<p>I have had this job with a local business for a while now, and the owner and I talk frequently. Recently, he asked me what i wanted to major in. I told him something pertaining to math and/or science. He suggested to look into becoming an actuary. I have looked on recent threads and on the internet, and it seems very interesting. I think i would do very well, since I get high marks(95+) in calculus right now, and i rarely, rarely study. I am a junior in high school, if you were wondering. I just have some questions about it:</p>
<p>1) How is the social life for this major(in college)? </p>
<p>2) What colleges have good programs and the best career potential? Also, would SUNY-Binghamton be a good choice (I can get in there for almost free)? </p>
<p>3) When in the work force, does an average actuary stay in a cubical all day or can he/she be socially active on the job?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Social life is pretty good. It’s pretty easy the 1st 2 years, but the last 2 years have a couple tough classes. Overall, the major is easier and less intense than engineering, computer science, math, physics for example. If you take the designated classes for the 1st few actuarial exams before you take the exam, passing those exams should be easy.</p></li>
<li><p>Penn State’s actuarial science program under the Smeal business school is EXCELLENT. It’s actually the largest act. sci. program of any school in America (in terms of # of students). The recruiting activity by insurance companies here is off the charts. Getting a job (as well as internship) isn’t a problem. My act. sci. advisor said that EVERY graduating student who passed at least the 1st exam found a job last summer (and this was during a bad recession). Starting salaries range from 60k-75k (75k being in NYC). Plus, Penn State is the #1 party school, so you will have fun as well</p></li>
<li><p>Yes, actuaries are socially active on the job. They don’t just sit in a cubicle.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I don’t know of any official ranking of actuarial science programs, but it’s a field where passing your tests matters more than where you learned how to pass them. Just try to see if you can find the pass rate of the school you are looking at to evaluate its actuarial science program. The average pass rate for each part of the exam is about 60%, so I would imagine any good actuarial science program placed everyone who passed last year.</p>
<p>Here is a list of universities that offer actuarial science degrees and classes that cover material on the tests: [Actuarial</a> Science Schools - Colleges and Universities Directory - Actuary Schools and Actuarial Colleges and Universities for Actuarial Education in Actuarial Directory](<a href=“http://www.actuary.com/actuarial-science-schools/]Actuarial”>http://www.actuary.com/actuarial-science-schools/)
Make sure the school you attend has “yes” in all three columns.</p>
<p>EDIT: If you click on the names of the schools in that list I linked, you can see the number of students who received actuarial science degrees at each university as well as the number who passed exams, though that figure isn’t so helpful because it doesn’t say anything about what percentage of the tests the students took were passed.</p>
<p>Actuary always shows up on the Top 10 list of careers. Here is a website that you should check out, as it will answer your questions about job opportunities and salaries, education/training requirements, etc.</p>
<p>[Be</a> An Actuary](<a href=“http://www.beanactuary.com/]Be”>http://www.beanactuary.com/) </p>
<p>SUNY-Binghamton would be a good choice for you – especially for the low price! The math department there offers a BA in math with an actuarial science track that will give you the background you need for the first few actuarial exams. (The website I gave you also has a list of all colleges offering undergraduate and graduate degrees specifically in Actuarial Science. However many people enter the field with degrees in math, finance, etc. and are quite successful.</p>
<p>You may want to check out ActuarialOutpost, although like all forums they tend to attract a certain number of bitter and resentful individuals, so don’t get discouraged.</p>
<p>You don’t have to major in act. sci to become an actuary, although it certainly doesn’t hurt. You just need the prereqs for the actuarial exams (some math, stats, econ, etc.). Many schools offer an act. sci concentration within a math major. Check out the lists at [Actuarial</a> College Listings - Academic Relations](<a href=“http://www.soa.org/education/resources/actuarial-colleges/actuarial-college-listings-details.aspx]Actuarial”>Universities & Colleges with Actuarial Programs (UCAP) | SOA)</p>