2 answers
jack
Student
Dalton, Massachusetts
1
Question
Asked
446 views
I'm want to be a forensics pathologist what science classes should I take next year
I'm a junior
Login to comment
2 answers
Sal Mignano
Pathologist
5
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Sal’s Answer
Hi Jack,
It’s a long road to do forensic pathology, but it’s doable! As a high schooler, probably the best thing to do is to take challenging science courses (chemistry, biology, physics) to help prepare you for college science courses. At your age, that’s probably the most important thing, not too much to worry about yet. For your own interests, it might fun to do science-y extracurriculars or shadow at a hospital, but certainly not a requirement.
In college, you can major in whatever you want as long as you do the prerequisites medical school. Those usually entail biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics, all with labs. Some schools have slightly different reqs, so worth checking out each school’s particular reqs and talking to your college’s academic advisors on the best path for you. While in college, it’s a good time to do some shadowing, community service, and/or lab research to help your application. Usually your 3rd year or so of college, you’d take the MCAT. Then interview at medical schools.
After college, you go onto medical school for 4 years. From there, a pathology residency for 3-4 years. And lastly, a 1 year forensic pathology fellowship.
However, there are other parts of forensic sciences or pathology that might be of interest to you. Potential careers include: forensic anthropologists, forensic (death scene) investigators, forensic lab technicians, and pathologist’s assistants, among others. Those are generally shorter routes to forensic fields. To see if you like any of those, it might be worth doing an internship at a county medical examiner office or a crime lab while you’re in college. Just depends what you’re looking for in a career.
It’s a long road to do forensic pathology, but it’s doable! As a high schooler, probably the best thing to do is to take challenging science courses (chemistry, biology, physics) to help prepare you for college science courses. At your age, that’s probably the most important thing, not too much to worry about yet. For your own interests, it might fun to do science-y extracurriculars or shadow at a hospital, but certainly not a requirement.
In college, you can major in whatever you want as long as you do the prerequisites medical school. Those usually entail biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics, all with labs. Some schools have slightly different reqs, so worth checking out each school’s particular reqs and talking to your college’s academic advisors on the best path for you. While in college, it’s a good time to do some shadowing, community service, and/or lab research to help your application. Usually your 3rd year or so of college, you’d take the MCAT. Then interview at medical schools.
After college, you go onto medical school for 4 years. From there, a pathology residency for 3-4 years. And lastly, a 1 year forensic pathology fellowship.
However, there are other parts of forensic sciences or pathology that might be of interest to you. Potential careers include: forensic anthropologists, forensic (death scene) investigators, forensic lab technicians, and pathologist’s assistants, among others. Those are generally shorter routes to forensic fields. To see if you like any of those, it might be worth doing an internship at a county medical examiner office or a crime lab while you’re in college. Just depends what you’re looking for in a career.
Robert Rossi
Many things! But mostly chemistry and chemical engineering
86
Answers
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Updated
Robert’s Answer
Sal has given excellent advice, but I would add this: do something early to determine your tolerance for the "ick factor." Easiest is work janitorial, but you can also get an entry-level job at a funeral home, slaughterhouse, or anything else that'll expose you to things that make most people turn pale. You can still do forensics if the "ick factor" turns out to get to you, but you will have to avoid most of forensic's sub-fields. (You could do digital forensics, or analytical work though, for example.)