[scorpion]

VVVV's point about military experience is a good one. If we're building an idealized American politician from the ground up, his resume would certainly include a stint as a military officer - preferably in combat arms of some sort, with infantry/special forces being the gold standard. This sort of experience gives you a certain credibility that is hard to exactly define, but suffice to say it makes you a much more respectable candidate for political leadership. Men who have commanded other men in combat are automatically (and rightfully) given a certain baseline level of respect that cannot be replicated by anything else.

I also like JohnKreese's suggestion about the JD/MBA, especially if as you say you aren't actually interested in actually practicing law as a long term career. A JD/MBA from a top program will open a lot of doors, and simply moving in that kind of circle with peers of that quality will be very powerful for building a network of contacts to use throughout your life.

So if you're really prepared to play life on hard mode and truly want to maximize your chances for political success, I'd follow a map like this:

- College at the most elite school you can get in to
- Join the best fraternity you can (meaning the most pedigreed/established active brothers and alumni)
- Be involved with student government at college to gain a feel for political operations
- After graduation, apply for Army or Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS) and receive a commission
- Do 4-5 years as a combat arms officer. With an Ivy League or equivalent background people will know you're a resume padder, but if you're a solid guy who does his job well you will earn respect regardless
- After the military, apply to top-ranked JD/MBA programs. With your background you will be a shoe-in and should have your pick of the litter

At this point you finish your JD/MBA you will be sitting around 30-31 years old (that probably sounds very old to you now at 18, but trust me, it's not) and will have an Ivy League undergrad, military officer combat experience, a JD and an MBA and will have a network of personal contacts spanning through your fraternity days, the military and grad/law school. You will be supremely well-positioned in a way that very few people in the world could match at that age. And you will be entirely self-made. At that point you start to do what I suggested in my earlier post: utilize your network to get a job with a big law firm (you could also do finance or consulting with that resume) with the goal of gaining exposure to the big money power players. Your background alone would make you a very attractive candidate for a statewide office, which is a great jumping off point for a political career. With moneyed and well-connected backers supporting your candidacy, you could slide into a position as a state legislator in your mid 30's. After a few years of that gaining experience and connections at the state level, you might be able to swing an appointment to a state cabinet-level position. From there you're as well positioned as anyone to run for Governor, Senate or House seats.

Perhaps most importantly through all of this: keep your nose clean. It's very easy to fuck up your life by making bad decisions. Sometimes it only takes one bad decision to flush a lifetime of hard work down the toilet. Stay away from drugs, go easy on the alcohol, and choose the women you associate with very carefully. Also, master the art of staying in touch with old friends. Get in the habit of calling everyone you want to keep in touch with - which should be dozens - at least 2-3 times per year to catch up. At 18 you can't understand how easy it is to lose touch with your peers, but it's inevitable unless you work at it (and no, social media is not a substitute - you must actually call or even better have lunch with people to truly maintain a relationship).