Anyone taking both FM and M next time if you failed?

[Wannabe Actuary]

Originally Posted by Maxprime

I'll be doing FM or MF or whatever the MF is called =P and the M exam - I wish they kept Brownian Motion and all those things as I already had to learn them all for classes. Oh well - I'll pass the IT exam without studying much, but I'll almost definitely fail the M exam unless I pull a 6 out of my MF rear.

Exactly the reason they switched the name to FM....

[vegi-saurus]

If i do fail C2 this sitting (which i hope i won't), I'm more inclined to write Exam C with Exam MF.

[Maxprime]

Good news is that we get a week in between the two!

[louisdj_KSU]

If I fail this exam, I really don't know what I'll do. Will very much be a play-it-by ear deal.

In terms of the restructuring, I would definitely be in favor of taking two exams next May. However, I'm not sure that I can handle the financial burden that will accompany this. I got laid off/fired from my last full-time job in March '02. After almost a year of trying to figure out what to do and applying for jobs which I was falling on deaf ears, I decided to pursue this field. From reading the job notices on Monster, CareerBuilder, D.W. Simpson, etc., I figured I could get something once I passed the first exam. Took Course 1 test in May '03, got a 10. Since then, I've sat for Course 2 everytime offered, applied for several jobs through SOA and company websites. Passing the first exam did get me noticed as I've had several comanies call me and one even flew me out (the one that told me about this site, btw). However, no offers. The only venues I've had since being laid off have been other avenues which result in about $50 to $100 a month. Things are better than two years ago, but I still need SRS to pay the Exam fees and all of my study material. Hence, I feel like making them pay for another round of texts and another test is quite a bit on their part. Especially since (if I remember right) the next exams run $300+ apiece.

If I can get a job or even an intern, I wouldn't mind taking FM and M just to get exposed to the next exam if nothing else. Otherwise, I may just try to do FM in May and the two VEE tests in August. I have the BM text, so all I would need is Landsburg. Hopefully, these intermittentent/part-time jobs picks up so that I have some money for this.

On the other hand, passing this will make the job search MUCH more important, as I've heard that having two exams passed gets you several offers. From what people were saying a year ago, 1 exam gets you aninterview, 2 a job. Is this still true, or has the economy picked up enough that several 1-examers are getting jobs in the field.

[vegi-saurus]

Originally Posted by louisdj_KSU

If I fail this exam, I really don't know what I'll do. Will very much be a play-it-by ear deal.

In terms of the restructuring, I would definitely be in favor of taking two exams next May. However, I'm not sure that I can handle the financial burden that will accompany this. I got laid off/fired from my last full-time job in March '02. After almost a year of trying to figure out what to do and applying for jobs which I was falling on deaf ears, I decided to pursue this field. From reading the job notices on Monster, CareerBuilder, D.W. Simpson, etc., I figured I could get something once I passed the first exam. Took Course 1 test in May '03, got a 10. Since then, I've sat for Course 2 everytime offered, applied for several jobs through SOA and company websites. Passing the first exam did get me noticed as I've had several comanies call me and one even flew me out (the one that told me about this site, btw). However, no offers. The only venues I've had since being laid off have been other avenues which result in about $50 to $100 a month. Things are better than two years ago, but I still need SRS to pay the Exam fees and all of my study material. Hence, I feel like making them pay for another round of texts and another test is quite a bit on their part. Especially since (if I remember right) the next exams run $300+ apiece.

If I can get a job or even an intern, I wouldn't mind taking FM and M just to get exposed to the next exam if nothing else. Otherwise, I may just try to do FM in May and the two VEE tests in August. I have the BM text, so all I would need is Landsburg. Hopefully, these intermittentent/part-time jobs picks up so that I have some money for this.

On the other hand, passing this will make the job search MUCH more important, as I've heard that having two exams passed gets you several offers. From what people were saying a year ago, 1 exam gets you aninterview, 2 a job. Is this still true, or has the economy picked up enough that several 1-examers are getting jobs in the field.

I hear ya buddy. Sucks when job prospects aren't looking great. To make matters worse, money problems. Sigh...i hear ya all too well. Let's hope we get this!!!

[saahu5]

Originally Posted by louisdj_KSU

If I fail this exam, I really don't know what I'll do. Will very much be a play-it-by ear deal.

In terms of the restructuring, I would definitely be in favor of taking two exams next May. However, I'm not sure that I can handle the financial burden that will accompany this. I got laid off/fired from my last full-time job in March '02. After almost a year of trying to figure out what to do and applying for jobs which I was falling on deaf ears, I decided to pursue this field. From reading the job notices on Monster, CareerBuilder, D.W. Simpson, etc., I figured I could get something once I passed the first exam. Took Course 1 test in May '03, got a 10. Since then, I've sat for Course 2 everytime offered, applied for several jobs through SOA and company websites. Passing the first exam did get me noticed as I've had several comanies call me and one even flew me out (the one that told me about this site, btw). However, no offers. The only venues I've had since being laid off have been other avenues which result in about $50 to $100 a month. Things are better than two years ago, but I still need SRS to pay the Exam fees and all of my study material. Hence, I feel like making them pay for another round of texts and another test is quite a bit on their part. Especially since (if I remember right) the next exams run $300+ apiece.

If I can get a job or even an intern, I wouldn't mind taking FM and M just to get exposed to the next exam if nothing else. Otherwise, I may just try to do FM in May and the two VEE tests in August. I have the BM text, so all I would need is Landsburg. Hopefully, these intermittentent/part-time jobs picks up so that I have some money for this.

On the other hand, passing this will make the job search MUCH more important, as I've heard that having two exams passed gets you several offers. From what people were saying a year ago, 1 exam gets you aninterview, 2 a job. Is this still true, or has the economy picked up enough that several 1-examers are getting jobs in the field.

I agree that more employers in the U.S. are looking for 2 exams, rather than one (although I was hired with just one exam, so it's possible.) What you need to be careful of is taking too many exams without having work experience. If you have more than 2 exams, you could price yourself out of a job (they would have to pay you too much for a position that would require no experience.) You will see people on these boards referring to having more than 2 exams when they graduate from college, but mostly those people are in Canada where the market is different.

[BleedOrangeAndBlue]

Originally Posted by saahu5

I agree that more employers in the U.S. are looking for 2 exams, rather than one (although I was hired with just one exam, so it's possible.) What you need to be careful of is taking too many exams without having work experience. If you have more than 2 exams, you could price yourself out of a job (they would have to pay you too much for a position that would require no experience.) You will see people on these boards referring to having more than 2 exams when they graduate from college, but mostly those people are in Canada where the market is different.

Eh, more than 2 exams doesn't price you out of the market. Lots of people I graduated with have 3 and 4 exams and had no trouble getting jobs. I'd say that more than 4 prices you out, but 3-4 (especially w/ internship experience) just makes you a more attractive candidate.

[vegi-saurus]

Originally Posted by BleedOrangeAndBlue

Lots of people I graduated with have 3 and 4 exams

This people make me sick!

Originally Posted by BleedOrangeAndBlue

I'd say that more than 4 prices you out, but 3-4 (especially w/ internship experience) just makes you a more attractive candidate.

I agree with this...so for those unemployed, better not pass too many exams!!!