Forensic science
does not refer to a specific branch of science but rather to the use of science as part of the legal system. Forensic scientists can work on crime scenes collecting clues, in labs analyzing evidence or as consults for a legal team attempting to prosecute or defend a suspect. If you are interested in pursuing forensic science as a career, you can start preparing by taking some appropriate high school classes.
Biology
Biology will give you a firm grasp on the science behind living organisms. Cell structure and microbiology as well as anatomy and basic biological composition are important bits of background knowledge for the forensic scientist. Biology also serves as the starting grounds for the study of DNA, which is a vastly important aspect of most legal cases that seek out a forensic scientist.
Chemistry
Much of your work as a forensic scientist will be spent in a lab working with a wide variety of chemicals. Understanding how chemicals react to one another and the basics of working safely and efficiently in a lab will help ensure you are prepared for the rigors of both college study and the modern forensic science workplace. Many forensic science labs work with a constant backlog, meaning the stronger you are in the lab, the better your odds for success.
English
Forensic scientists spend a lot of time analyzing evidence and generating reports to be used in a court setting. In addition to being strong in the lab and gifted with science, you will need to develop powerful writing skills. Your ability to discuss the results of complex experiments in both an authoritative and easy to understand manner will have a large impact on your success both in the courtroom and in finding a job. You do not have to be an incredibly talented writer, but you should be able to put your thoughts on paper in a clear and organized fashion.
Mathematics
A good forensic scientist must be a skilled lab technician in addition to a sharp observer of human behavior and a master of scientific concepts. One of the most important aspects of working in a lab is conducting calculations for the various chemical compounds and tests you will work on each day. It is important to have a firm grasp of basic math as well as algebra and geometry if you want to maximize your potential in the laboratory and limit your mistakes.
Statistics
Forensic scientists use statistics to make predictions, generalizations or draw conclusions from large sets of available data. Because you will likely spend a great deal of time analyzing and tracking data, it is important to have a strong grasp of statistics. The ability to make spreadsheets, charts and graphs and to measure each case's data against all other known cases is critical in understanding the events of a particular crime. A simple computer science course should help introduce you to some statistics basics if your high school does not offer a specific class.
Physics
Physics is a math-heavy area of study that scientists use to find order in the natural world. Physics is also an important part of determining the events at a crime scene. Using physics to determine directionality of bullets, the speed of a moving vehicle, or the directionality of blood spatter can help clarify the events of a difficult to solve case. It is worth noting that not all forensic scientists work crime scenes, but if you are interested in going on-site, some basic physics courses at the high school level certainly won't hurt.
Tags: forensic scientist, forensic science, Forensic scientists, analyzing evidence, crime scenes
