<p>I'm a recent BA graduate in Criminal Justice/Political Science (cum laude), and I'm now looking to continue my education.</p>
<p>I have it narrowed down pretty much to either..Masters in Criminology or Masters in Forensic Accounting or Law School. </p>
<p>I don't think much would be available career wise with the criminology degree, but I think Law School or the Forensic Accounting degree would open many doors and skies the limit.</p>
<p>Anyone have any input to give as far as pro vs con for these different paths? </p>
<p>Sobo,
I've moved this to the Grad School forum as the Search and Selection is for undergrad. Please feel free to copy this thread and post it on the Law school forum as well.</p>
<p>What program would I choose? Neither. What program do I think is most advantageous to the person pursuing it? Like everything else, this isn't cut and dry. JD is for people who are set on the practice of law. Customer service representative for the constitution. 40% of attorneys would not have gone into law if given the chance to do it over again. However, it provides job security and ease of getting a job. Also, super high salary, depending on specialty. If you are happy with being pigeonholed into a specific career path, like large checks, and don't mind dealing with the public, JD would be a great choice. I don't know about the career options that a Criminology or Forensics degree would open up. I suggest speaking to people who have done this. A great way of doing that is to email the department administrator for the depts you are interested in to find the emails of recent and not so recent graduates.</p>
<p>My dad got his masters in English before his JD. His career options are pretty limited because after working for a couple of years as an insurance lawyer, he was stuck being an insurance lawyer for the next 15 years. He even tried to get out of it by transferring to the Orange County government instead of working for private firms, and was promptly put on a whole set of cases that dealt with, yet again, insurance. His paychecks aren't obscenely large like lawyers in other areas (criminal, civil etc.)--he earns about as much as a university chemistry lecturer or an IT manager. His colleagues and family members (my grandpa, uncle, and cousin are/were also lawyers) have million dollar homes, though, so if you're lucky like them you'll be bringing home so much bacon it will spoil.</p>
<p>He also doesn't work much with the public. He does research in the back room and occasionally wears a suit for the judge. And he's miserable. So yes, there will be a lot of different opportunities with a JD, but not all of them are rosy.</p>
<p>Don't do law school if you don't attend an elite program and graduate within the top of your class. Opportunities are fewer for those outside this range.</p>