1. Unsolicited or random emails offering scholarship assistance
2. If the scholarship requires you to send money upfront, but you see nothing in return – scholarships don’t ask students for money, they are supposed to give students money!
3. You’re told that you’ve won a scholarship, but it requires you to pay taxes or fees before you can receive it. You have to apply to scholarships in order to receive them, so if you don’t remember doing so, it is a scam.
4. If you receive a check in the mail for a scholarship, but are required to send a different check back paying for taxes or fees.
5. If a scholarship search service or database charges you to register to look through their information. Scholarship information is free to the public.
6. Companies that claim to fill out scholarship applications for you, if you pay them a fee. Applying for scholarships requires lots of time, work, personal information, and writing samples that outsiders cannot do thoroughly. Most likely they will pocket the cash, and never fill out any applications for you.
7. Scholarship matching services that claim you’ll win a scholarship, or they will refund your money. These scholarship matching services do not have anything to do with, or have a final say in which students receive scholarships by the sponsored organizations.
8. Some scholarship scams try to copy legit education, government, and grant-giving foundations by using official-sounding names. Look out for those that include national, administration, federal, or foundation – just because it is in their name, doesn’t mean they are official organizations!
9. If you are requested to attend a free seminar for financial aid advice or assistance, watch out! These are usually sales pitches for financial aid consulting services, pricey student loans, or scholarship matching services.
10. Some education loan scams will offer you a low-interest loan, but require that you must pay a fee before receiving it. Real loans are issued by banks or recognized lenders, and do not require a payment upfront.

Things to Keep in Mind

Many colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations and private companies award scholarships to outstanding students each year. Scholarships are awarded for merit so an application, essay, or nomination are usually required to be considered.

See Also:

College Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors

Private Scholarships

Although Jessica’s background is in organic chemistry, she developed an interest in forensics by watching the show Forensic Files on the Discovery Channel. In her current position, she is able to apply her knowledge of organic chemistry to forensic science, by working on samples from cases in criminal justice and environmental issues.

What type of training or education prepared you for your work in this position?

My entire college career and everything that I learned from organic chemistry best prepared me for my career.

What is an average day at work like for you?

You come in and perform data reduction on the samples you ran the previous day, check out the backlog of samples that have been logged in, choose your samples you are going to run that day, prepare them and load them on your instrument. It seems like very little to do but in actuality it takes up the whole day.

When you refer to the “samples”, what exactly are you testing? Does it vary with each case?

Currently I work with environmental samples (water and soil along with oil, wood, cement, etc.).  When you work in the crime lab the samples can be blood, urine, saliva, hair, teeth, etc. Samples will vary from case to case.

What types of things are you looking for when you are testing the samples?

This also varies from case to case.  In my work it depends on what analysis is ordered by the client. In the crime lab it will depend on what the detectives or DA’s (district attorney’s) are looking for, be it drugs, alcohol or other substances.

What types of cases do the results you find pertain to?

For environmental issues, it could be that a site has had tanker truck spill over and the cleanup crew on the site needs to see how far the contamination has spread. It could also be that a company is dumping chemicals instead of disposing of them properly and are being brought to court. Our data would be used to confirm the illegal dumping.  Cities and towns also use our lab to test their drinking water to make sure it is not contaminated and that it is safe for public consumption.  For the crime lab it could be murders, DUI’s, arson’s, clandestine labs, or wherever else analysis is needed.

How involved are you with the actual case that the samples come from?

I just run the sample that is presented and I do not do anything else.  Crime lab analysts will have to testify in court about their data but it is very rare to have to do that in the environmental field.  For crime lab cases it is best that the analyst does not know much about the case because it might bias the results which is why the analyst is not involved.

What is the outcome of the tests you run on the samples? (or what are you aiming for?)

The outcome is to make sure that all compounds are identified if they are present and reported accordingly into the labs data system.

Who uses the information you generate by testing the samples?

In my work the clients, the EPA, and the clean up personnel use the testing results the lab issues to them to monitor sites and clean them up if they are contaminated.  For the crime lab it would usually be the detectives, DA’s and defense attorneys

What do you like most about your job?

Working with the instrumentation and troubleshooting when the instrument is not working properly.

What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in this field?

Definitely make sure this is what you want to do because it is hard and stressful. A lot of the time the instruments are not working properly or the samples do not come out right. You have to be able to “think outside the box” because this field is definitely not by the book. Every problem is different and you need to be prepared to expect the unexpected. Also make sure you go to a school that is accredited in the degree, and make sure the professors are helpful and willing to work with you because my professors are really what formed my education. They gave me the tools and helped me when I was stuck.

Did you need any additional criminal justice or forensic training when you started this position or were you fully prepared for the work with your background in organic chemistry?

The organic chemistry learned in school is just the basics and once you obtain a position in the field you are trained for at least 3 months, or 6 months for DNA analysts.  If you do not understand organic chemistry it will be very difficult for you to interview for the position and you will most likely not be considered.  To this day I learn new things about the instruments and the samples because every case is different. I think I will never truly be prepared, just knowledgeable!

Learn more about forensic science and other exciting careers in criminal justice.

