Atlanta test center

[satogaeru]

Not that anyone in Atlanta needs to be reminded about our traffic, but here's a heads up for those coming from DeKalb/Fulton or south. I took a "test drive" to the test center this morning. I got to the GA400/I-285 interchange around 7:45am as planned... and it took me all 45 remaining minutes just to reach the parking lot of the test center. If today had been my test day, I would have been late getting signed in. Guess I need to leave about 1/2 hour earlier just in case.

[dodge_this]

... I got to the GA400/I-285 interchange around 7:45am as planned... and it took me all 45 remaining minutes just to reach the parking lot of the test center. If today had been my test day, I would have been late getting signed in. Guess I need to leave about 1/2 hour earlier just in case.


From the GA400/I-285 interchange give yourself an hour to reach the parking lot!!! This portion is on my daily commute to work, and I know it well.

[Frenchie]

My first exam was at the Dunwoody campus. I took classes up there etc, so I knew about traffic. I left plenty early. Wouldn't you know a dang car crossed the median and hit oncoming traffic head on. 400 shut down in both directions! I didn't know back roads though b/c I lived east of town. Luckily, my friend was behind me somewhere so I called her and she had me get off and we met and I followed her in. We got there right on time, but since they never start on time anyways, it didn't matter much.

[satogaeru]

My first exam was at the Dunwoody campus. I took classes up there etc, so I knew about traffic. I left plenty early. Wouldn't you know a dang car crossed the median and hit oncoming traffic head on. 400 shut down in both directions! I didn't know back roads though b/c I lived east of town. Luckily, my friend was behind me somewhere so I called her and she had me get off and we met and I followed her in. We got there right on time, but since they never start on time anyways, it didn't matter much.

I am *terrified* that this is going to happen on Wednesday! I don't know firsthand, but from the sound of morning traffic reports, 400 is just not enough highway to handle even the little fender benders, much less a major accident.

[tommie frazier]

i leave my house 3.5 hourse before my exam. honestly. there is nothing I can get done at home that I can't get done at some diner/mcdonalds/waiing room that is right next to the exam center. and I know I won;t have to deal with crap like this.

[Frenchie]

I am *terrified* that this is going to happen on Wednesday! I don't know firsthand, but from the sound of morning traffic reports, 400 is just not enough highway to handle even the little fender benders, much less a major accident.

what part of town are you coming from?

I think the best drive I have had to a test center was in Norwalk, CT. I only lived like 2 miles from the center, which was behind my office building. Worst came to worst, I could have walked there in 30 min or so.

[persephone_ashes]

when i was in atlanta i knew a few people who stayed in that hotel across the road. i almost did it and i lived off exit 6 on 400. it just wasn't worth the hassle.

[twig93]

I missed an exam in Seattle due to a problem on one of the floating bridges. Am still bitter about that...

[DoctorNo]

Our exams are in the Denver Tech Center, which is about ten miles south of downtown through the worst part of rush-hour traffic.

I always get a hotel room the night before. Partly because I live about fifteen miles north of downtown, but mainly because I really don't need any additional stress on exam morning. It's fifty bucks well-spent.

[Buru Buru]

When I lived in one of the outer bouroughs of NYC and had to commute into Manhattan for the exam, I used to leave at around 5 A.M. in order to account for any traffic catastrophe. I finally realized that it was just not worth the hassle and got a hotel room closer to the exam site the night before. It was definitely worth it, even in NYC where hotels aren't as cheap. The threat of failing an exam either due to the lack of sleep from having to get up at 4:30 A.M. or due to traffic is worth elimiminating with the price of a hotel room.

[Woody]

I'm glad I live in Alpharetta.

[Lois Lane]

I'm glad I live in Alpharetta.I'm glad my parents live in Alpharetta. Even after I got married and moved up North, I registered for tests in Atlanta for the first couple years. I'd fly down a week before my exam, let my folks take care of me all week, and study my a$$ off. Much less stressful than staying in a hotel near the test center the night before. Maybe I'll start doing that again now that I have a little one. Free baby sitting and home-cooked food right before the exam!

[satogaeru]

I'm glad my parents live in Alpharetta. Even after I got married and moved up North, I registered for tests in Atlanta for the first couple years. I'd fly down a week before my exam, let my folks take care of me all week, and study my a$$ off. Much less stressful than staying in a hotel near the test center the night before. Maybe I'll start doing that again now that I have a little one. Free baby sitting and home-cooked food right before the exam!

Ooh, can I stay with your parents too? :wink:

[Woody]

I'm glad my parents live in Alpharetta. Even after I got married and moved up North, I registered for tests in Atlanta for the first couple years. I'd fly down a week before my exam, let my folks take care of me all week, and study my a$$ off. Much less stressful than staying in a hotel near the test center the night before. Maybe I'll start doing that again now that I have a little one. Free baby sitting and home-cooked food right before the exam!


I'm bummed you actually don't live in Alpharetta. I'm always looking for a study partner. Everyone I work with taking exams are not taking the same one I am. I figure if I fail enough times, they will catch up with me, but they keep failing too. Oh well.

