Actuarial Mathematics

Toad-Girl

So basically looking for information from people doing this course or Actuarial, Financial and Mathematical Sciences. Have it second and third on my cao because really like the look of actuary!! My main problem is having neglected maths this year due to wrong priorities, not sure its gonna be up to standard. If I just about get a b3 in the leaving cert am I leaving myself at a major disadvantage for next year in this course? Any help would be highly appreciated!

animaX

You will proabably be fine but there is A LOT of mathmatics in this degree! (Even though actuaries use very little of it in real life). You have to also like maths a bit otherwise you're not gonna like the degree and thats just as important.

Toad-Girl

How much economics/accounting/business in general is involved? Doing all three for the Leaving and would like to keep them up, but no interest in commerce! I do love maths so hopefully won't be a problem!

animaX

You'll do a bit of economics in first year and accounting in 2nd maybe. No business as such. There will also be some computer programming as well just to mix it up

tinkerbell

I did Financial & Actuarial Maths in DCU and am now working as an actuary. If you do a search on this forum you'll find loads of posts that I have written about this course.

If you definitely want to be an actuary then put Financial & Actuarial Maths down BEFORE math sciences or the common entry one. Reason being, if you do common entry and decide in second year that you wanna do actuary, they mightn't have enough places for everybody. Better off to get in there on day 1.

Regarding the maths ... you do need to be good at maths but it's a completely different ball game to Leaving Cert maths, there is no comparison. The maths you do in first and second year is mostly long theorems and proofs which are quite tough, but you get on with it! It's all worth it in the end.

Fince

Toad-Girl wrote: »

So basically looking for information from people doing this course or Actuarial, Financial and Mathematical Sciences. Have it second and third on my cao because really like the look of actuary!! If I just about get a b3 in the leaving cert am I leaving myself at a major disadvantage for next year in this course? Any help would be highly appreciated!

i'm in the same position

do i dare ask wats number 1? (i'm guessing its a similiar course in a college thats name could be made up using the same letters as DCU? and i'm not talking about DUC or UDC or CDU or CUD)

animaX

Probably shouldnt be saying this but the DCU course is easier, however the UCD course is more respected (in my view)

Fince

animaX wrote: »

Probably shouldnt be saying this but the DCU course is easier, however the UCD course is more respected (in my view)

have you done both courses?

From wat i've seen on this, DCU course is more maths based(science department run it), while UCD course is more businessie (business depatment run it). don't take that as gospel though

animaX

Fince wrote: »

From wat i've seen on this, DCU course is more maths based(science department run it), while UCD course is more businessie (business depatment run it).

Yeah, that sums it up nicely. I've done the DCU course, but really what matters most is not where you do it or what grade you get, its how many exemptions you pick up along the way.

Fince

animaX wrote: »

Yeah, that sums it up nicely. I've done the DCU course, but really what matters most is not where you do it or what grade you get, its how many exemptions you pick up along the way.

how many did u get?

did u like DCU in general?

Toad-Girl

Yep my number one is currently a very similar course in a similarily named college. mainly because its supposed to be more businessy than sciencey. Plus I'm better at business than maths! Oh god those points look horrible though!

animaX

Fince wrote: »

how many did u get?

did u like DCU in general?

All of them ;-) and yes, I'm still here!

Fince

What year are you in?
I've a cousin doing it in 2nd year.

animaX

Counting years, technically I'm in year 7 haha! I'm doing postgrad research. Decided not to go the actuary route for now.

Fince

animaX wrote: »

Counting years, technically I'm in year 7 haha! I'm doing postgrad research. Decided not to go the actuary route for now.

Sounds very recession busting.
Trying to discover new numbers and the like?

animaX

The recession is only a mindset! It'll be gone by the time you finish (if you are gonna do actuary)

tinkerbell

animaX wrote: »

Probably shouldnt be saying this but the DCU course is easier, however the UCD course is more respected (in my view)

I don't know why you think that the DCU course is easier? Quite a few people would think that the DCU course is actually harder as it is more maths based, whereas the UCD course is more economics / finance based. I think it's actually based in the business school, whereas actuarial in DCU is in the maths school.

