Can I get into actuarial profession with a Music degree...

I'm surprised, lots of people rave about Shanghai. How come you hated it?

Yeah the general feedback I get is that it's great working as a westerner in Asia, they don't know how to pressure you as well as they can pressure the natives into working their arses off.

*Takes a deep inward breath anndd....*

The people are rude, the spitting is repulsive as is the hocking which occurs approximately every 3 seconds no matter where you are. The food is cheap because it's terrible, "Why yes I'd love my food fried in 2 week old fat thanks" the pollution is dangerous, their national sport appears to be car horn honking, the pick pocketing is rife and when I say rife I mean everywhere. Their nimble fingers will have away anything of value even if it's a bracelet attached to your wrist (be supremely vigilent on the metro and the stations). Chinese men generally don't appreciate you in their country because you're stealing their women. A lot of people smell, the roads are so dangerous that I genuinely let a sigh of relief everytime I successfully negotiated crossing one of them. The bigger your vehicle the more rites you have and red lights don't mean stop, they mean stop if you feel like it. People ride their motorbikes on the pavement and because they're on a bike they have rite of way over pedestrians. The climate is extreme in every direction, if it's not too hot it's too cold and if it's not too windy then it'll rain. The rain catches aforementioned pollution meaning if you get caught in a downpour you have to wash your clothes and body immediately. The police are corrupt and non-caring and the only good thing to do (party) costs so much money that you may as well live in England for it. The only plus I found was that women want you big time because every single male you'll come across will be so insanely miserable that the females respond to nothing more complicated than a friendly smile.

Jobwise, working as a teacher is good fun. It can be hard work especially if the kids decide that today is the day they want to act like clowns but most of the time they're great fun and it's made easier by the fact I enjoy messing about which is half of any lesson plan. They have Chinese teachers who teach them English and you're only really there to help with pronounciation so it's just a case of reviewing 5 words a lesson by playing games. If the kids like you, life is much more simple.

Taipei...is perfect (for me)

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 781

JohnnySPal

2

Original post by KissMyArsene

Yarp definately. I'm going to plod through them sitting one every 6 months so by the time I move back to England I should have all but CT9, CA2 and CA3 finished (assuming no fails)...and I'll be fluent in Chinese! *FLEX*

As for the marks for method, I hope so. I answered most of the questions and the long ones at the end weren't so multi-informationesque. As in having to calculate 3 different annuities with different payment lengths over different times which was pleasant to see.

You might want to check the rules on that. You can't do CA3 without CA1, for example.

Reply 782

shamika

16

I'm getting nervous - I'm hoping this is a side effect of the amount of coffee I've drank today as opposed to a reflection of my performance tomorrow.

Stupid shamika - it's only an exam!

Reply 783

Slumpy

16

Original post by shamika

I'm getting nervous - I'm hoping this is a side effect of the amount of coffee I've drank today as opposed to a reflection of my performance tomorrow.

Stupid shamika - it's only an exam!

I'm getting nervy too because it's got really dark...when did it become night at 7?!

Reply 784

KissMyArsene

Original post by shamika

I'm getting nervous - I'm hoping this is a side effect of the amount of coffee I've drank today as opposed to a reflection of my performance tomorrow.

Stupid shamika - it's only an exam!

Coffee is clever juice so you'll be fine!

Original post by JohnnySPal

You might want to check the rules on that. You can't do CA3 without CA1, for example.

I'd be doing CA1 in Taipei and CA2, CA3 CT9 on return to England and after gaining employment.

Reply 785

shamika

16

Original post by Slumpy

I'm getting nervy too because it's got really dark...when did it become night at 7?!

Lol 18:37 in London! (I know because I plan my runs to end just before sunset :tongue:

)

Bah, excuse my shameless rant to get sympathy. Happy for a lot of my friends however, who potentially have sat their last ever exam today! Woooooo!

EDIT: how rude - forgot to wish you luck! I'm sure you'll be fine. :smile:

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 786

DarkPeople

8

Just a question or two: does it take a while to understand the content of each module/is it difficult? Also, say after learning all the various methods and theory, are the questions do-able or is it still confusing?

I'm thinking of taking actuarial science at university :biggrin:

but I had a skim through some past papers for the CT exams and left confused :redface:

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 787

shamika

16

Ok seriously, why would you copy notes from somewhere without understanding what's going on, and then copy the mistakes in said notes (or worse, introduce your own mistakes?). I should stop trying to derive every formula - at least next years notes have changed apparently :-/ that's the third maths mistake I've found, fourth overall!

Stupid ST8... (I love how in another chapter they've just copied the corresponding ST7 chapter so refers to reserving rather than pricing. Great going examiners!)

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 788

KissMyArsene

Original post by DarkPeople

Just a question or two: does it take a while to understand the content of each module/is it difficult? Also, say after learning all the various methods and theory, are the questions do-able or is it still confusing?

I'm thinking of taking actuarial science at university :biggrin:

but I had a skim through some past papers for the CT exams and left confused :redface:

CT1 wasn't particularly difficult there was just lots of it. Do you enjoy maths/economics and the thought of working in finance? What were you A-level subjects and grades?

Reply 789

Jelkin

17

Original post by DarkPeople

Just a question or two: does it take a while to understand the content of each module/is it difficult? Also, say after learning all the various methods and theory, are the questions do-able or is it still confusing?

