So, one of the pretty guys from san fran is an actuary. Making beaucoup dollars to do something that I figure I could probably do fairly easily and make alot of money. And if it’s anything like the entry tests, I think I could enjoy it quite a bit. Plus, the guy said it’s a fairly social job.
So, as I see it, there are only a couple problems with this plan. One, it doesn’t really advance the causes I believe in outside my own wallet. Two, it would be work for the benefit of the insurance industry, which pretty much rapes most consumers. Bleh.
haha….social??….i am interning this summer in the actuarial department at liberty mutual’s home office in boston, and i can say without a doubt that is the absolute LEAST social environment i have ever been in….i have never met so many socially dysfunctional people in my life….if i hear somebody say something even remotely funny and smile i am astounded….my overall impression of actuaries and the actuarial field in general??—boring….but i HAVE seen them try to be social (e.g. organizing an after work get-together for drinks on a thursday or something….if you want a stable job with excellent financial benefits but do not care about the social aspect of the work environment, it is definitely a great field…..the exam process is not as simple as cramming for cmu exam for a week–after the first 2 or 3, they take months to prepare for simply because of the huge amount of material that could potentially be covered…..the first 2 or 3 will simply be a review of the calc, stat, microecon, and finance that you had in college with some other things like interest theory thrown in….but i must admit that i too am slightly considering delving into the exam process and seeing where i go
exam…
Okay, so I’ve seen the sample exams, and the exams for previous years. I’m told that the cutoff is around 65%. I am really good with standardized tests, and pretty good with math in general. I think I could make 80% without breaking a sweat, and 100% if I studied.
We’ll see what happens =)
insurance industry
In many industries, including the insurance industry, there are a few non-profit or co-op organizations that you could work for without sacrificing too many of your ideals. There are probably openings for statisticians in government and university settings as well.
Re: insurance industry
Well, it’s not really what I’d want to do long term, but then again, I guess ‘long term’ is completely relative =) I view it as a job that could get me by comfortably in the bay area for a year or two =)
Re: insurance industry
Is there anything you’d want to do long term for which you are currently qualified?
Good point
Not really. Of course, is there anything I think I want to do long term at this point. Not really. I want something that will reach out and grab me in such a way that I really want to stay. But then again, don’t we all? =)
Re: Good point
Must be simpler for non-human animals, eh? For some reason we humans convince ourselves that it isn’t enough to perform generic labor for personal survival, we want some broader impact, some deeper meaning.
Re: Good point
Simpler isn’t necessarily better. And I might point out that not even all humans experience a struggle for meaning. To some it flows naturally, seeming as irrelevant as air, and some never even bother trying.
I’m more than willing to slog through alot of boring tedium for the carrot of those moments of clarity.
Re: Good point
Complicated isn’t necessarily better either 😉
Watching your struggle for meaning is having a weird effect on me …
Re: Good point
Complicated isn’t necessarily better either 😉
Amen to that. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of finding the square tab instead of trying to cram a circular one in.
Watching your struggle for meaning is having a weird effect on me …
Elaborate? =)
Re: Good point
It is difficult to elaborate. Most importantly, I want to put you at ease, and see you smile.
if you thought techgeeks were anti-social….
I have to concur with…my impression is that actuarial science is pretty dull. My friend Geoff (whom you met on your visit here; he’s the thinner of the Scrabble hosts) is an actuary, and even he cautions that it’s not exactly an exciting field of work. It is a steady job though, and if it’s something you think you would be good at, it’s worth considering. Like Geoff, you’ll just end up as one of the few actuaries with a social life outside of work.