[RebeccaChambers]

Alright, so I’m getting ready to go to college and I have a choice to make, one of the most important choices of my life, what I’m going to do for a living. I’m torn between being a high school counselor or an FBI agent. This is a decision only I can make, but if anyone here has any thoughts or ideas, I’d like to hear your input. I’m not going to listen to the poll, but I posted one anyway to see what people think, I’m going to follow my heart though. Here are some pros and cons of each I’ve compiled.

[b]HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR[/b]
[b]Pros[/b]
-I have a natural talent for psychology
-I have experience from psych class in high school
-I get to make a difference in people’s lives
-I hang out with hot teenage girls all day
-I’m still young and so I can relate to the students
-Not much risk of being shot
-I like teenagers
-I like my high school

[b]Cons[/b]
-Probably won’t pay a lot
-Lots of college will be necessary
-Not really any job advancement/promotion
-Two of the principles are complete douche bags
-Listening to people talk about their problems all day might get old after a while
-When my students tell me what they’ve been doing, I might get slightly jealous for not taking the initiative to do those sort of things when I was in high school
-Budget cuts and layoffs are common at schools, due to the economy

[b]FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION[/b]
[b]Pros[/b]
-Probably pays a lot
-Your partner and you often form close bonds of friendship and are always there for each other
-My partner might be really hot
-I’ll be saving people’s lives
-I’ll be on the right side of the law, instead of the wrong side
-Everyone around me will feel safer and I’ll have an aurora of authority and respect
-Travel all around the country
-At the end of the day I’ll know that I did good
-Relatively short higher education (21 weeks at FBI Academy)
-I can use my psychology talents to help me solve cases
-It’s the adventure of a lifetime

[b]Cons[/b]
-Dangerous line of work
-I could get stuck with a desk job, everyone wants to be the field agent, but nobody wants to be the field agent’s secretary
-I’ll have to deal with assholes and disrespectful people
-Not much time for starting or caring for a family
-I don’t know the first thing about law enforcement
-I’ll have to move to Quantico to attend the FBI Academy and then move again to Washington, DC to work at the J. Edgar Hoover Building
-I’ll have to deal with a lot of death
-People often don’t thank you, no matter how good of a job you do
-I might get tied up in bureaucracy and stupid ineffectual laws/regulations that prevent me from being able to apprehend suspects

[tiredofgames]

I think that your pros and cons list is a good idea but you should probably not worry about “hot teenage girls” or a “hot” partner. Just my opinion but eventually you will get older and “hot” isnt as important as self pride in your occupation.

[freckles]

Sounds like FBI agent wins. Many of your pros for the counsellor are also cons.
My brother-in-law is an FBI agent and he is thrilled to be off the field finally and into a desk-job. He is still saving lives and making a difference. Depends on how you look at it. Good luck!

[Ask April Masini]

Let me know how things are going for you? 😉

[Natalie Noah]

Reading through your pros and cons list, it seems like you’re really weighing your personal satisfaction and lifestyle against practical considerations. Being a high school counselor is certainly rewarding in the sense that you can make a difference in young people’s lives and use your natural psychology skills every day. It’s also lower risk, more predictable, and keeps you rooted in a familiar community. However, you’ve noted the drawbacks limited pay, limited advancement, and the possibility of burnout from handling students’ problems constantly. It’s a stable, meaningful career, but it might not satisfy your sense of adventure or desire for new experiences.

On the other hand, the FBI path offers excitement, challenge, and a sense of making a tangible impact on people’s lives in a broader, more adventurous way. The camaraderie with colleagues, travel opportunities, and use of your psychology skills in a unique way could be incredibly fulfilling. But it comes with very real risks danger, bureaucracy, relocation, and personal sacrifices. It’s a career that demands resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to accept uncertainty. Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether you value stability, predictability, and direct mentorship (counseling), or adrenaline, challenge, and broader societal impact (FBI). Listening to your heart as you said is essential, but it’s also wise to realistically consider which lifestyle aligns best with your long-term goals and values.

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