She entered into a prestigious (and progressive) medical school and learned the healing arts. But her tomboyish sense of adventure had never quite left her, and so she chose to work with the Texas Rangers upon her graduation instead of following a promising medical career.

Scully's first years in the Rangers were exemplary, if otherwise dull and uneventful. Capitalizing on her medical knowledge, the Rangers gave her a research position to help unlock the secrets of the Weird West. However, despite her contributions to Weird West research, she remained unsatisfied with what was, to her, essentially a "desk job." She continued to train for the opportunity to become a field agent, and continued to prod her superiors into giving her this opportunity.

Her wish was finally granted with the inception of the X-Division. Ranger Mulder, while respected within the Rangers, was still considered something of a hot-head. Furthermore, the senior officers of the Rangers preferred a low-key, hush-hush approach to the Reckoning, and Mulder's penchant for telling the whole truth gave them considerable pause. Scully's record showed that not only was she exceptionally level-headed, but she was also a downright skeptic to boot. They felt she would be the perfect foil for Mulder's impulsiveness, and she became the second field agent for the X-Division, as Mulder's partner.