Too many exams??

[RiSK kid]

Hi,

I am currently stuyding for my undergraduate degree in actuarial science. I am in Canada and the competition is tough. (i.e with Waterloo students having more than 3 exams and up to 6 by the time they graduate.)


I know that exams are important but do you think that too many exams will hinder my job search when I look full time??

Currently, I have course one and am writing course 2 in Nov.(I am a junior )'

My goal is to get at least 3. But I have it planned that if I don't fail. I could have 5 or 6 exams.

Is this too many, as one of my professors said not to write more than 4.

I would really like some thoughts on this, so I can plan accordingly .

Thanks. :D

[Buru Buru]

It seems as though this topic comes up a lot. I don't think that you can have too many exams. Some may disagree with me as I have had this conversation with one of my coworkers who did disagree.

The people that we interview for entry level positions in the company that I work for generally do not have more than 1 or 2 exams (or sometimes 0), but I think that we would (or at least I would) be very impressed with someone who was able to get through so many of these exams before graduating college. I definitely can't see us holding that against anyone.

[Maxine]

It's rare to have Waterloo grads with 6 exams since the transition. Go for it, and if you have a (6 or more), then target consulting firms when you graduate. Just remember that most of us thought we would have more when we graduated then we actually ended up with. :P

[RiSK kid]

It's rare to have Waterloo grads with 6 exams since the transition. Go for it, and if you have a (6 or more), then target consulting firms when you graduate. Just remember that most of us thought we would have more when we graduated then we actually ended up with. :P

That's just what I plan to try... I know realistically I should be able to do 2-3 exams... I'm not oblivious to the fact that these exams are extremely hard :D ...

But contrary to your belief... not to say you aren't right or anything but I know at least 2 people who already have 6 exams and are going into their fourth year at waterloo.( one graduated with six)

and I know two others who finished with four under the new conversion..

and that just ppl I have met over the years.. but you may be right... it could be just the exception to the rule..

[jets fan]

I know at least 2 people who already have 6 exams and are going into their fourth year at waterloo ...

but you may be right... it could be just the exception to the rule..

Count me as one who strongly believes this is the exception, rather than the rule. But if you can somehow do it, more power to you.

[Gretchen]

Presonally, I wouldn't try for 6 exams. While I wouldn't necessarily hold it against someone just becuase they had 'too many' exams, when I am hiring folks I look for well rounded people. I'd much rather see on your resume that you participated in other activities and got 1 or 2 exams, rather than did nothing but study and gett 6 exams. When you are working, you have to balance work with studying. Having other activities shows that you can do something other than study. (And also can help show communication, leadership, teamwork, etc. Those are also very important when hiring someone).

While you might get an entry level job with 6 exams, you would have to realize that while you would get some extra pay for the extra exams, you would not get anything near what someone with 6 exams and 3 or 4 years experience would get. Nor would you get the same level of responsibility - you would still be entry level.

So I wouldn't spend all my time in college studying for exams. Enjoy yourself some, and do the studying when you're getting paid to do it.

Just me two cents.

[J.T.]

I would tend to agree with the above...While I wouldn't hold it against you, I would tend to look for someone with a rounded life...Try for 2 or 3, and fit in some fun things in your life...You could get burned out way too quickly if all you do is study.

[aces219]

I would sit for up to 4. Since those are the joint exams, you aren't limiting your options, and it's possible for students in the U.S. to come out of school with 4 exams. Also, the mathematical material is a lot fresher then. The essay exams are probably all new material (though I'm not sure about Waterloo course work), so you can put those off. I definitely second Gretchen's advice.

[Roasted Almond]

Pass as many of these exams as soon as you can, whenever you can.
It will be hell to pass them while working full-time.

I graduated in last March with 1-4 done and a major in Computer Engineering, I believe the 2000 conversion stuff along with my Final exams
Schedules deprived me from getting atleast one Essay exam (Sat in only Course 140 in whole 1999 to get Course2 and sat out in Fall 2001 sitting b/c I had a clash b/w exam6 and final year graduation exams). I regret doing that, but that was out of my control !

I believe, if you started taking exams early( like 18 ), you can still balance exams with fun electives. If a Computer engineer can have four exams by the time of graduation(with few attempts sitting out), why not someone majoring in Act.Science?

[jets fan]

Pass as many of these exams as soon as you can, whenever you can.
It will be hell to pass them while working full-time.

Agreed. The more you can get done at an early age, the better. You'll be thankful later on. When you try to take these tests while you're working and doing countless other major things (ex = planning your wedding, buying a house, having kids, etc...), it will be harder.

[RiSK kid]

Pass as many of these exams as soon as you can, whenever you can.
It will be hell to pass them while working full-time.

I graduated in last March with 1-4 done and a major in Computer Engineering, I believe the 2000 conversion stuff along with my Final exams
Schedules deprived me from getting atleast one Essay exam (Sat in only Course 140 in whole 1999 to get Course2 and sat out in Fall 2001 sitting b/c I had a clash b/w exam6 and final year graduation exams). I regret doing that, but that was out of my control !

I believe, if you started taking exams early( like 18 ), you can still balance exams with fun electives. If a Computer engineer can have four exams by the time of graduation(with few attempts sitting out), why not someone majoring in Act.Science?

That was my thinking.... pass as many exams while in school because studying while working full time is hard. And I would like to have a family and a life before im 30.
Plus I feel that I'm in study mode right now so I can really bear down and pass some of these exams. And all my school work correlates to exams 3 and 4 this year. It's not like I have to learn the material from scratch.


And to those of you who think that I wouldn't have a balanced life. I think you are just assuming I would be a studying machine with no life.. Quite the opposite actually. I play on the varsity squash team and am president of the actsci club at my university.

I actually don't like the fact that people don't find the time to do other things.
And I try to encourage students to participate in non school activities.


So I don't really think that you could assume that someone who passed a lot of exams didn't enjoy life and have other outside school activities.

Just my 2 cents

And thanks a lot for your opinions. Much appreciated. :D

[Roasted Almond]

As a side note, If you are fearing to "price yourself out of the market" beacuse of alot of exams and no experience, you can give the employers an impression that you are looking for entry-level positions and are willing to accept offers like that.

You will need to find that first job only once.Your employer should know
that they will have to invest LESS in you in terms of time for study, exams costs,seminars and other stuff. After you have worked for them for few years, you will likely be an Associate and will be in a great position to help them at that point. They can not plan on other new people they hire in being that sort of position.

Good Luck!