[Lois Lane]

Ooh, can I stay with your parents too? :wink:
one of my friends used to spend the night over at our place the night before our exams. and one year, 4 of us had an exam slumber party. the 3 girls slept up in the bedrooms, and we made the guy sleep down in the living room. my mom made a big dinner for us all and it was so relaxing. we drank chai and did last minute cramming (useless!) over breakfast the next day. if i'd passed, i guess this would be a better anecdote.:roll2:

[Lois Lane]

I'm bummed you actually don't live in Alpharetta. I'm always looking for a study partner. Everyone I work with taking exams are not taking the same one I am. I figure if I fail enough times, they will catch up with me, but they keep failing too. Oh well.
are we taking the same exams? i'm starting FAP modules next year. if you want to find study partners, maybe you can start a thread in the appropriate exam forum, like "Alpharetta, GA study group" or "Atlanta Roll Call".

[Woody]

are we taking the same exams? i'm starting FAP modules next year. if you want to find study partners, maybe you can start a thread in the appropriate exam forum, like "Alpharetta, GA study group" or "Atlanta Roll Call".


I think I passed M, so I'll be taking C in May 2006.

I've done the thread thing before and it went over like a lead balloon. I'm battling GSU actuarial students who all know and study together and there is really no one else out there who want a study partner. At least that is what it seemed like from the response (or lack thereof) I got from the thread.

[satogaeru]

I think I passed M, so I'll be taking C in May 2006.

I've done the thread thing before and it went over like a lead balloon. I'm battling GSU actuarial students who all know and study together and there is really no one else out there who want a study partner. At least that is what it seemed like from the response (or lack thereof) I got from the thread.

If for some reason you did not pass M, and for some reason I *did* pass FM, I'd be glad to study with you. Not that you asked. :) I don't live in Alpharetta but I live on the north end..

[Woody]

If for some reason you did not pass M, and for some reason I *did* pass FM, I'd be glad to study with you. Not that you asked. :) I don't live in Alpharetta but I live on the north end..

Works for me. What city are you in? I would have to see if it would work logistically for me.

[satogaeru]

I'm in Chamblee. We like to call it, "the slums of Dunwoody."

[Frenchie]

I think I passed M, so I'll be taking C in May 2006.

I've done the thread thing before and it went over like a lead balloon. I'm battling GSU actuarial students who all know and study together and there is really no one else out there who want a study partner. At least that is what it seemed like from the response (or lack thereof) I got from the thread.

Where do you work?

I went to GSU, and unless things have changed, we didn't really have a lot of group studying going. I did study w/one girl while I was there, but we kind of got "thrown" together through other cirumstances. Do you not work at an actuarial firm? (wait, I'm too lazy to go back. Were you the one who said you're the only one on your exam there?) Hmmm....I know at least one person down there who was on M this sitting. She may know more ppl on that exam.

[Frenchie]

I'm in Chamblee. We like to call it, "the slums of Dunwoody."

Nothing wrong with Chamblee. I used to live in College Park. Off of Godby Rd no less! :roll: Not exactly Park Avenue, you know! ;) You work with what you've got..

[satogaeru]

Nothing wrong with Chamblee. I used to live in College Park. Off of Godby Rd no less! :roll: Not exactly Park Avenue, you know! ;) You work with what you've got..

I actually like Chamblee. It's low-key and convenient to everything. There's no denying that a lot of people that live here would rather live in Dunwoody, but I'm not one of them. My use of the term "slum" was meant to be affectionate. ;-)

I've only had occasion to be in College Park once - met a friend for dinner. If the rest of the food down there is as good as that place (can't remember the name), then College Park must be the best-kept secret in the city.

[Woody]

Where do you work?

I went to GSU, and unless things have changed, we didn't really have a lot of group studying going. I did study w/one girl while I was there, but we kind of got "thrown" together through other cirumstances. Do you not work at an actuarial firm? (wait, I'm too lazy to go back. Were you the one who said you're the only one on your exam there?) Hmmm....I know at least one person down there who was on M this sitting. She may know more ppl on that exam.

I work for an insurance company in Roswell.

Interesting what you say about the GSU students not really studying together. I guess I made that false assumption based off the fact that of the 31 people taking Exan M, it looked like about 25 of them knew each other. I seem to do better with a study partner or two so I can bounce questions off them and vice versa. Self studying is a challenge at times.

[Frenchie]

I work for an insurance company in Roswell.

Interesting what you say about the GSU students not really studying together. I guess I made that false assumption based off the fact that of the 31 people taking Exan M, it looked like about 25 of them knew each other. I seem to do better with a study partner or two so I can bounce questions off them and vice versa. Self studying is a challenge at times.

Oh, well the students definitely know each other since you go through all the classes together at the same time. There's only one of each class offered once a year (at least when I was there). So, when you start in the program, you are in the same A.S. classes together for 2 years. But I didn't know of any big study groups among our class. Of course, I could have been the class outcast and not invited :-D