I think this major is stupid. I am switching

[babbagandu]

Well, I know this is the non-actuarial section, but since this primarily has to do with my college degree, I hope it fits in here. Sorry if it doesn't.

Anyway, I have come to the conclusion that a degree in actuarial science is stupid. I took the class corresponding to FM last semester and dropped it because my schedule was too full, and then passed FM on my own last month. I am taking the class for P right now and it is so useless. All we do is go over the SOA sample questions. That's it. Nothing more. No book, nothing. I don't understand the point of this major, it is basically making me take classes for something I can get from a study manual. I mean, if all it takes to get into this profession is pass exams, I feel like I am wasting my college education on something I could do myself.

I have decided to switch my major to computer info systems. Employers seem to prefer people with computer knowledge anyway, so I will have plenty of computer knowledge and have exams passed. And if it turns out that I don't enjoy actuarial work after I'm employed, I will have a plan b. My friend just graduated with a 3.5 from the comp info systems program and has a 60k job offer. Sounds like a good plan b to me.

Opinions?

[ADoubleDot]

You can get any education on your own. It's called a library, look into it.

[Simply Brilliant]

[babbagandu]

Originally Posted by ADoubleDot

You can get any education on your own. It's called a library, look into it.

The main thing I was trying to say is this:

Someone with a computer related degree and exams passed can be an actuary. Someone with an AS degree will probably not have a chance at getting a non actuarial position.

But thank you for the non helpful, douchebag answer

[Bobby]

Originally Posted by ADoubleDot

You can get any education on your own. It's called a library, look into it.

See, the sad thing about a guy like you is in 50 years you're gonna staht doin some thinkin on your own and you're gonna come up with the fact that there are two certaintees in life. One, don't do that. And Two, you dropped a hundred and fifty grand on a fu**in education you coulda got for a dollah fifty in late chahges at the public library.

[john.c]

When I went through the ActSci program the classes were all theory and taught from Kellison/Bowers et al. If you complained that it didn't help you pass exams, they told you thats what manuals/seminars were for.

Now they make the programs a series of seminars, and use the manuals instead of texts, and people still complain.

[ElDucky]

Because I have an Actuarial Science degree I've been advising people for several years to take a different degree, business or computer science would be good, and to just do the tests on their own time. Basically for the reasons you mentioned. If you have the AS degree but don't work as an actuary it can be tough. There would be some difficulty getting internships coming from a different degree, but that's about it.

A dual major is not a bad idea. This thread should be in careers probably. It has been discussed before.

[ElDucky]

Plus beyond exams 1 and 2 the classes I took actually made it less likely that I'd pass an exam. A good exam manual would get you As in many classes though.

[Actuary321]

Originally Posted by babbagandu

The main thing I was trying to say is this:

Someone with a computer related degree and exams passed can be an actuary. Someone with an AS degree will probably not have a chance at getting a non actuarial position.

But thank you for the non helpful, douchebag answer

I think you will fit in better with the CompSci people.

[babbagandu]

Originally Posted by Actuary321

I think you will fit in better with the CompSci people.

and why do you think that is?