<p>I currently attend UC Davis, and thinking about transferring to UCLA for the Financial Actuarial Mathematics major. Is this a highly impacted major? I see that it's a new major that split from the Mathematics/Applied Science major at UCLA, therefore there aren't any stats for me to look up. What GPA do you think I will have to maintain?</p>
<p>Also, when transferring to another UC, do high school grades and SAT scores matter? Do we have to submit them?</p>
<p>Finally, when should all the prereqs for the major be completed by? The spring quarter before one enrolls, or the fall quarter when one applies for a transfer?</p>
<p>No, it isn’t impacted, probably because it’s so difficult, lol. It deals with actuarial science for God’s sake. :P</p>
<p>If I had to guess, I’d say the average admitted gpa for that major will be similar to that of applied math, which was 3.64 last year. </p>
<p>High school and SAT grades don’t matter if you’re applying as a junior applicant, i.e. someone who intends to complete 60 or more units before transferring. </p>
<p>All pre-reqs should be completed by spring. UCLA will probably not be so strict about completing every single pre-req by the end of fall for majors that are not impacted. Still, at the very least, I’d try and complete most of them by the end of fall and definitely all of them by the end of spring.</p>
<p>My image of an actuary is a clean cut business type with excellent people/rhetorical skills who also happens to be really smart and logical. Like the guy in that movie Margin Call, although I know they weren’t actuaries in that movie. </p>
<p>Anyway, this is my major if I get into UCLA, and it’s still my major (actuarial science) if I go to UCSB. I’m actually also taking exam P on Jan 10th, I hope I pass. I basically spent my extra time learning probability (and a ****load of other stuff – problem solving, magic, conversation…) so I think I’ll be well-prepared to transfer. </p>
<p>Honestly, I think people skills are about as important as math skills, and the SOA backs this up with “professionalism” requirements. Personally, I’m making 30$/hr tutoring middle schoolers and 9$/hr tutoring as a job. In each situation, my people skills, my ability to help people take an interest in logical and critical thinking and to help them solve their own problems was really my only function. If they complained of memory problems, I talked about memory systems (I recommend The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne). Of course, sometimes people asked me to leave or for another tutor. Usually it was the result of my not knowing where that person was emotionally, and meeting them with the wrong amount of energy. Others it was because I was unduly insistent. Anyway, learning to work with people in a logical and mathematical context is an actuary skill!</p>
<p>To those of you who want to be actuaries, I have a question or two:</p>
<p>Since being an actuary essentially requires mastery of math, have you guys considered just majoring in regular old mathematics or maybe physics? Does majoring in actuarial science actually increase your chances of passing your exams and becoming an actuary? Just curious.</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard, your major doesn’t matter too much for becoming an actuary, as long as it is quantitative in nature. In fact, many people who major in math and self-study exams like to affect a superior personality, and suggest that one should not go to school for a job. </p>
<p>I applied for it since I had the accounting prereqs done with As but if I do get in I’m going to switch anyways.</p>
<p>I talked to a UCLA counselor that came to my school and she said they don’t know who’d they take but I’d assume the acceptance rate will be pretty good.</p>
<p>I just completed my freshman fall quarter with a 3.7 GPA, but thats only because I took easy classes. I am hoping I can still maintain that GPA when I get into the advanced courses!</p>
<p>EDIT: Does UCLA look at the grades for the Winter and Spring quarter after you apply, or do they only calculate your GPA based on the 3 quarters from freshman year and the fall quarter grade from sophomore year?</p>
<p>They don’t count spring grades. They may count winter grades if you can submit them before the deadline, but most people can’t because their winter classes end after the update deadline.</p>
<p>UCLA probably has the best actuarial programs in the nation, It was one of the best kept secrets at UCLA but now that they now have their own major within the math department I expect it to get harder to get admitted in years to come. </p>
<p>What makes UCLA acturial program so great is that you they prepare you for the first 3/4 exams before you get your undergraduate degree. Most programs around California offer actuarys (CSUN, ext) are offered for Master degrees, so you need to your bachelors before you attempt the test.</p>
<p>To disagree with Sega, I think the whole point of going to school is to train for a job. I am a Math/Econ major choose this major because I want to get into banking. Too many of my peers at UCLA major in North Campus majors (humanities: english, ethnics studies, world arts and cultures, gender studies etc…) and they complain why they can’t get jobs after graduation… Seriously??? Give me a Break!!!</p>