clueless college students

[apk123]

How come there are so many college students who seem to be so clueless about what they need to do in college in order to prepare for the next step (career)? it seems as if the vast majority of students think that just because they go to college they are set for life and the only thing they have to worry about is just making sure they get the degree. these are people who at high school knew that in order to advance to the next stage (college) needed to do certain things (grades, sat etc).

[dukelampard]

Blame their parents.

[Dismal Science]

Because they are taught by academics who, for the most part, never actually worked in the industry?

This is especially true of majors like economics or math - popular majors for future actuarial students.

[Peetie Skunk]

There are few schools with fully developed AS programs with career support and faculty who are actually actuaries. If you are going to a small school or even a big university and all they have to study are programs like math, economics, finance, or accounting, then the amount of knowledge actuarial candidates at that school will be less than say, my school where we have 330 AS majors, a career services office which focuses primarily on placement of EL actuarial students, and faculty with actuarial experience.

[Peetie Skunk]

But then again, if they are clueless and appearing here on the AO with clueless questions, then the only logical explanation is they are either too lazy or too inept to use the search function.

[apk123]

My question was less about about the actuarial career specifically but more general, though the cluelessness by the actuarial hopefuls here is indeed what triggered this thread.

[Peetie Skunk]

Originally Posted by apk123

My question was less about about the actuarial career specifically but more general, though the cluelessness by the actuarial hopefuls here is indeed what triggered this thread.

I think college students now aspire more towards a lifestyle rather than aspiring towards a career. Anymore, life satisfaction seems to be defined solely by one's life outside of work, rather than including work in your life satisfaction. I think to be fully satisfied with life you need to include your career and whatever you do when you get off work.

Originally Posted by Dismal Science

Because they are taught by academics who, for the most part, never actually worked in the industry?

This is especially true of majors like economics or math - popular majors for future actuarial students.

Yes I agree. Instead of going to college they should go to a CC to learn how to pass exams and use actuarial software. Actuaries should also teach graduate algebraic geometry and graduate econometrics.

[Colymbosathon ecplecticos]

Originally Posted by urbansombrero

Actuaries should also teach graduate algebraic geometry and graduate econometrics.

Algebraic geometers are full of sheaf.

[GrammarZombie]

Originally Posted by Colymbosathon ecplecticos

Algebraic geometers are full of sheaf.

yeah, that gets you a point.

Also, come on. The kids haven't had a "real" job ever, have only been in these institutional situations where they're told what to do to get a gold star, and you expect them to act like they've got wisdom? That they have any insight into their situation? Even if they had been taught by people who had worked in the field, they still wouldn't have a clue. I look back at myself in college, and see all the dumbass ideas I had (I wrote down a lot of this stuff, so I've got proof of my stupidity...some even still online).

There's a lot of "obvious" lessons that even if people tell you about beforehand, you've got to experience for yourself before you actually understand (or believe) what's going on. I'm sure if I weren't lazy, I could probably pick out some examples from Thucydides, or the Bible, or some such. This is not a new phenomenon.

I'm sure in 10 years' time I will look back about how ignorant I was now.

So have a little charity for those who are experience-challenged. Give them time, and they'll be the grizzled old practitioners we've become (or aspired to become).