MS Actuarial Science School Choices

I am really glad to announce that I was lucky enough to get accepted to Univ of Iowa, Georgia State Univ, and Univ of Nebraska for MS Actuarial Science program.

(+ Pending : Univ of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Univ of Connecticut-Storrs)

Now I have to make a decision, but I am still not sure which university can provide the best environment for job placement, internship opportunity, and learning.

I am paying out-of-state fees anyway (no funds) (only Univ of Nebraska let me pay 150% of in-state fee which is about $7500 less than out-of-state fee per year) so money is not a factor.

I tried to get an actuarial job as soon as I graduated (Statistics major), but failed due to location + only 2 actuarial exams passed + English not being my first language. (I am a US citizen, btw)

I live in California, and I found out that many insurance comapnies that hire actuaries are in Mid and East coast,

so I decided to go to the graduate school. (and pass more exams and achieve ASA in there)

But I still cannot make a decision.

I know that Georiga State University (GSU) is very famous for its actuarial science program, but I feel that not that many 'general people' (people not in this industry) recognize this university.
(Although I understand that general school ranking doesn't mean anything...still hesitated)

Univ of Iowa, and Univ of Illinois(Urbana) seem to be good choice for me in terms of school names, and the actuarial program.

But good thing about GSU is that it's in the city, so maybe easier for me to get a job after graduation, while UI and UIUC is little away from the city????

I am confused, and I really need your advice.

If you know anything about these universities, programs, or job placements (which is my biggest concern), please let me know.

Please help me decide.

========================================================

Summary:

Help me choose MS Actuarial Science School (In terms of prestigous + job placement)

UIUC vs. UI vs. GSU

Thank you very much!!!

 

Wrong board brah...

I am actually studying Actuarial Science myself and all I can say is that its a HUGE waste of time... And the skillset is so narrow as well, can't really apply stochastic life models or property and casulty insurance pricing to anything else really... unless you are pure quant i guess

 

My buddy was going to be an actuary and decided he would rather teach for america than do that shit. So basically its so bland and boring that he would rather make 40k in the asshole of nowhere than be an actuary.

That being said, if GSU is well known is the actuary world (that would be a boring ass world full of asians) then why would you care if you wanted to be an actuary? It would seem to me that everyone who your school would matter to (read: employers) would be impressed by that.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

You shouldn't do the MS at all. It really won't make you any more employable in the actuarial field and even more so as the spread between your credentials and experience widens.

2 exams is good enough to get a entry-level actuarial job and the problem doesn't seem to be your academic background. You should be networking and keep trying to get a job or even an internship if you are serious about it.

MS would be a huge waste of time and money.

 

I agree with everyone here. Actuarial Science is an area which many ppl work and study and complete exams. I DO NOT recommend going to grad school for it. do an MFE which is more useful if you do not end up being successful in Act. Sci.

 

Actuarial science and RMI is one of Georgia State's strengths and they rank highly in those areas.

I would go with either Georgia State (due to ranking) or UIUC (due to name).

Full disclosure: I am a Georgia State alumnus.

 

DO THE EXAMS.

Unemployed? Find some entry-level job in something financial and study your ass off at night.

If you are smart enough to pass the exams, and have ANY personality/business sense, you will have a great career.

********************************* “The American father is never seen in London. He passes his life entirely in Wall Street and communicates with his family once a month by means of a telegram in cipher.” - Oscar Wilde
 

I just graduated from University of Oregon with BS in Mathematics. Now I'm going to study Actuarial Science at graduate schools such as Columbia University, University of Iowa, University of Connecticut,Boston University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,Temple University. My GPA is 3.3 but my major gpa is nearly 3.6. I have passed one of the actuarial exams. I also worked as a math tutor when studying at college and have an internship experience. Do you think I'm competatitive enough to apply for these top schools?

 
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