Canada vs. United States - Actuarial Programs

I'm sure this has been beaten to death, but I'm very curious. Why are Canadian actuarial students so much better than us. Based on what I learned on the forum, it's common for the average Canadian student to have 4-5 exams at graduation. I would say United States is slacking with an average of 1-2. Why are you guys so much better than us? Is it work ethic? Easier to cheat in Canada? Better actuarial programs? I'm very interested to know the answer!

[LifeSucks]

My guesses would be
- much worse math education in the States
- smaller market in Canada => more competition among students.

Again, just guesses.

[Bobby]

It seems like Asian students trying to get an actuarial gig in the U.S. also have a ton more exams than Americans. We're just plain lazy here.

Actually, we're just able to get a job with a couple of exams, so we don't kill ourselves in trying to pass a ton in college. It's as simple as supply and demand.

[Chopin-Lover]

Originally Posted by Bobby

It seems like Asian students trying to get an actuarial gig in the U.S. also have a ton more exams than Americans. We're just plain lazy here.

Actually, we're just able to get a job with a couple of exams, so we don't kill ourselves in trying to pass a ton in college. It's as simple as supply and demand.

If the Asian students can easily get a job with a couple of exams too, they probably won't work as hard.

[Roy Hobbs]

Originally Posted by eagles418

I'm sure this has been beaten to death, but I'm very curious. Why are Canadian actuarial students so much better than us. Based on what I learned on the forum, it's common for the average Canadian student to have 4-5 exams at graduation. I would say United States is slacking with an average of 1-2. Why are you guys so much better than us? Is it work ethic? Easier to cheat in Canada? Better actuarial programs? I'm very interested to know the answer!

Canada is a small country, especially actuarial wise. Most students go to one of the major actuarial schools where the programs are very competitive and focused to help students pass their prelims.

If you go to one of those schools and graduate with 1 or 2 exams you will not likely get hired in Canada.

Oh ya, Canadians are better than Americans to begin with anyways!

[ElDucky]

11 months of winter gives us nothing better to do than study.

[JMO]

Originally Posted by ElDucky

11 months of winter gives us nothing better to do than study.

Indoor sports can be played in any weather.

[Jack]

Originally Posted by LifeSucks

My guesses would be
- much worse math education in the States

Again, just guesses.

That's not true, a good deal of the math done in the world is done in the US.

It was a guy at Princeton who proved Fermats theorem.

I would guess that if you listed the 10 best university math departments in the world there would be at a max one Canadaian university (maybe).

[Fujiwara]

It all boils down to supply and demand. Not to mention, Canada doesn't have many health actuarial positions so it limits students to what they can apply for.

[LifeSucks]

Originally Posted by Jack

That's not true, a good deal of the math done in the world is done in the US.

It was a guy at Princeton who proved Fermats theorem.

I would guess that if you listed the 10 best university math departments in the world there would be at a max one Canadaian university (maybe).

You are correct, I'm not talking about the best schools in the world.
I meant the math skills in general population (which includes college graduates)