<p>my dream has always been becoming an actuary, but i know that cornell does not offer actuarial science major. i know that if i major in mathematics, i can write the actuary exams, but can i be an actuary just by taking exams? what else do i have to take?</p>
<p>your reply would be greatly appreciated :)</p>
<p>It’s a rare person who has always dreamed of becoming an actuary. I though my wife was the only one.</p>
<p>Most actuaries were math majors, not specifically actuarial science. Any math-based major will do, even engineering. Anyone can take the exams regardless of major. Most actuaries start out in “student programs” at an insurance or consulting company. These student programs are somewhat misnamed, in that they’re not for “students”. They are actual entry level jobs that rotate you to different departments to gain exposure and experience in different areas of the business. Student programs also include study time for exams, and bonuses and raises for passing them. Of course, repeatedly failing exams will get you kicked off the student program. Once all exams are passed, “students” are placed in a permanent position with the company. As “students”, these people are doing the work of actuaries while they pass exams toward membership in the Society of Actuaries. </p>
<p>You can learn all the requirements at beanactuary.org.</p>
<p>I did that for 2 years right out of college. I was about to take the 5th exam, which was killing me, I then did a salary survey and decided it wasn’t for me. It was very easy for me to switch to finance, everything I learned for those exams were very applicable to pricing of various security instruments. The only difference was I didn’t have to worry about mortality rate when calculating prices. Don’t be afraid to start out as an actuary and then change if you should decide it’s not for you.</p>
<p>Agreed, I don’t know many people who has always dreamed to be an actuary. Are you good at telling jokes? (you know that joke about the difference between an actuary and an accountant)</p>
<p>a few Biometry/Statistics students go the actuarial route. I’m pretty sure there’s advising for it within the department</p>
<p>^ i was going to suggest biometry and statistics or just statistical sciences if you don’t want to be a math major</p>
<p>As long as you major in something related to math/stats/econ, you’re set. </p>
<p>The statistics major has 14 required courses, and math has 9. There are 5 courses that overlap, 4 of which can be used to fulfill requirements in both stats and math.</p>
<p>My son is planning on taking an accounting undergrad (5 yr. MS track) with extra classes in Econ and Statistics. Does this sound like a reasonable track to actuarial study?</p>
<p>There is no specific major to become an actuary. My Dad is a prominent actuary now working in pension law and he majored in math at Berkeley, though most mathematics used in the actuarial sciences is fairly basic statistics. Even so, he never took a statistics class, so just take whatever you are comfortable with, and work on the tests at the same time.</p>
<p>The program in Operations Research and management Science in the engineering college might provide a viable pathway also.</p>