Help with forensics??

hi. i think i'm intersted in forensics as a career, but like most my nowledge of it comes from things you see on TV shows so i was wondering if there was anyone out there who could give me an accurate picture of what being in forensics is really like. please don't leave anything out, i want the gory details! (<accurate wording?) tell me pros, cons, benifits, EVERYTHING! i want someone to tell me exactly what it would be like if i started in this field and what it would be like when i worked my way up (and how i would do that). scare me if you have to! i want to know it ALL!!

thanks for the insight!

Answer:
well, i'm a forensic science major studying at one of the top schools in the country. you need an excellent foundation in chem and math. the entire major's curriculum is chem (general, organic, inorganic, etc.), bio, calculus, and physics. sounds fun right? you spend hours and hours in a lab, doing mainly chem.

there's such a high demand in the field now, that if you do successfully complete curriculum and earn a degree, you need to be at the top of your class. there are thousands of students that enter the major, but only about 5% of them stick with it. the amount of studying and science becomes too taxing for them.

as for "gory details" what can i say. there are many tracks of forensics. for instance, you have molecular biology, toxicology, and criminalistics. all your CSI and tv stuff is a fake, glamorous take on criminalistics. it takes csi's sometimes weeks, but more commonly months, to solve a case. DNA does NOT present itself that easily. you need to acquire a trained eye and a methodical, creative way of thinking.

being a forensic science major is incredibly hard, as you need to complete X amount of credits in the science field, plus Y amount of electives and general requirements. if you successfully earn a degree, there are several pros. you start off with a decent salary, may be relocated to a lab that's in dire need of help (which happens often...depends on if you consider it a pro/con), and gain so many experiences. plus you get to travel and speak at various conventions (which are amazing...check out neafs.org for info or for links to associations near your region). cons include seeing life changing crime scenes, learning how to separate the job from home, the smell, the gore, etc.

if you have a strong stomach, a strong heart, and an undying determination to give justice to those who can't speak for themselves, then this is the career for you.

hit me up if you want any more info.

I'm not a pro, but I can tell you from experience in labs (and my mother is a lab tech for alberta health) that SOOO much of what you see on CSI takes months - not days. And forensic crews just work the scene - they don't interview witnesses or go out to arrest people.

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Help with forensics??

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