When selecting a forensic college, look at these four items: accreditation, faculty, graduate employment rates, and connections to industry. A forensic college is usually part of a much larger university, offering courses in a broad range of fields and subjects. There are many different career options for graduates of forensic college, ranging from accounting to psychology.
Forensic science is a specialized field that studies the collection of evidence and analysis. The results of that analysis can be used to answer a specific question or used as evidence in a court of law. Forensic college provides training in the techniques first created in forensic science, but applies them to other industries and fields of study.
Accreditation is a process of independent review by a third party. The review investigates the academic and administrative policies of the school and these policies are compared against a minimum standard. Courses completed at an accredited school can be transferred to other post-secondary educational institutions. An accredited school can offer government student aid, which is a very important fee assistance program.
Look at the quality of faculty or instructors when selecting a forensic college. Most schools post the biographies of their staff on their websites or in the promotional material. Review the academic credentials, published works, research work, and industry experience. All of these items are critical to identifying their expertise in this field.
Every post-secondary educational institution keeps track of graduate employment rates. A survey is conducted, three, six, and 12 months after graduation. The information collected includes job title, starting salary, full time or part time, permanent or contract job, and if the position is related to the field of study. These statistics give great insight into the career options available to you after graduation and the level of positions graduates are able to secure.
It is very important to have multiple connections to industry when looking at forensic colleges. Talk to the enrollment counselor about the seminars, guest speakers, networking dinners, job fairs, and other methods of meeting potential future employers. The field of forensics is so broad, that connections to employers and experienced professionals provide guidance to students on the options available.
People who report the greatest satisfaction with forensic college are detail-oriented, focused, and have a specific field or industry in mind at the start of the program. The sheer number of options available can become quite confusing for students without a clear preference. A general education from a forensic college does not provide the skills necessary to secure a position in forensics. The best schools provide a wide range of experiences in the first two years so that students can select the appropriate area of specialization.
