Booka For Course 4???

[aniasat]

I am planning to appear for Course 3 and Course 4 in May. I already have the books for Course 3 and now I am planning to get books for Course 4. I have to order them in advance since I do not live in the US and it will be a while before I get them.
Any suggestions which study notes are good for Course 4?? I am planning to buy all the Recommended course of reading but I am not sure as to which manual I should buy. I am still a student so cost is also one of the factors I have to consider while making that decision.

Any advice???

Thanks,
Anita.

[ASA_Woman]

I believe that the textbooks required for Course 4 are the same ones used for Course 3. So that will save you some money. I used Mahler's guides from NEAS for Course 4 and passed on my first try.
http://www.neas-seminars.com

[Anonymous]

Course 2 Woman:

What did you use for the Survival Analysis, Regression and Time Series? Cuz I'm using Mahler's note now but have no idea what should I get to prepare for those not covered. Any input is greatly appreciated.

[ASA_Woman]

I used How to Pass for those topics. In addition to How to Pass, I used Actex for Time Series.
http://www.how-to-pass.com

[M.]

I think the Actex for Survival Analysis is half-way decent, also.

[rabbit]

Since you asked ... there is a new Course 3 manual put out by Arch Actuarial. I don't want to post a big advertisement since I am one of the authors -- but the first chapter is available free at http://www.archactuarial.com

The emphasis is on explanation and examples. If someone here would like to review a couple of chapters, let us know!

[Jay Oliver]

I would wait until after the book list comes out for the May sitting before ordering the Klein Survival book. I am also sitting for Course 4 in May and I ordered some books last week. Before ordering I spoke with a women at the Actuarial Bookstore regarding new editions. She said the Klein book was the only one that she thought would be questionable.

[aniasat]

Thank You for your response Jay.

[aces219]

I would definitely wait on buying the Survival Analysis book. Klugman is writing a new Course 4 study note to replace that material - my class is testing it out this semester - so it may well be that that gets used in the spring. I'm taking Course 3 this fall, and happily I didn't have to buy the Survival Analysis book. A lot of the study manuals still make references to it though.

[aniasat]

Till when are you gonna wait guys?? When do you think the list would be out?? Also this study note that Klugman is preparing will come out for sale right?? or will it come out as SOA free notes?? :wink:

Unfortunately,I have to order the Survival book asap. I cannot wait for more than a week and I dont think it will make a vast difference in that much time. What do you think??

[aces219]

I would seriously wait until the list comes out. It may take a while for the books to come, but I think between Courses 3 and 4 you have enough other material to study for quite some time. Survival Analysis is only about 20% of Course 4, and not Course 3 at all, so you could even wait until next year to get it. I would think that a decision would be made before the end of the year, though I really don't know.

[glenn]

You won't know for certain what's on the May syllabus until the SOA releases the spring catalogue, which I believe normally happens in November. They sometimes make changes right up to the last minute.

If you're willing to risk having to pay return shipping, most of the bookstores have some sort of 30 day return policy. You could maybe buy the books in October, then make any neccessary returns when the syllabus is released. This is the technique some folks use the month before marks are released. I know this is an expensive proposition if you're outside the US.

If you're not sure, send the bookstore an email to see if they can help. They're generally happy to help, maybe give you an extension on the 30 day return policy.