I'm thinking of taking actuarial science at university :biggrin:

but I had a skim through some past papers for the CT exams and left confused :redface:

It depends on the exam. I took two this time, and for one of them, understanding the material well was enough, plus a bit of practice to make sure you could do them in good time. For the other one, it took a lot more - I thought I understood it pretty well but when it came to questions I sometimes had no idea what was going on! Generally you need to practise a lot, but I think if you have the basic maths skills you'll be fine.

By the way, dude who took CT1, you might want to be careful - I feel like your questions make a bit of the exam material clear. If I were going to sit CT1 after the main sitting, I would make sure I revised some of the stuff you said!

Reply 790

DarkPeople

8

Original post by KissMyArsene

CT1 wasn't particularly difficult there was just lots of it. Do you enjoy maths/economics and the thought of working in finance? What were you A-level subjects and grades?

It may sound a bit cliché'd, but I find maths very enjoyable :biggrin:

I like problem solving and how it can be used to in terms of social sciences. I just finished my A levels and am currently on a gap year. Got A*AAa in Maths w/ Stats, Chemistry, Human Biology and AS Economics respectively. Dropped Eco as I wasn't too sure if I was going to be applying to a related course :s-smilie:

But my dilemma is that, do I apply to Actuarial Science or Chemical Engineering/Chemistry? - I also really enjoy the pure sciences and how things are made from raw materials and manufactured into a feasible product, but I'm not too sure about the job prospects at the end.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 791

Slumpy

16

Original post by shamika

Lol 18:37 in London! (I know because I plan my runs to end just before sunset :tongue:

)

Bah, excuse my shameless rant to get sympathy. Happy for a lot of my friends however, who potentially have sat their last ever exam today! Woooooo!

EDIT: how rude - forgot to wish you luck! I'm sure you'll be fine. :smile:

lol, thanks. I'm sure you'll be fine also!

Reply 792

DarkPeople

8

Original post by Jelkin

It depends on the exam. I took two this time, and for one of them, understanding the material well was enough, plus a bit of practice to make sure you could do them in good time. For the other one, it took a lot more - I thought I understood it pretty well but when it came to questions I sometimes had no idea what was going on! Generally you need to practise a lot, but I think if you have the basic maths skills you'll be fine.

By the way, dude who took CT1, you might want to be careful - I feel like your questions make a bit of the exam material clear. If I were going to sit CT1 after the main sitting, I would make sure I revised some of the stuff you said!

Thanks for the reply :smile:

Hope it went well! How early did you start your preparations/revision? I've been reading few posts/threads on TSR, it seems that the exams are extremely hard, especially when you're working as well. Do you get time to do other stuff e.g. going out/having a break/socialising etc?

Are you currently working as a trainee actuary? If so, how's the work like/is it intensive?

Reply 793

KissMyArsene

Original post by Jelkin

By the way, dude who took CT1, you might want to be careful - I feel like your questions make a bit of the exam material clear. If I were going to sit CT1 after the main sitting, I would make sure I revised some of the stuff you said!

Dang, good point I've deleted it. Maybe a mod can delete the quoted post below the one I have deleted?

Original post by DarkPeople

It may sound a bit cliché'd, but I find maths very enjoyable :biggrin:

I like problem solving and how it can be used to in terms of social sciences. I just finished my A levels and am currently on a gap year. Got A*AAa in Maths w/ Stats, Chemistry, Human Biology and AS Economics respectively. Dropped Eco as I wasn't too sure if I was going to be applying to a related course :s-smilie:

But my dilemma is that, do I apply to Actuarial Science or Chemical Engineering/Chemistry? - I also really enjoy the pure sciences and how things are made from raw materials and manufactured into a feasible product, but I'm not too sure about the job prospects at the end.

I've no experience with the content in the later exams but by the sounds of it you'll be fine if you did choose Actuarial science.

Reply 794

JohnnySPal

2

Original post by KissMyArsene

Coffee is clever juice so yoyu'll be fine!

I'd be doing CA1 in Taipei and CA2, CA3 CT9 on return to England and after gaining employment.

Sorry, that was a terrible example. You might not be able to do an ST or SA without completing all the core subjects. You're probably fine - I really don't know all the rules myself - but it'd be worth checking.

I've never seen the appeal of coffee. Tried it once or twice... Bleh. Unlike red wine, I have no intention of breaking through the taste barrier where it starts to become SO GOOD.

Reply 795

JohnnySPal

2

Original post by DarkPeople

Are you currently working as a trainee actuary? If so, how's the work like/is it intensive?

Haaa, this thread has now come full circle! The arts student (albeit not OP) got an actuarial role and is now handing advice out in this thread! Love it.

Reply 796

shamika

16

Original post by JohnnySPal

Sorry, that was a terrible example. You might not be able to do an ST or SA without completing all the core subjects. You're probably fine - I really don't know all the rules myself - but it'd be worth checking.

CT9 you need an employer to sign off (pointless, I know). CA2 you need to have done all the CTs, I think including CT9. CA3 you need to have passed all the CTs and CA1

I've never seen the appeal of coffee. Tried it once or twice... Bleh. Unlike red wine, I have no intention of breaking through the taste barrier where it starts to become SO GOOD.

I don't drink (alcohol), but you be crazy! :tongue:

Actually don't drink coffee - it's definitely made me super jittery this evening. Should be revising but instead am procrastinating, and being very unfocused. Oh well!

Original post by KissMyArsene

Coffee is clever juice so you'll be fine!

I'd be doing CA1 in Taipei and CA2, CA3 CT9 on return to England and after gaining employment.

just quoted so you see this, in case you can't be bothered to check yourself on the institute's website. Should be able to take STs and SAs whenever you want