5 answers
Trisha
Student
1
Question
Updated
4270 views
HOW TO BECOME FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST?
Hi
my name is Trisha. I am a 17 year old 10th grader and I need help to find the right path, the right things or courses to take in order to prepare myself for college. I'd be happy to know or get some answers to be able to achieve my goal
Login to comment
5 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Trisha !
The best way to prepare for college while you are in high school would be to plan to go for your Bachelors Degree in Biology, Chemistry or Forensics Science. You will have to go to Medical School after that to become a Forensics Pathologist. Colleges in the U.S. do not offer a Bachelors Degree for Forensics Pathology, but you can take a pathology course during your Bachelors path if your college offers it. Your focus as a pathologist will be analysis of bodies, not crimes.
Try to take as much biology, chemistry and anatomy while you are in 10th, 11th and 12th grades. This will prepare you for your first path for your Bachelors Degree. You can also start looking at Universities and reading about their life sciences programs and see which one offers something you'd like. You have quite a bit of time to think about Medical School, so start with High School and gradually proceed forward.
Since you will be pursuing a career that is heavy on the life sciences, you may also want to start to do some volunteer work to sharpen your communication skills and gain knowledge. A good place to start would be at your local Department of Health. You will become familiar with different illnesses which you should be familiar with by the time you get to college for your Bachelors Degree. In the United States, there are many internships and programs for high school students in the life science. You didn't mention where you live, so I would suggest visiting your guidance counselor for referrals for these opportunities. You won't be learning pathology until you get to Medical School.
You also may want to take a medical terminology course online while you are still in High School. These courses will teach you the meanings and definitions of medical terms and words. It may be good in giving you a heads up for the sciences you would take in college.
The path for the career you are planning is to obtain a Bachelors Degree at a University and then go to Medical School. Try to take this a step at a time and not pre-plan too much. Stay in the moment for high school. As you move along, various information and considerations will come your way that you can decide instead of trying to plan everything in the 10th grade. For now, do volunteer work around health sciences and take biology, chemistry and anatomy until you graduate High School.
If you are not sure what the academics and career entail, there are some good presentational videos on You Tube that you can watch to become more informed. I have left the links to these videos for you below.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
VIDEOS ABOUT THE ACADEMICS AND CAEERR FOR FORENSICS PATHOLOGY https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=WHat+is+a+career+like+for+Forensics+Pathology+%3F
The best way to prepare for college while you are in high school would be to plan to go for your Bachelors Degree in Biology, Chemistry or Forensics Science. You will have to go to Medical School after that to become a Forensics Pathologist. Colleges in the U.S. do not offer a Bachelors Degree for Forensics Pathology, but you can take a pathology course during your Bachelors path if your college offers it. Your focus as a pathologist will be analysis of bodies, not crimes.
Try to take as much biology, chemistry and anatomy while you are in 10th, 11th and 12th grades. This will prepare you for your first path for your Bachelors Degree. You can also start looking at Universities and reading about their life sciences programs and see which one offers something you'd like. You have quite a bit of time to think about Medical School, so start with High School and gradually proceed forward.
Since you will be pursuing a career that is heavy on the life sciences, you may also want to start to do some volunteer work to sharpen your communication skills and gain knowledge. A good place to start would be at your local Department of Health. You will become familiar with different illnesses which you should be familiar with by the time you get to college for your Bachelors Degree. In the United States, there are many internships and programs for high school students in the life science. You didn't mention where you live, so I would suggest visiting your guidance counselor for referrals for these opportunities. You won't be learning pathology until you get to Medical School.
You also may want to take a medical terminology course online while you are still in High School. These courses will teach you the meanings and definitions of medical terms and words. It may be good in giving you a heads up for the sciences you would take in college.
The path for the career you are planning is to obtain a Bachelors Degree at a University and then go to Medical School. Try to take this a step at a time and not pre-plan too much. Stay in the moment for high school. As you move along, various information and considerations will come your way that you can decide instead of trying to plan everything in the 10th grade. For now, do volunteer work around health sciences and take biology, chemistry and anatomy until you graduate High School.
If you are not sure what the academics and career entail, there are some good presentational videos on You Tube that you can watch to become more informed. I have left the links to these videos for you below.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much Michelle.I feel blessed to have all these answers.I'm so sorry i didn't add where I live,i live in New York City (The Bronx). I'll make sure to talk to my school councilor about this then get myself started for the future. Thank you once again
Trisha
You're welcome ! Look into The Biorocket Research Internship at Genspace in Brooklyn, and the Science Research Mentoring Program at the American Museum of Natural History. Have an awesome day, Trisha !
