Three is the Magic Number (Yes It Is)

Words cannot describe the feeling of elation I am experiencing. Three times. Three times is what it took for me to pass the first actuary exam SOA/CAS/CIA Exam P/1. I thought I studied the first two times, but after what I did for this third attempt, I now realize that I hadn’t truly “studied” those other two times. Sure, I read through the material that would be tested on and I took a few practice tests. But my heart wasn’t really in it. Well, it was a little bit, otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered to take any of the practice tests. And I thought I was busy the semester I took the test a second time*. Apparently, the secret is to overbook yourself. Not only was I taking 17** credits, working 16 or more hours a week, and fulfilling my duties as president of the university’s math society, but I devoted at least an hour of actuarial study each night. I actually got to the point where I would put off my computer science homework (which was really discrete math*** and therefore not that horrendous§) and willingly do practice problems from past SOA/CAS/CIA Probability exams.

Despite all that study, I was terrified the day I had to take my test. I felt like it was (and never would be) enough. I was fortunate to have a friend who was visiting me that weekend and had offered to drive me to the testing center (an hour and a half away). She made sure I went to bed relatively early (something I lacked the first two times I took the test), had a proper breakfast (something else I had lacked), and reassured me that everything would be fine (much better received in person than by your mother via text messages). But even with all her encouraging words, I felt like I had signed away my soul when I entered the Prometric Testing Center and was seated at one of the computers.

Three hours is a long time to sit in one spot. It’s even longer when your brain has to keep sending messages to your heart to slow down the pace before the poor girl goes into cardiac arrest. But I finished with 20 minutes to spare, even with double checking and making the best guess I could on one problem I just could not figure out dog gone it! The moment of truth. Click the submit button. Heart rate increases as I fill out a survey of my Prometric Testing Center experience. No, I don’t have any comments for improving the testing experience§§. Uh oh…next click will give the preliminary score (“successful” or “not successful”). Eyes squinting. Heart rate increases some more. “Congratulations! A preliminary analysis of your test results shows that you were successful in achieving the passing score established by the SOA/CAS/CIA for Exam P/1 (Probability).”

o_o

I passed?

O_O

I passed!

^___^

That was more than a month ago. And it was a great cause for celebration§§§. So the next step would be to find out what my score is. Which means having to wait approximately eight weeks.

A little explanation on how the scores work, since it’s not like normal standardized testing. During each testing window, the exam has a certain passmark (say 63%) where a person has to get at least that percentage of correct answers in order to pass. 63% is at least a 6 (out of a possible score of 10, but depending on the passmark, sometimes 10 is impossible to get). The higher the percentage above the passmark, the better score you get.

Okay, so I passed. Please let it be a 7 or an 8. I don’t want to have worked my butt off for the last three months† to get a mere 6. All I ask for is at least a 7. Proof that this was no fluke.

Well, the scores are officially out. And my prayers were answered. I got a 9. I’m still doing a (mental) happy dance.

I know that none of this would have been possible without divine help. I had to put in the effort to learn the material, but I got the extra help I needed. Not only during the three hours it took to take the first (of five or more) actuary exams, but also in my college courses this last semester††.

Now I can officially begin my career as an actuary. The next step is to find an internship†††, and then graduate with my degree in Applied Mathematics. I should also start studying for the next exam, Exam FM/2 (which is financial math, dealing with interest rates and such, at least what I have gathered from the few classes of the audited class I attended).

So my fellow bloggers‡, I wish you the best as summer approaches. Maybe some of your dreams or prayers will come true too.

Ciao!

~Hazuki Goldair

* Where my test was rescheduled due to a blizzard and I had to travel to another state to take the test a week later…which meant I spent most of that week not studying since I had finals coming up and major projects due as professors are wont to do at the end of every semester.

** 3 of those were audited, and I ended up not going to the class as I got so absorbed with studying for Exam P/1

*** From a computer science perspective, and much more torturous than the discrete math class I took my sophomore year

§ If you consider three hours worth of homework problems per section, along with quizzes on each reading before class, and mind-numbing torture three times a week as not being horrendous

§§ Except maybe playing classical music in the background. It wouldn’t be distracting at all. And if it is, the testing center has noise-cancelling headphones. Psh…classical music calms the soul.

§§§ I awarded myself by purchasing How to Train Your Dragon on DVD. :D

† Of serious studying

†† I somehow managed to get an A in my computer science class, despite my complete lack of studying for the final exam(s) and still somehow getting better than a 75% on both. Though acing the last project that I was tempted to turn in only half complete (before I felt guilty and finished it with an hour to spare) probably helped. Along with some extra credit.

††† Which has been proven difficult since I passed the exam so late, and most actuarial firms with internship programs already have their summer interns. I may not find something until next summer…which means I won’t be able to graduate (even though all my college course work is complete) until next summer. I sometimes curse the fact an internship or senior project is needed for my degree.

