New test centers for New York City!

[bdschobel]

Anybody who has taken or proctored an actuarial exam in New York knows how dreary and decrepit the test center was -- not to mention the perpetually flooded restrooms. Well, good news: The SOA has found new locations for November 2006!

http://www.soa.org/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset?asset_id=25508075

Excerpt:

0480 - New York NY
Exams FM,M,C
Global Community Digital Sandbox
55 Broad Street – 4th Floor
New York, NY 10004

0480 - New York NY
Courses 8,EA-2A
NYC Seminar & Conference Center
Masonic Hall
71 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
Between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue and on the corner of 6th Ave
Courses 8(except 8RU,8RC),EA-2A: Room 2 East, Central & West
Courses 8RU,8RC: Room 19 West

Anyone have any experience with these places?

Bruce

[jazzman3]

Mr Shobel: Let's be fair. You are a big New Yorker working for a big New York company and now a very powerful person in the SOA. Can you deal with the average person in a small town exam center. There are horror stories that a lot of us could tell you. Will you do something to change our exam centers?

[bdschobel]

That's the end. No more replies to you.

Bruce

[wooHoo]

I have no experience with those sites. However, the 30 minute check in time at the NYC testing centers is never enough time. It may work for 30 candidates but not over 100. Inevitably, the exams never start on time. Is it possible to get the supervisors there an hour before the exam and have them start checking in people then?

[bdschobel]

When I have proctored in NY, I have always arrived at least 1 hour before the exam's scheduled starting time, but I'm an early bird. Unfortunately, everybody doesn't seem able to do that. Remember that most proctors are volunteers. We try to get people there on time, but we really must rely on their good intentions. We have no power over them -- and we always have trouble finding enough proctors. Anyway, starting late was the least of our problems at the old location, as you probably agree.

Bruce

[wooHoo]

When I have proctored in NY, I have always arrived at least 1 hour before the exam's scheduled starting time, but I'm an early bird. Unfortunately, everybody doesn't seem able to do that. Remember that most proctors are volunteers. We try to get people there on time, but we really must rely on their good intentions. We have no power over them -- and we always have trouble finding enough proctors. Anyway, starting late was the least of our problems at the old location, as you probably agree.

Bruce

By Old location, I assume you mean the Park Central Hotel. I have taken exams at Metlife, Park central hotel, and Columbia (probably a few more too). I thought the Columbia center was the best (although it was a trek, it was convienent to the subway).

And I recognize that they are all volunteers and applaud them for it.

[PAK]

Yeah\(^O^)/ I like the one in Columbia......very cool A/C....very nice neighborhood......

The one in Central Park Hotel sxxks.....bad A/C....poor light....cannot see the clock in the hall.....blah blah blah....

[bdschobel]

Yes, I had problems with the previous location, the Park Central Hotel. I'm happy that the SOA staff were able to locate a new place(s).

Bruce

[drctypea]

the Park Central Hotel was the worst place I ever took an exam. Many thanks for changing that location.

[campbell]

Yes, I think we heartily agree that Park Central was a crappy location (though I did get good lunches nearby).

What's the closest train to the Masonic Hall? N/R/W/Q? It seems like that location is convenient to lots of places, and would be less of a trek than Columbia. I always got up superearly for the Columbia site, just in case.

Wait - isn't that near the big Whole Foods store?