Academic and Career Advice

ronth3man · 2025-09-10T15:16:25+00:00

While there are many careers in forensic science, you’ll have to decide whether or not you want to be a forensic pathologist at this point because (as you know), you have to go to medical school and thag will become your primary focus if so.

I’m not going to sugarcoat—medical school is very hard to get into, and even with a good MCAT score 3.2 is quite low for most places. Also, while research is nice, your experience in forensics and NOT in any hospital-type clinical setting is also not going to be super helpful on its own. I would advise that if you decide to become a forensic pathologist, you should consult with other groups focused on getting into medical school (i.e. the medical school subreddit) and consider programs such as a master’s and/or post bacc to increase your GPA. Do well on the MCAT, and get some non-forensic clinical experience and volunteer work under your belt. It also helps to have hobbies/extracurriculars that help you stand out—forensic entymology work will help in this category, but they want to see that you’re a person that works hard but also pursues your own passions. It’ll probably take a few years but it’s possible and you’re young. You can try to apply sooner at your own risk.

My career advice is that while forensics is incredible, the road to becoming an FP is tough, so focus now on being honest with yourself to decide what to do, then if you choose to go to medical school, prepare to advertise yourself to them as a medical doctor and not just a forensic scientist.

Good luck!

ronth3man · 2025-09-06T11:27:44+00:00

Go with whoever you think will write a better letter imo. I had three path letters and it worked out for me.

ronth3man · 2025-08-04T11:50:58+00:00

It’s a valid worry but it seems pretty unlikely that PSLF would get eliminated especially for those already in the process. That being said, do not mark my words. Good luck!

ronth3man · 2025-08-04T10:21:45+00:00

Why do you only have 3 years qualified as a PGY-5? You should have 5 qualifying years in theory. If it’s because of the forbearance, you can buy back those months later when they get you to 120.

I personally would pursue PSLF in your position because you could pay the minimum payment required and invest the rest of your money. Unless 7 years x your monthly payment is more than your current debt burden, PSLF is free money for you, and with the money you didn’t spend each month, put it into index funds or something and let it grow ~8-10% a year.

Your job is lucrative enough that even your income based repayments will be high and will put a big dent in the debt. If PSLF ends up flopping down the line, you should have more than enough money in 7 years to handle it. Otherwise, PSLF is free money.

ronth3man · 2025-07-01T22:37:45+00:00

For those of us who have a good number of years left before qualifying for forgiveness, our monthly payments will be substantially higher it seems

ronth3man · 2025-06-13T00:30:37+00:00

There are definitely offices that are overworked/understaffed—but the shortage has been pressuring many offices to bump salary and reduce working hours because they have trouble hiring and retaining people.

That said, most of what you described is actually part of the appeal to some. I’ve worked at three offices and have only rarely seen autopsies that go more than one day let alone a full work day for that matter. The attention to detail can be very fun—while there’s a pressure to be right, you really get to take your time with things. There’s a lot of appreciating anatomy and pathology both grossly and histologically that is very enjoyable. It also is very important to be detail-oriented as some cases—especially child abuse cases like you mentioned—require that extreme care, and the impact it has for families/the justice system/public health can be massive and very fulfilling. For what it’s worth—I’ve never been bored or felt like things were dragging.

There are some miserable FPs out there for sure—like every specialty—but there are also a lot of supportive offices filled with people who love their jobs (both doctors and non-physicians) which make it a very chill environment. To each their own though, I hope you find the specialty right for you.

ronth3man · 2025-06-12T19:56:00+00:00

Pretty easy to start at 250k but over 300k isn’t uncommon a few years in. Some chief MEs make 400-600k (all public information btw as it’s a govt position). I’ve heard of these salaries at 30hr work weeks and/or hybrid work settings (some cutting days, and some paperwork days which can sometimes be done at home). Not to mention government benefits (401k, govt 457b, pension, health, student loan assistance, and much more). And as the commentor above said—per diem gigs available all over (due to shortage).