‡ People who follow this blog, invisibly stalking, or people who are randomly web surfing and upon random happenstance found this blog and actually spared a few moments to read all this hullabaloo (my hat’s off to you).

Careers in Math

Seems like I've been plagued almost everyday this semester with the fear of trying to find a job in the future. First, it was the career fair (well, a couple of them), then receiving my official score of the Exam 1/P actuary test (and being resigned to the fact that I have to retake the test), constant worry about finding an internship for next summer so I can graduate, and a professor from BYU coming to speak about different careers that involve math. Which is what this post is on.

So I was very excited when the first career this professor mentioned was actuary. And he didn't even talk about careers as math teachers (whether high school or university), though he briefly mentioned them. But these are some of the awesome careers that require math:
Actuary (booyah!)
Animator
Architect
Astronaut
Attorney
Biologist
Biostatistician
Chemical Engineer
Chemist
College Professor
Computer Scientist
Cryptanalyst
Economist
Electrical Engineer
Epidemiologist
Forensic Analyst
Geologist
Mathematical Biophysicist
Mathematical Physicist
Mechanical Engineer
National Security Analyst (NSA...supposedly more secretive than the CIA)
Physician
Political Scientist
Quantitative Financial Market Analyst
Statistician
Stockbroker

...among others. For more details about any of these, check out this awesome site.

The main thing I learned from this forum was the fact that a lot of these jobs are looking for mathematicians. For example, many companies who hire computer programmers prefer mathematicians who know how to program. Who would have guessed my computer science cluster would actually come in handy? The reason employers look for mathematicians? It's because students who have studied math have been trained to logically think through problems and come up with solutions (though at times it seems more headache than what it's worth).

All through this semester, I've discovered something about myself, with the help of all this "career talk". Speaking with my peers in the Applied Mathematics bachelor program, a lot of them enjoy delving into the theory and abstract concepts of math. I, on the other hand, hate it. So why am I in a math degree? Honestly, I had no idea I'd dislike the theoretical part as much as I do when I decided on my major. But I don't regret it either. I just choose to apply my math rather than try to understand concepts that frustrate but eventually bring a great satisfaction to the people who are willing to put up with it. It's just not for me.

Which brings me to another point. Many of these careers, especially the theory-involved ones, require more than just a bachelor's degree. Except for actuaries. But that's because actuaries get their additional training in the field (and taking the 8+ tests in order to become a Fellow of the SOA--Society of Actuaries).

And now a shameless plug about an actuarial career.



I'm off to study some more. Pray that I score better than my first test--and since it was a 5, a better score means passing! ;D Ciao!

So you want to be an actuary? Good luck.

Whoo boy! It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? My apologies. And I have no excuses whatsoever. I was just being lazy (as in too busy doing fun stuff along with important stuff to actually think about my blog). But since today is a very nervewracking day, I decided it’d be perfect to share a post. Right now, my stomach is forming tiny little knots (can’t feel them, but subconsciously I know they are there). Why, you ask? Well, even if you didn’t, I’m still gonna tell you anyways. Just cuz I can do that

Anyways, for the past couple months, I’ve been studying for this thing called Exam 1/P, an exam about probability. It’s the first test to take in order to become an actuary. Now since I get this a lot (I think only one person actually knew what I was talking about before I tried to explain it…and I’ve told 20+ people), an actuary is someone who calculates risk, usually in a business setting. For example, life insurance companies will employ actuaries to calculate how much the company should charge someone for life insurance based on gender, age, demographics, or other important key details that come from previously collected data. That’s my definition anyway. There’s different kinds of actuaries, but I have yet to figure out how they’re different.

So this test I’m taking today…I’ve heard brutal things about it. Like how it has a 40% pass rate (whether that’s overall or just for people taking the test for the first time, can’t be sure). And it’s three hours to complete 30 multiple-choice questions. Okay, so the time limit I can deal with. It’s the grade that has me nervous. Cuz it’s not like other standardized tests I’ve taken. It’s not based on how many right out of how many wrong (well, it is, but in a very difficult roundabout way) and it’s not judged against everyone else that took the same test in the same testing window (like the ACT and SAT…at least, that’s what I’ve been told).

*Several hours later*

So…yeah…just got back from taking the exam. Thought I did pretty good on it. Unfortunately the paper that gives me the preliminary pass/fail score said otherwise. Now I’ll have to wait eight weeks to get my official score. I swear, if my score is 5, I’ll be SOO mad (6 to 10 is passing, btw). Looks like I get to study even more and prepare for the exam again in November. And I was looking forward to concentrating only on Exam 2/FM and the Putnam this semester.

On that note, I now go to dig mushrooms in a corner.