, and, depending on where you live, you may not get to see anything more than a filing cabinet, but, my understanding is that some schools do offer such credit, so it may be worth looking into. Ask your guidance counselor (regardless, if you are earnestly considering Criminal Law, you can't do much better than be exposed to the real thing, which, for the record, is nothing like "COPS" or any of those other reality shows; it's mostly boring, routine work, but you get a real appreciation for what the "boys in blue" go through on a daily basis; it also humanizes them for those who don't have relatives in this potentially dangerous profession).

Consider visiting or working behind the scenes at a court or magistrates office. Seeing the (gotta say it!) alleged dregs of society trying to get off speeding tickets, domestic situations, and, depending on the venue, murders, is truly awe-inspiring; you may feel both disgust and sympathy at the same time! It's also a great "scared straight" program!

Check out the link, below, or enter "police explorers" into your favorite search engine to find out more (adding your city and state may possibly show local information).

Answer 2

Honestly, high school electives aren't going to help you a lot, unless they're AP courses. Take whatever sounds good to you and won't be a complete throwaway class.