RATE MY CHANCES--Actuarial Sciences

[Harp916]

Hello Everyone!

This a rate my chances type of thing, so let me give you a little information about me.

I graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2007, with a non-quantitative degree in Economics. At the time of graduation I had a GPA of 2.57

After CSUF, I became a Math Instructor at a public charter school for two years.

I have now switched directions and want to get into an Actuarial Science/ Statistics program.

While in undergrad years I took the following math courses:

Business Calculus- B+

Intro to probability and Statistics-A

Economics Research Methods- A+

Since 2009, I have taken the following pre-requisite courses to prepare for graduate studies:

Trigonometry- A

Calculus 1- A

Calculus 2- A

Elementary Statistics- A

Multivariate Calculus- B+

Linear Algebra- C+

Probability Theory- C+

Regression Analysis- B

Analysis of Variance- B+

Differential Equations- B

I have also taken the GRE:

V-440, 46%ile

Q-770, 87%ile

Writing 4.0, 45%ile

I have a killer personal statement, if you wish to read it send me a private message and I can email it to you.

I also have some good recommendations from my professors.

I also plan on taking the March administration of the SOA Exam P

Here are my choices, in order ( I have submitted applications to all of them)

1) Georgia State University (Dual Masters program- Actuarial Science and Mathematical Risk Management)

2) Illinois State University, Actuarial Science Program

3) University of Iowa (only applying because they offered me a fee waiver), Actuarial Science Program

4) Cal State East Bay, Actuarial Science Program

5) San Diego State University, Statistics Program

6) RPI- Financial Engineering and Risk Analytics (only applying because they offered me a fee waiver)

7) University of Chicago (very,very,very much a long-shot but I was offered a fee waiver)

If you think I can't get into any of these school, please tell me why!

Also, if you know of some other more-than-half-way-decent program that might accept me, please tell me!

Thanks!!

[waddle]

It's not so much of a will-I-get-in kind of thing as much as a do-I-make-the-cutoff situation, in your case. Have you checked the minimum requirements for GPA at these programs? I believe most CSU graduate programs require a 2.75 minimum--correct me if I'm wrong.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but C+'s on your postbac coursework? That's not going to go down well with admissions committees ...

Nonetheless, good luck!

waddle

P.S. I am not familiar with stats/actuarial sciences, but I'm assuming the game of admission here is similar to those of other masters programs I've seen.

[Harp916]

I guess my hope is that the grad committee will forgive my past mistakes and look at my quantitative ability. it may not be the best out there, but i do have something to offer

My GPA in math related courses is about 3.37, and GPA in the last 60 units attempted (which includes post-bac work) is around 3.2

Does this factor in to making the cut-off?

It's not so much of a will-I-get-in kind of thing as much as a do-I-make-the-cutoff situation, in your case. Have you checked the minimum requirements for GPA at these programs? I believe most CSU graduate programs require a 2.75 minimum--correct me if I'm wrong.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but C+'s on your postbac coursework? That's not going to go down well with admissions committees ...

Nonetheless, good luck!

waddle

P.S. I am not familiar with stats/actuarial sciences, but I'm assuming the game of admission here is similar to those of other masters programs I've seen.

[waddle]

I guess my hope is that the grad committee will forgive my past mistakes and look at my quantitative ability. it may not be the best out there, but i do have something to offer

My GPA in math related courses is about 3.37, and GPA in the last 60 units attempted (which includes post-bac work) is around 3.2

Does this factor in to making the cut-off?

I honestly don't know. It's just that so many things in the CSU are built around making this cutoff or that cutoff; everything's hard and fast. Doing a postbac program likely helps--often it's the stepping stone to a masters, and considering your postbac grades are better than your undergrad, it might be taken into account. I have a feeling this is especially true if you are applying to the masters program at the school where you did your postbac work.

I also think that if you do have some work experience in the area, then you can show you're serious about this, and that you can apply the concepts, even if your transcript is spotty. (My impression is that these sorts of programs are more professionally-focused, rather than research-based (am I correct?).)

Edited January 8, 2011 by waddle

[giantpanda]

This a rate my chances type of thing

You are the actuarial student. This is your job.

Trigonometry- A

Calculus 1- A

Calculus 2- A

Elementary Statistics- A

Multivariate Calculus- B+

Linear Algebra- C+

Probability Theory- C+

Regression Analysis- B

Analysis of Variance- B+

Differential Equations- B

I guess my hope is that the grad committee will forgive my past mistakes and look at my quantitative ability.

