I know I personally made the right decision to transition out of the actuarial career into audit analytics, but sometimes I can't help but wonder what if I was happier studying for exams? What if I was better at studying? At the end of the day, exams played a huge role in my change of heart - immediately after my third and last sitting of Exam S, I started looking for other opportunities.
The last few months have been strange and refreshing at the same time. This is the first time in over two years that I wasn't sitting for a CAS exam during this time. I was able to spend some quality time binge watching a few shows on Netflix without worrying about whether or not I was on track for studying. I was able to randomly decide to go for a walk whenever the weather was nice without having a set time or destination. I've been able to go out to happy hours. The list goes on.
At the same time, thinking back over the last few years, I can't remember anything I did that made me prouder or gave me the same satisfaction that passing an actuarial exam did. On more than one occasion, I remember holding back tears of joy as I was sitting at Prometric going through the check-out process after the exam. And I have to say that's the one thing I do miss about the exams - that rewarding feeling at the end, knowing that all of the hard work and sacrifices paid off.
Words of Wisdom
Regardless of how your next exam sitting goes, it should be a time of reflection. Actuarial exams are a process and sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in the process instead of taking on each exam individually.
If you pass your last preliminary exam or pass an exam granting you the ACAS/ASA designation, consider taking an exam sitting off. Enjoy the years of hard work you've put in and allow yourself a chance to recharge. "Bottle up" that feeling you have when you find out you pass and use that to keep you moving forward.
If you don't pass your next exam, take some time to reflect on it. Was it the first time you failed the exam? Have you sat for it multiple times without passing? There are different reasons for failing and it's important to figure out why you're failing. If it's your study habits, there are solutions for that (read below for more info!). If you aren't enjoying the material, making it hard for you to retain the information, you'll need to find a way to make it interesting. Or maybe you've reached the point that deep down you don't care anymore, but you don't want to quite because you're "too invested".
If you take on each exam individually, you're never too invested and there's always time to reflect and change your future path. Failing an exam isn't an end all be all - it's a chance to look inside yourself and potentially make a change that will lead to passing your next exam or finding new opportunities outside of actuarial work. It's a win-win!
If you pass your last preliminary exam or pass an exam granting you the ACAS/ASA designation, consider taking an exam sitting off. Enjoy the years of hard work you've put in and allow yourself a chance to recharge. "Bottle up" that feeling you have when you find out you pass and use that to keep you moving forward.
If you don't pass your next exam, take some time to reflect on it. Was it the first time you failed the exam? Have you sat for it multiple times without passing? There are different reasons for failing and it's important to figure out why you're failing. If it's your study habits, there are solutions for that (read below for more info!). If you aren't enjoying the material, making it hard for you to retain the information, you'll need to find a way to make it interesting. Or maybe you've reached the point that deep down you don't care anymore, but you don't want to quite because you're "too invested".
If you take on each exam individually, you're never too invested and there's always time to reflect and change your future path. Failing an exam isn't an end all be all - it's a chance to look inside yourself and potentially make a change that will lead to passing your next exam or finding new opportunities outside of actuarial work. It's a win-win!
New Actuarial Book!
Back when I was studying for exams, I spent way too much time googling effective ways to study for and pass actuarial exams. I never really found anything too useful. This May, Actuarial Exam Tactics: Learn More, Study Less is being released by two young actuaries from Drake University. Both Roy Ju, FSA and Mike Jennings, ASA are younger than 25 and have a lot of great tips to share. Roy became the youngest person to ever receive the FSA designation in 2015 at the age of 20, so he definitely has a lot to share on how to study efficiently to pass more and fail less!
If you're not interested in the book, you may want to take a study break to read some articles written by these guys and learn why Roy swears by a meal of pancakes and cereal the night before an exam!!
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!
Whether you pass your upcoming exam or fall short, make sure to reserve a copy of their book - it's bound to give you some great advice for future exams! There is also a book giveaway and contest surrounding this book release! Enter for a chance to win a free copy of Actuarial Exam Tactics: Learn More, Study Less, an ACTEX Study Manual and Flashcards for an exam of your choice, or an ACTEXeLearning Webinar. The giveaway ends May 15th and winners will be announced May 16th.
If you're not interested in the book, you may want to take a study break to read some articles written by these guys and learn why Roy swears by a meal of pancakes and cereal the night before an exam!!
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!
Whether you pass your upcoming exam or fall short, make sure to reserve a copy of their book - it's bound to give you some great advice for future exams! There is also a book giveaway and contest surrounding this book release! Enter for a chance to win a free copy of Actuarial Exam Tactics: Learn More, Study Less, an ACTEX Study Manual and Flashcards for an exam of your choice, or an ACTEXeLearning Webinar. The giveaway ends May 15th and winners will be announced May 16th.
Good luck on your exams! Stay tuned for next month's post on Data Visualization!
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