What are my chances of becoming an Air Traffic Controller?

[adaya]

I heard to go to school, before jumping into the actual ATC stuff, you need to take other courses (unless you have a degree in something else).

I'm currently a court reporter. I'm CA state accredited and have taken numerous medical, English, and professional practice courses. To become a court reporter, you have to be very focused to pay attention to all the speakers (attorneys/witnesses/etc) and write above 200 wpm.

The two may seem quite different, but both require a lot of focus. What do you think my chances are?

[wakeley58]

Well, maybe... here is the FAA info on what you need, if you have work experience you don't have to have a degree see this
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ahr/jobs_careers/occupations/atc/
Or specifically http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ahr/jobs_careers/occupations/atc/path2/
Which says
' Path 2: You have no prior air traffic control experience We invite the general public to apply for air traffic controller positions at various times during the year. You do not need prior air traffic control experience to apply. These positions are located in air traffic control facilities across the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.

If I have no prior air traffic control experience and want to be selected, what must I do?

Be a United States citizen
In most cases, not have reached age 31
Pass a medical examination
Pass a security investigation
Have three years of progressively responsible work experience and/or a full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, or some combination of the two
Achieve a score of at least 70 on the FAA pre-employment test
Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment
Complete an interview"

The best place to look is at the website! Get information first hand, not "I have heard".