Michelle M.
babitha asha
Internal medicine physician
15
Answers
Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Updated
babitha’s Answer
Hi Trisha,
That’s an excellent and ambitious goal!
1. Focus on High School
Start strong!
• Aim for excellent grades, especially in biology, chemistry, physics, and math.
• Take Advanced Placement (AP) or Honors science classes if your school offers them.
• Join science clubs, volunteer in hospitals or labs, and participate in research or health-related activities; they’ll strengthen your college and medical school applications.
2. Choose Your College Path
You can take several different routes to becoming a doctor, depending on your goals, budget, and timeline.
Option A: U.S. BS/MD or BS/DO Combined Programs
These are combined degree programs in which you enter a single track after high school, completing a Bachelor’s and a Medical School together.
• Length: Usually 6–8 years total.
• Structure: You spend the first 3–4 years in college and then move directly into a U.S. medical school (MD or DO).
• Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, volunteering, leadership, and sometimes early research experience.
• MCAT: Some programs waive or reduce MCAT requirements.
• DO vs MD:
• MD (Doctor of Medicine): Traditional medical route.
• DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine): Similar to MD, but also emphasizes whole-person care and musculoskeletal medicine (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, OMT).
• Both MDs and DOs are fully licensed physicians in the U.S. and eligible for Pathology and Forensic Pathology residencies.
• Cost: DO programs are often slightly less expensive and more flexible with MCAT scores compared to MD programs.
Option B: Caribbean BS/MD Programs
These are international medical programs that accept students right after high school.
• Length: Around 6 years total.
• Structure:
• 2 years of online bachelor’s courses,
• 2 years of medical sciences in the Caribbean, and
• 2 years of clinical rotations in U.S. hospitals.
• Advantages: Lower GPA and MCAT requirements; faster route to a medical degree.
• Important: Choose an accredited Caribbean school with U.S. hospital affiliations to ensure eligibility for U.S. residency programs.
3. During Medical School
• Do well in Anatomy, Pathology, and Microbiology seriously; they form the foundation of forensic medicine.
• Do research and pathology electives, and try to get extra rotations in forensic pathology or medical examiner offices in your clinical years.
• During school, start preparing for the USMLE (for MD) or COMLEX (for DO) exams.
4. Residency and Fellowship
1. Apply to a Pathology Residency Program (3–4 years).
2. During or after your residency, complete a 1-year Forensic Pathology Fellowship.
3. After training, you can become board-certified and work as a Forensic Pathologist in hospitals, crime labs, or government agencies.
PA (Physician Assistant) programs do not lead to becoming a Forensic Pathologist.
PAs can assist in forensic medicine, for example, examining victims or helping in autopsy rooms. However, you must be a fully licensed physician (MD or DO) to sign autopsy reports or lead investigations.
That’s an excellent and ambitious goal!
1. Focus on High School
Start strong!
• Aim for excellent grades, especially in biology, chemistry, physics, and math.
• Take Advanced Placement (AP) or Honors science classes if your school offers them.
• Join science clubs, volunteer in hospitals or labs, and participate in research or health-related activities; they’ll strengthen your college and medical school applications.
2. Choose Your College Path
You can take several different routes to becoming a doctor, depending on your goals, budget, and timeline.
Option A: U.S. BS/MD or BS/DO Combined Programs
These are combined degree programs in which you enter a single track after high school, completing a Bachelor’s and a Medical School together.
• Length: Usually 6–8 years total.
• Structure: You spend the first 3–4 years in college and then move directly into a U.S. medical school (MD or DO).
• Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, volunteering, leadership, and sometimes early research experience.
• MCAT: Some programs waive or reduce MCAT requirements.
• DO vs MD:
• MD (Doctor of Medicine): Traditional medical route.
• DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine): Similar to MD, but also emphasizes whole-person care and musculoskeletal medicine (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, OMT).
• Both MDs and DOs are fully licensed physicians in the U.S. and eligible for Pathology and Forensic Pathology residencies.
• Cost: DO programs are often slightly less expensive and more flexible with MCAT scores compared to MD programs.
Option B: Caribbean BS/MD Programs
These are international medical programs that accept students right after high school.
