Reynolds, Thorvardson Actuarial Seminars??

[Not Mike]

They are having an 8G/8M seminar, anyone know is this is worthwhile???

[bm]

Never attend any seminar by Reynolds. Definitely not worth spending time in St Louis - in a crowded, loud and smoky hotel with a sprawling strip mall across from the hotel. The multiple-choice questions just drove me crazy and I really don't see much value in completing answering these questions given the fact that all the exam questions are essays. Worst of all, quite a number of the practice problems and handouts contained outdated and conflicting material!!!!!

[wirchy]

Originally Posted by bm

Never attend any seminar by Reynolds.

go to www.ratemyprofessors.com
then select Canada, University of Waterloo and Frank Reynolds to see what his students think of his classes.

[falcon]

Some people like him and some don"t. He expects a lot from people and ties to teach people how to pass actuarial exams. His university courses are often at that level and require you to be up to date. Those who want something easy don't like him nor do those who don't get along with themselves let alone anyone else.

[C5Funus]

Originally Posted by bm

Never attend any seminar by Reynolds. Definitely not worth spending time in St Louis - in a crowded, loud and smoky hotel with a sprawling strip mall across from the hotel. The multiple-choice questions just drove me crazy and I really don't see much value in completing answering these questions given the fact that all the exam questions are essays. Worst of all, quite a number of the practice problems and handouts contained outdated and conflicting material!!!!!

He's nothing more than a sexist bully. Seriously. Avoid at all costs, especially if you're female.

The only advantage I could see for going is only if your company pays for it. You'll get a few days away from work and home to concentrate, and can hopefully commiserate with others who were hoodwinked into taking his seminar.

[granite]

Sexist is about the last thing I would call him - if anything he favours the girls. But he has had a lot of life experiences and knows things that do not come out of the text book. He relied some of the feminists one year my is comments on family violence. They were livid. What I have always wondered is what they did about 2-3 years latter when Statistics Canada came out with the same ideas (only not sugar coated)!!!!
Maube some people should grow up and realize he does not just read from a book but tries to make you think.

[scooter]

"he has had a lot of life experiences and knows things that do not come out of the text book"

Who cares, we are not being tested on his life experiences or things that do not come out of the text books and other readings.

[Effa]

Originally Posted by granite

Sexist is about the last thing I would call him - if anything he favours the girls. But he has had a lot of life experiences and knows things that do not come out of the text book. He relied some of the feminists one year my is comments on family violence. They were livid. What I have always wondered is what they did about 2-3 years latter when Statistics Canada came out with the same ideas (only not sugar coated)!!!!
Maube some people should grow up and realize he does not just read from a book but tries to make you think.

This thread cracks me up. Reynolds could not be any more out of touch with what is needed to pass actuarial exams, or what is relevant in the real world. He's stuck in time at, I would guess, about 1960. Here are some tidbits from the 1st-yr course I was required to suffer through. Though they sound like jokes, he was dead serious about all of these -

1) All women in the class were accused of being there only to get their "M.R.S. degree". Okay, how sexist is that?!!
2) Spinach is dangerous - highly carcinogenic. Whatever.
3) Hockey helmets are bad because they result in too many neck injuries. WTF?
4) Running is bad for you. Knees just can't handle the pounding. Talk about bad rumors from a century ago...

Students have written letters of complaint to the Dean, but they can't seem to get rid of him...

[Phil]

Originally Posted by granite

Sexist is about the last thing I would call him - if anything he favours the girls.

In that case, sexist is the first thing I would call him.

[scooter]

Great point Phil!