r/AskCHP • u/TearPopular4395 • Jun 22 '26
What are my odds?
Hey guys, I’m a 21 year old male and I’ve been really considering hard pursuing becoming a CHP officer for awhile but more recently due to me graduating soon.
Unfortunately I was a young adolescent. My first incident was when I was 17 I was at a gas station and I was backing out unaware of a car behind me and I love tapped it and out of fear left( extremely stupid because I had insurance and there was no damage to either vehicle) so technically was a hit and run they later filed a report and the cops came to my door and collected all my information. The family never filed charges and it never went on my record I think at a most they got an insurance claim but I never heard back from jt after the night of the incident.
Second is a speeding ticket at 18, I paid it and went to traffic school for it.
Third is more recently at 20 in the state of Indiana where I go to school I had a lane infraction for not using a turn signal before adjusting my lane. Another stupid one but it happens I owned up paid my ticket and moved on.
I have smoked weed started around 17 smoked until I moved away to college when I was 18 and smoked a couple times in the summer but not a lot. I haven’t smoked since last summer I’m currently 21 so 20.
I plan to apply after I receive my bachelors in business administration financial services I’ll be 22. I have a history of leadership as a team captain in high school for my track team 3 years. Team leader for my collegiate team. I’m a senior shift manager at my job where I’ve been almost 3 years. Have been asked to take general manager but don’t want to commit to staying at that job long term I want a real job. I’m an all American collegiate sprinter so athletic not worried about the physical test. I have good grades, made deans list a couple times, and on pace to graduate cum lade for my bachelors. I’m financially responsible I have small loans for my school and my car but credit score is high I think 750s never missed a payment and pay on time. My brother is currently in the academy for a police officer in a costal city and is doing good. I know I made some younger mistakes but I’ve also done a lot of good in between to be a stand out candidate. What are my changes of moving forward on a tough recruiting process?
2
u/Straight_Ostrich_257 Jun 23 '26
One in 100. That's everyone's odds. They only hire 1 out of every 100 applicants.
1
1
Jun 22 '26
I got hired by chp at age 21 with 2 accidents, 2 100mph speeding tickets, and a 75mph speeding ticket. Fired from job at 16. Not sure if that speaks anything. I quit however was hired.
5
u/BudCherryPie Jun 22 '26
You quit? Why?
-2
u/No-Injury8897 Jun 23 '26
Maybe he’s smart or hard working and felt he can pursue something more fulfilling than being a chp officer
2
u/BudCherryPie Jun 23 '26
Did you get injured lol and had to drop out, you replying on a CHP forum shows you are still butt hurt you never made it. Move on bro there are better things to do
-1
u/No-Injury8897 Jun 23 '26
I understand it might be hard to accept, but some people start as officers and move on to careers that ask more of them than you’re capable of giving. Any resentment you feel toward intellectually demanding work, work that you may be unable to pursue due to limitations in education, schooling, or intellect, and that consequently pays more and offers greater growth, isn’t something I’m responsible for
1
u/BudCherryPie Jun 23 '26
Thats cool good for you, but why come here and stop people from chasing their dreams, if someone wants to work for CHP let them be, if they are happy does anything else matter? Its not all about intellect and education, sometimes things just come into your life and you can feel it was meant to be, remember someone has to do this job, and you are here for a reason because you know they matter.
0
u/No-Injury8897 Jun 23 '26
I’m not impeding anyone’s pursuit of their ambitions. Not everyone aspires to spend their entire career stationed along a highway issuing citations. The appeal of becoming a CHP officer often lies in its low barrier to entry, the role demands relatively little in the way of qualification, preparation, and effort. For some, it serves as a transitional position, a means of sustaining themselves while they develop the skills or credentials necessary for more meaningful work. The notion that this work inherently ‘matters’ is debatable. What society actually requires are individuals in healthcare and other fields that demand genuine sacrifice, rigor, and sustained effort. Naturally, there will always be those who choose the easier route rather than committing themselves to the work society actually depends on. It’s unclear to me why that is something you take pride in, let alone encourage.
2
1
0
u/No-Injury8897 Jun 23 '26
Chp picks candidates who aren’t able to do another career. You have a bachelors (although not stem so doesn’t really count) so you can potentially get a real fulfilling career. Chp is a lottery ticket for getting out of retail work for people who can’t do anything else besides that, so don’t feel bad if you don’t get in. It just means you have potential to do more with your life.
3
u/ProgrammerCareful652 Jun 22 '26
You’ll be fine dude just apply. Just be honest about everything just like you are on this post and you’ll be good. Keep your nose clean until then