Hello,

I know this comes up often, but I wanted to get some opinions since LinkedIn hasn't been much help and want to try one last time.

Like some people, I've been interested in joining the CIA as an intern (intel analyst) since I became a US citizen. I'm a college sophomore and chose this specifically since they (the uni) have told me they have some agency's employees who work here as a recruiter. They misled me after almost a year of emailing back and forth people. So now I'm left to apply the standard way.

I'm not getting into specifics, but I'll humbly say I do fit into the agency (one being speaking Russian since I'm from a former Soviet country) and have relevant skills, leadership, experience, etc. You get the point.

But there's one problem. I have a 2.91 GPA. Yes, that's very low. The minimum qualification is a 3.0. Some say it's a hard cutoff; others say I have a chance. I’m considering applying with a 2.9 (and a year early for a Summer 2026 start date) because I secured a federal internship for Summer 2025 in DC, even though their minimum was a 3.0 based on overall strength.

With that being said, I need a quick opinion on this:

1. Bold yet risky - Apply now (a year and few months early) with the 2.9 GPA and risk a second rejection

2. Average but safe - Wait until May 2025, raise my GPA to around 3.1, and apply later (but less ideal timing since the process takes a while)

Before you suggest other options, yes I have looked into other agencies, talked with former employees, and did my homework on what to expect.

Many thanks in advance. Cheers

I am an 18 year old female in my first year of college. I'm a natural-born US citizen and I live in the midwest. I'm in my first year at college, majoring in international relations with a double minor in Arabic and security management (may switch to a double major in IR and criminal defense but keep the minor in arabic). I am fluent in English and German, and obviously learning Arabic. Currently, I have about a 3.5 GPA.

I do not want to say which university I go to, it is considered fairly competitive and is consistently ranked among the top 50 in the nation. Relocating to the D.C. area would be no issue to me. In fact, it's always been a dream of mine.

My criminal record is clean with the exception of two traffic infractions, one of which I had to appear in court for and pay a fine. I've never illegally downloaded anything. No drugs besides a hit off a joint after senior prom. I'm a pretty good kid.

Not sure if this helps at all, but I do know people who work in the CIA.

Joining the military to increase my chances would be difficult, but, that's something I'm willing to do to increase my chances. I've wanted to do this my whole life, and honestly, I'd do anything possible to make it happen.