Hi,
I’m currently a business management major, with a concentration in accounting.
I was considering minor in math, but i am not sure if it is worth it?
i was thinking to be an accountant or actuary.
can i be an actuary with business major?
and what classes should i take for math minor to become an actuary?
Fortunately, for actuaries, you only need to pass the series of exams to continue being an actuary.
In other words, as long as you have any 4 year diploma (college degree), you can become an actuary as long as you have an internship or two (usually after 2-3 exams) during college.
Note: Apparently it’s getting more competitive to get internships in actuarial field. That said, my friends had absolutely no problems so I’m guessing… just don’t screw your GPA and be active.
That said, it seems actuaries advise majoring in anything BUT actuarial science if your goal is actuary (that said, 3 of my friends who majored in actuarial science all had no trouble with internships so… ehh)
Many actuaries seem to universally agree that majoring in something like mathematics (preferably pure) looks much “nicer” on your starting internship. <my father="" works="" around="" lots="" of="" them="" so="" ya,="" i="" think="" my="" source="" isn’t="" off="" ^^="">
Anyways, (skipping to your question), yes you can become an actuary with business major (in fact, any major).
However, to become an actuary, you kind of need to have some knowledge of like a minor in mathematics since the exams have some basic mathematics.
for math:
calculus 1 2 3
linear algebra
Probability and statistics (using calculus)
stochastic process if you can…
<except for="" stochastic="" process,="" if="" you="" are="" pretty="" far="" in="" math,="" can="" finish="" calc="" 1="" 2="" 3,="" linear="" algebra,="" probability="" stats="" the="" first="" semester="" or="" two.="" and="" even="" before="" college="" had="" advantage="" of="" studying="" while="" high="" school.="">
Ya… 
Well, just note that if you want to be an actuary then i ask you, are you willing to suffer through the series of 9 exams?
If you can and have a good mathematical mindset (the more pure math mindset with thoughts on being practical), then actuary might be the best profession to have. They get paid well and trust me, all the actuaries my father have met told him that they love the pay and the benefits. That said, not just anyone can be an actuary.
It’s one of the hardest professions in terms of study hours (exams). (if you are math oriented, go be an actuary.)
PS. Seeing this post makes me wonder why I’m not becoming an actuary when I’m stupidly good at math compared to most people. Oh well … I was turned off by the fact that the career didn’t require the higher math when it touts as a career for math oriented majors
and oh yes, I recommended pure math oriented more because for the exams, you really have to have some dedication towards studying the exams on your free time. Higher honors pure math is very very very good at this as the courses necessitate lots of dedication. However, I don’t really know much about applied math so … maybe in average they spend just as much hours if not more?
i am on my second year of college and my schedule is almost full of business classes.but i only can start taking calc I during this coming up spring semester.when do you think i should be taking the first exam?
ideally? 2 exams by end of second year (third year at latest) -I am saying this due to the competitiveness of getting internship in actuary- (you WILL want 2-3 exams for an internship)
and if you are starting calc 1 from spring of second year, then I wish not be rude but please reconsider as most likely, you won’t have the mathematical aptitude to become a full actuary.
Actuary is one of the toughest fields and requires you to be extremely profficient at number crunching calculus based mathematics.
you will be competing with math majors for the same job and the exam pass rates are no joke after the first four.
you will study just as much if not more than a phd by the end of your 9 exams and it is extrenely hard if your math isn’t up to par.
dont take this badly
it is just that to be an actuary, you should be extremely proficient in mathematics and you claiming not to have even taken calc 1 in your second year implies that you are most likely not cut out for the field.
Many good actuaries tend to start from calc 3 first semester (if not higher) and then spend over 300 to 500 hours per exam outside classes/internships/work
Is your math extremely comptetitive? Are you willing to dedicate at least 3000 hours of your life studying for exams on your free time the first 8 years?
Most business majors from my experience cannot fathom such studying. I am sorry but I truly recommend you not to go an actuarial route if you are going to start calc 1 by end of sophomore year.