If you are interested in making the most of your career in criminal justice, perhaps you should consider earning a Criminal Justice Master’s Degree. A criminal justice master’s degree program will emphasize both statistical and scientific analysis. Students can expect to study the history of the American Criminal Justice System, correctional theory, analytic and research methods, and criminal justice policy analysis. By going to graduate school and earning your master’s degree, you will get the specialized training that you will need to truly succeed as a criminal justice professional.

Top 10 Reasons to Earn a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice:

1. By earning your criminal justice master’s degree you will speed up the career advancement process and see more opportunities for promotion.
2. The courses you will take in graduate school will help broaden your skill set and prepare you to fill leadership positions within the field of criminal justice.
3. Master’s degree holders are eligible to work as faculty members of criminal justice colleges and universities.
4. If earning your Doctorate degree is really what interests you, a master’s degree program will help you start reaching your educational goals.
5. When you are looking for work, having a master’s degree will give you an advantage over other applicants who might not have the same credentials.
6. A master’s degree will enable you to hold high ranking leadership positions at many different criminal justice agencies.
7. Master’s degree holders earn more money on average than those who have earned a bachelor or associate’s degree.
8. People who have earned a criminal justice master’s degree typically earn between $60,000 and $100,000 annually.
9. Master’s degrees can lead to management opportunities that will enable you to shape the policy and criminal justice processes that help maintain social order and safety.
10. By earning a master’s degree in criminal justice you will enhance your career potential within the law enforcement, correctional, local and state government, and legal institutions.

If you are interested in working for the FBI, CIA, Secret Service, Border Patrol or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, earning your master’s degree is one of the best career choices that you can make. Other positions you will be eligible to fill with a master’s degree in criminal justice include:

• Chief of Police
• Prison Warden
• Director of Corrections
• Teacher
• Researcher
• Crime Analyst
• CIA Agent
• Social Worker
• Forensic Psychologist
• And many more!

More about Master’s Degree Programs.

Online Degrees and distance learning programs are convenient, flexible, student centered, and less expensive than traditional university programs.

Other Advantages of Distance Learning Online

• Classes are usually offered throughout the year- start whenever is best for you!
• Study anytime, anywhere!
• Work at your own pace.
• Avoid commuting.
• Develop project and time management skills.
• Save on tuition and childcare costs.
• Advance your career and earn higher salaries.

Certificate programs appeal to many people. Some people view certificate programs as an opportunity to advance their career without the time and financial commitments that are associated with pursuing a degree. Certificate programs can also enable individuals who have already earned a degree to improve their skills, extend their knowledge, and possibly take a new career path. In some cases, a certificate program can lead to admission into a related degree program.

Certificate programs are available at traditional colleges and universities, trade and vocational schools, community colleges, and online. If you are considering changing your career or furthering your education, browse through available certification programs to find one that will suit your needs.

Types of Doctoral Degrees:

• Ph.D. or Doctor of Philosophy
• M.D. or Medical Doctor
• J.D. or Juris Doctor (lawyer)

Students may work to obtain research doctorates or professional doctorates. Those who graduate from a research doctoral degree program usually find work as university professors or researchers in a specific field. Graduates of a professional doctoral degree program are qualified to work in specific professions, such as law or medicine.

If a doctorate is something that would help you advance your career, browse through the available programs to find one that will suit your needs.

Master’s degree programs can take anywhere from one to three years to complete, and in some cases can be connected to a bachelor’s degree program.

4 types of Master’s Degrees:

• Master of Arts
• Master of Science
• Master of Fine Arts
• Master of Education

Earning a master’s degree will improve your career opportunities by qualifying you for positions of significant responsibility.

Other benefits of Master’s Degree:

• Increased earning potential
• Greater opportunity for benefits packages such as healthcare and pensions
• Fulfills education requirements and preparation for doctoral studies

Benefits of a Bachelor’s Degree

• Increased earnings potential
• Greater job opportunities
• Improved chances for promotion

Those who have earned a bachelor’s degree will also be eligible to further their education by entering a master’s or doctoral degree program.

There are two types of bachelor’s degrees that students may seek to obtain. A Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) is a course of study in the liberal arts or sciences. The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) is a course of study in the natural or social sciences. There are bachelor’s degree programs of both types available at a variety of postsecondary institutions across the country including:

• Community colleges
• State universities
• Private and non-private colleges and universities
• Online

Start your search for a suitable bachelor’s degree program today!

Find programs you may not have known existed, learn more about the careers you have admired from afar, and discover what the field of criminal justice is all about. Browse programs by degree, career, school or state, or try out the search function to be matched to a program that will suit your specific needs.

Keep checking back for more valuable content as we continue to grow!

In general, the courses required of an associate’s degree program will relate directly to the specialization of the program that has been chosen. For example, those who enroll in a forensic science associate’s degree program will find themselves taking courses in forensics, the natural sciences, and law enforcement. Usually, general education courses will also be included in the curriculum.

Associate’s degree programs can be found at traditional colleges and universities, community colleges, and at online, technical, and vocational schools. Find schools that will help you advance your career by browsing through the available associate’s degree programs today!