This is only my interpretation:

Those grades (from 2009 and on), are not "past mistakes." They are recent. Yes, you received B's in some advanced courses, but the grades seem to go from A's to B's and C's as the courses get harder. Is there a particular reason you got C's in Linear and Probability? You are trying to study Actuarial Science - probability is sort of the foundation. Have you taken a theory of stats. course yet? Also, scoring a 770Q means less if you aren't carrying that aptitude over into coursework. And you were a math teacher? It says to me that you should be doing better in coursework. If you are still taking some classes, it would look good to show some recent A's in tough classes.

Personally, I think there is more potential in you with a 770Q. You'll have many more opportunities to demonstrate superior ability. Take advantage and keep passing the professionl actuarial exams. Keep working hard. Hope you pass your exam with a high score (don't know if you can put your score on your resume or grad app). Good luck.

Edited January 8, 2011 by giantpanda

[Harp916]

You are the actuarial student. This is your job.

This is only my interpretation:

Those grades (from 2009 and on), are not "past mistakes." They are recent. Yes, you received B's in some advanced courses, but the grades seem to go from A's to B's and C's as the courses get harder. Is there a particular reason you got C's in Linear and Probability? You are trying to study Actuarial Science - probability is sort of the foundation. Have you taken a theory of stats. course yet? Also, scoring a 770Q means less if you aren't carrying that aptitude over into coursework. And you were a math teacher? It says to me that you should be doing better in coursework. If you are still taking some classes, it would look good to show some recent A's in tough classes.

Personally, I think there is more potential in you with a 770Q. You'll have many more opportunities to demonstrate superior ability. Take advantage and keep passing the professionl actuarial exams. Keep working hard. Hope you pass your exam with a high score (don't know if you can put your score on your resume or grad app). Good luck.

Thanks for the insight! I really appreciate it.

I am currently enrolled in a Mathematical Statistics course.

As for my grades in Linear Algebra and Probability Theory, I can only provide excuses. I took Linear in a summer school session, while working full-time. We had class from Monday-Thurs, and had an exam every Thursday ( 5 week course). Each exam was equally weighted and I managed to epically fail on one exam, and get below average on another exam.

As for probability theory, I really screwed up on exam. About 30 minutes before the exam, I found out one of my friends died the night before. That left me in a bad mental state.

I've been working towards this goal for the past year and half, and I have all my eggs in this basket. It HAS to workout, I'm giving myself no other option but to succeed.

[koyel]

hello,

firstly new year wishes to you all.my name is koyel banerjee and i hail from west-bengal,india.currently i'm a 8th semester electronics and communications student from the west-bengal university of technology. i am vehemently interested to pursue my phd after my btech.as a student i have a knack towards research oriented career and pursuits and have been actively participating in project works under dr.s.n.omkar in IISC,BANGALORE and dr.neelima satyam IN IIIT HYDERABAD,both of which are image processing related works.In iisc i have been working on expectation maximization algorithm to help detect landcover changes in multi temporal and multiresolution images and in iiit hyderabad i have done an earthquake loss estimation using pre and post satellite imageries mainly using eradas,arcgis and matlab.the duration of my project works were arund 45 days in both cases.also i have done a certification course under ISRO related to remote sensing gps and gis.hence to righteously state that i am interested in signal processing and image processing related works and would like to take up the same for my phd. my current academics are like xth stnd I.C.S.E BOARD with 91.33% and xiith stnd from C.B.S.E with 87.5 % and my current cgpa in college is 8.155/10.

i would be very happy if you would guide me.currently after my btech i am planning to take up my prof. dr.s.n.omkar's offer to 1 year research assistantship in iisc and am scheduled to write my gre general test on 4th of april.i would be applying for fall 2012.the universities of my choice involves:

1.university of illinois,urbana

2.princeton university

3.purdue university

4.penn-state university

5.arizona state university

6.florida university

i would like an assesment of my chances into getting into each of the university and any other advices are always welcome.

thanks and regards,

koyel banerjee

west-bengal

india

[Harp916]

Just an update...

So far I have heard back from two Universities:

University of Iowa- Rejected

San Diego State University- Accepted

[Harp916]

another update, I just got accepted to Illinois State's Master of Actuarial Science Program.

[abcdef]

Harp916,

did you get any funding from any of the universities that have accepted you?

[jorgeqb]

another update, I just got accepted to Illinois State's Master of Actuarial Science Program.

Congrats Harp916! =)

Did you receive all your responses?

Where are you going now and why?

[Harp916]

Sorry for the super late response!

I have applied for five graduate assistant positions, and the decisions are yet to be made on those. I was not offered a financial aid package up front, unfortunately.

I was also accepted into the CSU EB program, I was rejected from Georgia State University. I decided against RPI and University of Chicago, so I did not apply there.

I made my decision, and I will be attending Illinois State University this fall! I picked that program because it is a great actuarial science program and I have an opportunity to work with some of the best actuarial faculty!