There are four items to consider when choosing the best pathologist college: admissions requirements, accreditation, job placement opportunities, and faculty. Pathologist college is usually part of the health sciences school in a larger community college or may be organized as an independent school. Pathologist college provides the training necessary to become a pathology technician or technologist.
A pathology technician typically works in a laboratory, analyzing tissue samples to study and diagnose disease. Many pathology technicians find employment opportunities in morgues, hospital laboratories, or medical laboratories. In addition, research facilities and universities often hire pathology technicians to work with pathologists on specific projects.
In order to qualify for admission to pathologist college, a combination of high marks in biology, chemistry, and English high school courses and a very good personal interview are required. A pathology technician has very little professional interaction with people outside their field, and usually spend their day working in a clinical laboratory setting. Some programs are designed for students with working experience in a health care setting, providing advanced credits for skills learned on the job.
Look for the best programs that you qualify for at this stage of your career. Many schools that offer advanced programs use the same instructors for the standard courses. This increased exposure to additional expertise enriches your educational experience at that school.
If you are looking at the best pathologist college in the country or state, take note that the admissions standard is higher to reflect the increased demand. Only students with the very best combination of marks and personal interviews are offered admission. If you do not have the very best marks in your class, think about applying to schools that offer programs to support your scholastic success. This may include residence arrangements, opportunities to work on campus, or other items that support your overall life.
When looking for pathologist college, check the accreditation status. An accredited school has been reviewed by an independent third party. Courses from an accredited school can be transferred to other post-secondary institutions. This is very important, as more than 20 percent of all students transfer schools before they graduate. Accredited schools are able to offer students access to government student aid programs.
Schools that have connections to industry and job placement programs provide the best combination of education and experience. The best programs have a range of placement positions in different areas and settings. The broader the experience, the better it will appear on your resume. Make sure to ask for letters of recommendations from each placement. The staff members at that institution may have moved on to other employment when you are looking for work. A written letter will give future employers an idea what their comments would have been.
Most pathologist colleges provide the biographies of their faculty or instructors on their websites. The information provided typically includes the academic credentials, research focus, publications, and any awards they have received. Look at the type of experience they have and the range of settings. Many professional pathologist technicians go into teaching at the middle or later stages of their careers.