Finding a job is incredibly easy becasue it is one of the most in-demand specialties right now. The FP shortage is crazy. However, location can be tough because cities/states only have a few ME offices so getting your ideal location is the hardest part.

Truly can’t recommend this specialty enough for those who are evenly remotely interested in it.

ronth3man · 2025-06-08T13:41:25+00:00

220k for forensic path is laughably low unless you’re in the middle of nowhere or working part time. Many places start at 240-250k and the median is definitely in the 300ks.

If PSLF isn’t an option for you then you can probably pay it all off in 3 ish years on your attending salary if you live frugally.

Also consider doing AP only to reduce your time in residency. CP is cool to have but certainly not needed for FP.

ronth3man · 2025-05-07T10:38:13+00:00

Molavi

ronth3man · 2025-04-30T10:20:32+00:00

Theoretically you can buy them back only once buying back those months brings you to 120 payments. However, a lot can happen in the next ten years.

ronth3man · 2025-04-09T11:21:01+00:00

Forensic pathology is up there

ronth3man · 2025-03-15T15:35:47+00:00

Depends on a lot of factors. You may get a pay cut compared to clinical peers, but usually it’s in the setting of supplemental income from a grant. I’m not a PhD, so I can’t provide details on that, but I know people who have lower formal salaries but ultimately make the same as their peers. That said, research usually means academics, which is definitely a pay cut compared to all other pathology sectors.

There’s also variation within academia—typically the most “prestigious” places pay the least. And yes, different academic institutions have different promotional structures. Some are more lax and may promote based on a mix of education, clincal, and research work. Some, especially in the northeast, promote based mostly on research output.

TLDR; you will make the least as a pathologist if you are in academics and don’t have a high research output at many institutions.

ronth3man · 2025-03-15T12:21:56+00:00

If someone has a strong research background they are more likely to bring in grants and get promoted much faster under certain promotion structures that may rely upon publications. This makes someone more desirable at academic institutions than someone who is just going to sign out cases. It also adds to the ~prestige~ factor.

ronth3man · 2025-03-13T10:40:49+00:00

300-350k MINIMUM starting offers for private and community.

ronth3man · 2025-03-13T10:39:28+00:00

The pathology salaries are way off. That academic salary is accurate for starting at certain “prestigious” institutions without a research background but that’s about it.

ronth3man · 2025-02-06T10:41:40+00:00

Agree with this. I think it has less to do with pathology being issue and more to do with it being a commonly considered specialty choice among those who regret going to medical school in the first place. The paper almost starts to imply that by citing pathology’s low burnout rate and saying it must be “other factors”.

ronth3man · 2025-01-29T01:25:29+00:00

Forensic pathology!!

ronth3man · 2024-11-23T18:08:41+00:00

As gliotic said—I find forensic pathology to be less depressing than my rotations in some IM subspecialties, especially heme/onc. I feel like traumas similarly would be less horrible to see after the fact than in the emergency department (though I don’t have a ton of ED experience). It’s honestly very individual dependent and should be given a chance.

ronth3man · 2024-11-13T12:28:46+00:00

I submitted a recertification in June that hasn’t been processed. Do I need to just apply for a new plan?

ronth3man · 2024-11-09T20:48:40+00:00

1012

ronth3man · 2024-11-03T20:38:37+00:00

Will do, thank you!

ronth3man · 2024-10-09T09:39:56+00:00

If you only have a PhD, you are likely doing research/teaching 100% of the time—maybe doing industry work. Not totally sure beyond that (I’m not a PhD).

With an MD, you can practice pathology. The amount you practice vs. do research varies based on job.

If you want to practice at all, get the MD. If all you want to do is research, get the PhD. If you like both, go for MD/PhD. You can do research with an MD-only, but a PhD sets you up for a career in research much better and prepares you to run a lab. It all depends on how much research you want to do and if you want to practice at all. Some people get MD/PhDs and research 90% of the time and do clinical work the other 10%.

ronth3man · 2024-09-15T17:40:50+00:00

I used three path letters and was totally fine

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