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Cat
Student
Warner Robins, Georgia
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Which category of forensics should I choose?
I want to go into forensic science but there are so many categories that I don't know which to choose. Could you help me?
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2 answers
Brittany Bunker
Primate Caretaker
2
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Madison, Wisconsin
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Brittany’s Answer
I worked for a medical examiner's office through high school and college. It is very interesting and exciting work if you are comfortable with deceased people. I personally worked on the forensics side, so I did x-rays, property removal, fingerprinting, and some autopsies. There was also an investigations unit. They would go to scenes to pronounce death, take pictures, converse with family, etc.
If this is something that interests you I would highly recommend trying to get an internship or even a tour set up. You will know right away if it's not the right fit for you.
Good luck!
If this is something that interests you I would highly recommend trying to get an internship or even a tour set up. You will know right away if it's not the right fit for you.
Good luck!
Ryan Mathews CCSA
Graduate of West Virginia University - Seeking a job as a Crime Scene Investigator
15
Answers
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Ryan’s Answer
Sure! First off, you should decide whether you want to work in a lab all day or work in crime scenes. Lab work generally pays better but in my opinion is less interesting, while being a crime scene investigator is fun but pays only enough to live on.
If you are good at Chemistry or Biology, you could go into Forensic Chemistry where you test drugs / poisons / explosives all day, or you could do Forensic Biology where you deal with DNA. If you're less interested in science, or if you don't quite know what you want, you could take individual classes on different fields of forensic science and be a more well-rounded crime scene investigator. I for example went to West Virginia University and did the Forensic Examiner emphasis where I took a bunch of elective classes on Photography, Microscopy, Firearms Examination, Arson/Explosives analysis, and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis.
If you're sure you want to do forensics, I recommend you go to any university accredited in forensic science and find out what you want to do by taking classes. Here is a list of FEPAC accredited universities: https://www.aafs.org/search/schools?_page=1&keywords=&_limit=18&fepac=1
If you are good at Chemistry or Biology, you could go into Forensic Chemistry where you test drugs / poisons / explosives all day, or you could do Forensic Biology where you deal with DNA. If you're less interested in science, or if you don't quite know what you want, you could take individual classes on different fields of forensic science and be a more well-rounded crime scene investigator. I for example went to West Virginia University and did the Forensic Examiner emphasis where I took a bunch of elective classes on Photography, Microscopy, Firearms Examination, Arson/Explosives analysis, and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis.
If you're sure you want to do forensics, I recommend you go to any university accredited in forensic science and find out what you want to do by taking classes. Here is a list of FEPAC accredited universities: https://www.aafs.org/search/schools?_page=1&keywords=&_limit=18&fepac=1