Hello guys, first post here. I usually just lurk and research any questions I have, but my situation is so specific that I felt the need to make an account to get some relevant advice. I really love the prospects of becoming an actuary, and I know I'm smart enough to do it with the right amount of dedication and resources.
Basically, I plan on applying for a 2017 summer internship, so I realize I need to apply this upcoming fall. Even though I'm 22, I am graduating late due to financial reasons and switching my major a few times. I have some concerns that have me worried that I don't have a real shot at getting an interview.
1) I have been to 3 different schools total. On my resume do I list my GPA for all 3 schools or just the current one? My current one I've only taken a couple classes so I have a 4.0. The second school I've taken three classes (all relevant to my finance major) and they average out to 3.3. In addition, most of the classes I took at my first school seem irrelevant to my finance major for becoming an actuary -- mostly general education classes, macroeconomics, a programming class, and some basic college algebra. Should I even list that school's GPA? It would be a 3.1.
2) I have not passed any exams yet. I plan on taking Exam FM and passing it before I apply for internships this fall. It seems doable based off the research I've done (I will be using ASM and ADAPT). However, I have not taken anything past pre-calculus and intro to stats. I realize that seems absurd, so I plan on figuring out a way to take a few calculus courses in the future before I study for Exam P. Would I really need more than 2 or 3 extra semesters of calculus? Or could I teach myself with ASM and ADAPT everything else?
The problem is that all my time will be focused on the FM exam (plus my normal college classes) that I won't have enough time to take those extra calculus courses and study for Exam P before I apply this fall.
3) Lastly, I have about a year and a half worth total of part-time job working experience encompassing three different jobs (two at ice cream shops and one at a school with kids). Unfortunately, the only extracurricular activities I have are from high school -- nothing from college. I don't know if I'd be able to join any before I apply this fall due to my circumstances, so I am not counting on that to happen.
So am I worrying for nothing at this point or is my worrying completely valid?
Basically, I plan on applying for a 2017 summer internship, so I realize I need to apply this upcoming fall. Even though I'm 22, I am graduating late due to financial reasons and switching my major a few times. I have some concerns that have me worried that I don't have a real shot at getting an interview.
1) I have been to 3 different schools total. On my resume do I list my GPA for all 3 schools or just the current one? My current one I've only taken a couple classes so I have a 4.0. The second school I've taken three classes (all relevant to my finance major) and they average out to 3.3. In addition, most of the classes I took at my first school seem irrelevant to my finance major for becoming an actuary -- mostly general education classes, macroeconomics, a programming class, and some basic college algebra. Should I even list that school's GPA? It would be a 3.1.
2) I have not passed any exams yet. I plan on taking Exam FM and passing it before I apply for internships this fall. It seems doable based off the research I've done (I will be using ASM and ADAPT). However, I have not taken anything past pre-calculus and intro to stats. I realize that seems absurd, so I plan on figuring out a way to take a few calculus courses in the future before I study for Exam P. Would I really need more than 2 or 3 extra semesters of calculus? Or could I teach myself with ASM and ADAPT everything else?
The problem is that all my time will be focused on the FM exam (plus my normal college classes) that I won't have enough time to take those extra calculus courses and study for Exam P before I apply this fall.
3) Lastly, I have about a year and a half worth total of part-time job working experience encompassing three different jobs (two at ice cream shops and one at a school with kids). Unfortunately, the only extracurricular activities I have are from high school -- nothing from college. I don't know if I'd be able to join any before I apply this fall due to my circumstances, so I am not counting on that to happen.
So am I worrying for nothing at this point or is my worrying completely valid?
Do I have a shot an internship?