How To Be The Next Spencer Reid: A Crash Course

We all know that the resident boy wonder from CBS' hit series Criminal Minds is an intellectual hero who, even for the show's standards, is an irregularity in the ranks of the BAU. But how can you be the next Dr. Spencer Reid?

Step #1: Be birthed by Diana Reid and have 6 Degrees (3 B.A.s and 3 PhDs)

Impossible right? Being Spencer's sibling is an easy fix that any self-insert fanfiction can fix, but I personally don't know if I have the brain power to get 6 degrees! This might be the senioritis talking, but my current B.S. already takes a lot of energy, so going back to school after this for an undergraduate degree is definitely in the cards!

All jokes aside, the first step to being the next Dr. Reid is to acknowledge that he's only a fictional character and that what matters most is what you specifically want to do.

So let's try this again?

Step #1: What are you interested in?

Unlike how it is depicted in the show, there is more than one Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU).

Originally named the Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) formed in the 1970s as a response to the spike in sexual assault and homicides during the time, the BAU is a department of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC). The NCAVC itself was established in 1985 and has 5 BAUs that all provide assistance to law enforcement agencies via criminal investigative analysis.

These five units include:

• Behavioral Analysis Unit 1 (counterterrorism, arson and bombing matters)

• Behavioral Analysis Unit 2 (threats, cyber crime, and public corruption)

• Behavioral Analysis Unit 3 (crimes against children)

• Behavioral Analysis Unit 4 (crimes against adults, ViCAP)

• Behavioral Analysis Unit 5 (research, strategy, and instruction)

The BAU in Criminal Minds covers cases that would typically be assigned to only one of the five units, but for the sake of television and maintaining characters and their development, the televised BAU deals with everything with each member of the team having their own specialty. Spencer, for example, specialized in statistics and geographical profiling as well as providing document and linguistic analyses over the numerous seasons.

But what is it that you'd find interesting / want to specialize in as well as what unit might fit you best?

Step #2: Join the FBI

Despite what one might think, the Bureau doesn't just pluck talent off the streets or hunt for new recruits like collegiate sports recruiters! As noted by retired profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole, the BAU only accepts applications from current FBI agents. Consequently, one must be aware that these positions are rare and highly competitive. Many apply and only few are accepted! So to even get your foot in the door, you need to figure out how to knock on it!

First things first, you need an undergraduate degree!

The specific degree itself typically doesn't matter, but most have law enforcement/ criminal justice or other related degrees. However, as a multifaceted agency, they also higher a wide array of people with different degrees. Nonetheless aside from obtaining an undergraduate education, you need to work within your field for a minimum of two years before you can apply to be an agent and undergo new agent training.

The FBI themselves provide more detailed information on what they require, timelines, and general answers to questions they commonly get so I highly suggest you visit their site directly for exact processes here!

Step #3: Experience, Experience, Experience!!

Okay you've made it into the FBI and your a new agent fresh out of training! So now what?

Get experience! As a new agent, the best thing you can do to make yourself a stronger applicant and advance your career in general is get experience in the field doing analysis/ work in your assigned team, working investigations etc.

Step #4: Wait & See

Once you've entered the FBI and have several years of experience under your belt, all you really have to do now is wait for a position to open in the BAU. The BAU looks for applicants as they see fit. At one point they could be looking for skilled linguists, and at another looking for applicants with extensive political knowledge to work on public corruption cases.

Another option you have is directly inquiring about positions and potential openings in one of the five units or speaking with general agent recruiters early on to discuss career trajectory and get inside advice on what to do!

Step #5: Rock Out In A Spiffy Sweater Vest/ Converses!

After applying and getting accepted you've essentially crossed the finish line!

Like new agents, you'll once again have more training to go through once entering the BAU and other qualifications to maintain. But you've made it nonetheless! All that's left now is to pull out your most eclectic sweater and if allowed by your supervisor, pop on a pair of converse highs like our quirky boy wonder!

I hope this gave some form of insight into what to look out for and keep in mind when trying to get into the BAU, but here are some articles/ blogs that should provide even more insight on how to be the next Dr. Reid!

Useful links:

• https://www.geteducated.com/careers/how-to-become-an-fbi-agent/

• https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/criminal-minds-how-do-you-get-a-job-with-the-bau.html/

• https://maryellenotoole.com/meo/becominganfbiprofiler/