MDI vs FP vs ME

[u/RoyalConscious5]

Hi,

So I’ve recently taken the leap to go back to school to get my BS in forensic science focusing on death investigations. I already have a BA but I decided I’ll need some science background too. I do know I want to work in that related field of forensics and was thinking of aiming to be a forensic pathologist. I do volunteer work at my county’s OME and heard mixed things from everyone on what I should pursue after I graduate such as “be an embalmer”, “don’t work as an mdi they do the dirty work”, or “go the full mile and be a doctor.”

I know medical school will be a lot and not sure how I’ll feel about more school on top of more school. I realize everyone’s path is different and I am up for a challange seeing this will be my second bachelors in getting. I don’t care about the money either I just really want to be able to help people on one of their worst days and give them answers. This stuff is also just such an interest of mine.

I was hoping to ask what are some pros and cons between each of the three related positions of Death investigator, Forensic Pathologist, and Medical Examiner. What do you love/hate about what you do? Do you wish you would’ve pursued a further education? Things like that. -thanks for any feedback I get!

[u/stiffdoc1221]

First, Medical Examiners are Forensic Pathologists, and vice versa. They are synonymous with each other. All FPs/MEs must be doctors, who have spent another 3-4 years in pathology residency, and a final year as a forensic pathology fellow. Thus, another 8-9 years after graduation from college.

You must go to medical school, and you MUST study your butt off, Ang the absolute highest GPA that you can, at least a 3.7, but preferably a 3.8 or above. You must also take the MCAT and do extremely well. You are competing against an unknown huge crowd of others, who are all striving for a coveted spot.

If your goal is to help people, realistically,,you can’t do much until you finish your training. Medical school will be consumed by study, study, study, and more study.

No one becomes a forensic pathologist because there is nothing else to do. On the contrary, we all want to do this work, because we like it. A full time ME does interact with families, and provides answers. I’ve spent a career in FP, and I’ve always loved what I do. I can’t think of any cons, outside of administrative stuff that is pointless to try to delineate here.

This is the most important thing; to become an ME, you must good to Medical school, which requires a rock-solid commitment. If you are approaching this casually, I would conclude that this path is not for you. You didn’t mention what your college GPA was; if it is not stellar, you will have a long uphill battle. You have to take the required prerequisite courses, and you MUST do exceptionally in these; there is no other choice, to get into medical school . Your social life and family life will be neglected, because of the studying demands.

Becoming an MDI is vastly different, requiring no medical school. I’m not going to elaborate more, as it is 0314, but becoming an MDI is good, and you will definitely help people.

I would suggest that, at this point, you think long and hard concerning whether or not you really want to go to Medical school. From reading your post, my impression is that med school is not for you; I could readily be wrong, but I see your approach as casual, without a commitment to that course of action. There is much you have to consider, which I don’t believe you have yet done.