• Length: Around 6 years total.
• Structure:
• 2 years of online bachelor’s courses,
• 2 years of medical sciences in the Caribbean, and
• 2 years of clinical rotations in U.S. hospitals.
• Advantages: Lower GPA and MCAT requirements; faster route to a medical degree.
• Important: Choose an accredited Caribbean school with U.S. hospital affiliations to ensure eligibility for U.S. residency programs.
3. During Medical School
• Do well in Anatomy, Pathology, and Microbiology seriously; they form the foundation of forensic medicine.
• Do research and pathology electives, and try to get extra rotations in forensic pathology or medical examiner offices in your clinical years.
• During school, start preparing for the USMLE (for MD) or COMLEX (for DO) exams.
4. Residency and Fellowship
1. Apply to a Pathology Residency Program (3–4 years).
2. During or after your residency, complete a 1-year Forensic Pathology Fellowship.
3. After training, you can become board-certified and work as a Forensic Pathologist in hospitals, crime labs, or government agencies.
PA (Physician Assistant) programs do not lead to becoming a Forensic Pathologist.
PAs can assist in forensic medicine, for example, examining victims or helping in autopsy rooms. However, you must be a fully licensed physician (MD or DO) to sign autopsy reports or lead investigations.
Hamilton Gregg M.Ed, CEP
University and Careers Guidance Counselor
2
Answers
Beijing, China
Updated
Hamilton’s Answer
Hi Trisha, Everyone has already given you great advice but the one thing I would add is do well in Math. You will want to be able to take the highest math your school offers by Senior year - typically AP Calculus BC (if your school offers AP) in addition to your sciences.
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
160
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
The good news is that all physicians, including forensic pathologists, have the same initial path: Do well in high school so you can get into a good college. Do well in college so you can get into medical school. Expose yourself to the many different branches of medicine so you learn what fits right for you (for many of us that changes along the way).
Yes, one does need to be solid in the basic sciences, but medical schools look for well-rounded people who demonstrate leadership, good social skills, and caring for others. So do go and enjoy sports, the arts, music... Do interact with people from many walks of life. You are in NYC, so you have access to many more opportunities than many to look into public health, not-for-profit organizations, research labs, and hospitals. Take advantage of these opportunities to explore - and be willing to let your heart pull you to a different path than the one you think you are on.
Yes, one does need to be solid in the basic sciences, but medical schools look for well-rounded people who demonstrate leadership, good social skills, and caring for others. So do go and enjoy sports, the arts, music... Do interact with people from many walks of life. You are in NYC, so you have access to many more opportunities than many to look into public health, not-for-profit organizations, research labs, and hospitals. Take advantage of these opportunities to explore - and be willing to let your heart pull you to a different path than the one you think you are on.
Cheri Hall
Physical Therapist
103
Answers
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Updated
Cheri’s Answer
Hi Trisha,
To become a forensic pathologist, you start with a 4-year bachelor's degree, then attend medical school for 4 more years to get an MD or DO degree. After that, you complete a 3-5 year residency in anatomic and clinical pathology and a 1-2 year fellowship in forensic pathology. You'll also need board certification from the American Board of Pathology and a state medical license.
As a high school sophomore, you can prepare by taking science classes like Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, or Physiology. If your school offers Dual Enrollment, it's a great opportunity. In New York City, this program lets public high school students take college courses for free, earning both high school and college credits. College Now is a large program that helps students get a head start on college, explore new subjects, and possibly save on tuition. It's important to check that these credits will transfer to the college you want to attend after high school.
Also, as James mentioned, keep pursuing your interests outside of school.
Good luck!
To become a forensic pathologist, you start with a 4-year bachelor's degree, then attend medical school for 4 more years to get an MD or DO degree. After that, you complete a 3-5 year residency in anatomic and clinical pathology and a 1-2 year fellowship in forensic pathology. You'll also need board certification from the American Board of Pathology and a state medical license.
As a high school sophomore, you can prepare by taking science classes like Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, or Physiology. If your school offers Dual Enrollment, it's a great opportunity. In New York City, this program lets public high school students take college courses for free, earning both high school and college credits. College Now is a large program that helps students get a head start on college, explore new subjects, and possibly save on tuition. It's important to check that these credits will transfer to the college you want to attend after high school.
Also, as James mentioned, keep pursuing your interests outside of school.
Good luck!