<p>I just came back from my college orientation for freshman yesterday and I registered for my classes while I was there.</p>
<p>I spoke with a math professor about actuarial studies and she told me which classes would be most beneficial if I wanted to be prepared to take Exam P or M next spring. There is going to be a prep class in the spring and I would need to take certain classes now in order to be prepared for late srping. I may be rambling on, but the bottom line is that my schedule is now filled with math courses.</p>
<p>I wanted to learn Mandarin, but that doesn’t seem possible anymore. The professor told me that studying for an actuarial exam takes up all your time and you really need to put a lot of effort into studying if you want to pass. </p>
<p>The thing is that I don’t even know if I’m capable of being an actuary. It’s incredibly difficult and I don’t have great study habits. My parents wanted me to study abroad during my college years, but I don’t even feel like it would be worth so much if I didn’t go somewhere to improve a language.</p>
<p>I don’t know what I should do. They say that you don’t have to really commit to anything until your junior year, but this seems to be such a crucial decision right now.</p>
<p>I CAN change my schedule… I have until august… I just don’t know what to do. It seems to me that academic advisers don’t really have an accurate picture of what it’s like for a new freshman entering college because mine was of no help to me.</p>
<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>They don’t have an accurate picture because you have to be decisive and commit. It’s an easy decision, if you want to be an actuary then take the exam and pass it. You don’t quit just because “its incredibly difficult and you don’t have great study habits”. That kind of attitude won’t get you anywhere in life. Also studying abroad is definitely not necessary.</p>
<p>Actually, being the person who has to make the decision, I can tell you right now that it definitely is NOT an easy decision. I still don’t know whether I want to be an actuary or not.</p>
<p>The simple fact is that not everyone in the world has the intelligence necessary to be an actuary. I can’t just decide that I want to be a professional baseball player and then expect it to happen. I may never be good enough, no matter how hard I try. I may not be the most confident right now, but I’m being realistic.</p>
<p>Studying abroad may not be necessary, but it’s something I wanted to do.</p>
<p>BTW, I just got 5s on both my AP Calculus and AP Statistics exams so I’m not as doubtful of my abilities. I just need guidance.</p>
<p>^ Maybe you could spend time discussing this with your advisor or counsellor (with your new grades) instead of some blog . Im sure they’d be better equiped to handle you situation.
I dont think you should listen to doggie. It’ll just make you feel bad. Discuss this with your advisor!</p>
<p>Nah, I’ve read enough of Dawgie’s posts to know that he never has anything nice to say. While I appreciate his advice, there are less blunt ways to say things.</p>
<p>And I’ve recently begun posting on an actuarial board. Thanks for the advice guys.</p>