I think the whole "which college is more respected thing" is more snobbery than anything else, people thinking "oooh UCD, such a famous college, get my degree there, it's better" - seems to be the general consensus because everybody's heard of UCD but not so much DCU. DCU offered the actuarial course way before UCD. Anyway at the end of the day, doesn't matter which one you came from so long as you get a good degree and exemptions.

Fince

animaX wrote: »

The recession is only a mindset! It'll be gone by the time you finish (if you are gonna do actuary)

not convinced about it being only a mindset, but i do agree that it should be over by the time i'm finished. if not, education can always be prolonged.

eoin2089

I'm in dcu, in second year. I have met loads of ucd guys out on nights out and they seem to do the same subjects as us in 1st and second year anyways.

Who cares all you want is exemptions and a good degree.
Also you want fun and both colleges are really good as I've """"partaeeed""" in both.

I will admit though you should really like maths if you want to do this degree in dcu(anyways)

carlowboy

eoin2089 wrote: »

I'm in dcu, in second year. I have met loads of ucd guys out on nights out and they seem to do the same subjects as us in 1st and second year anyways.

Who cares all you want is exemptions and a good degree.
Also you want fun and both colleges are really good as I've """"partaeeed""" in both.

I will admit though you should really like maths if you want to do this degree in dcu(anyways)

Wouldn't really listen this guy. He's a renowned troll on this forum. :rolleyes:

Grudaire

Actuary is a good course to do (mainly because nobody has a clue what they do). I had DCU down as my number 1 choice, because I had the impression that the DCU course was better. To be honest I don't think there's much of a difference except slightly longer work experience, and which Maths/Business school thing

carlowboy wrote: »

Wouldn't really listen this guy. He's a renowned troll on this forum. :rolleyes:

Yea - five trolling posts

eoin2089

carlowboy wrote: »

Wouldn't really listen this guy. He's a renowned troll on this forum. :rolleyes:

hmmmmmm....i wonder who carlowboy and cliste are/???

anyways don't go to college and dont do actuary...Win the lotto

...1 2 3 4 5 6...are saturday nights winning numbers

Fince

eoin2089 wrote: »

hmmmmmm....i wonder who carlowboy and cliste are/???

anyways don't go to college and dont do actuary...Win the lotto

...1 2 3 4 5 6...are saturday nights winning numbers

you were incorrect.

eoin2089

Fince wrote: »

you were incorrect.

I cant't believe you checked. Don't play the lotto. Spend your money on stationary for your leaving cert ....haha or drink:D to be more precise.

If fince your a leaving cert here is a small bit of advice that helped me. When you study....study...and when your are taking a break...take a break(that means not sitting around the house or watching tv....go for a walk or meet up with your mates)...anything to get your mind off the books. Also dont't start to feel sorry for yourself ...a lot are in the same position...Also have a treat for yourself in the summer to work towards....i.e (a holiday or maybe seeing those A's is all the motivation u need:D)

Anyways I hate to put u on a """downer""" ....but the exams just keep coming in this course ... continuous assessment is a pain ...it seems to tend to infinity(sry i couldn't help myself)

Ace2007

continous assessments in dcu are easy......

Fince

eoin2089 wrote: »

I cant't believe you checked. Don't play the lotto. Spend your money on stationary for your leaving cert ....haha or drink:D to be more precise.

i didn't really check, but what were the chances it was gonna be 1,2,3,4,5,6? (thats a rhetorical question, don't feel the need to spend ANY amount of time answering it)

i am a LC student and i don't play the lotto. i do spend my money on stationary and alcohol.

i made the trip to dcu on tuesday. cousin gave me a tour of the campus and a roof over my head. went to the citibar (thinks thats how it was spelt on the stamp) tuesday night (according to the aformentioned stamp, its a bit hazy though).

sat into a 'Fourier Analysis' lecture wed morn. all seemed vaguely related to LC maths. complex numbers, integration etc.

Post Scriptum: thanks for the study tips

carlowboy

Fince wrote: »

eoin2089 wrote: »

I cant't believe you checked. Don't play the lotto. Spend your money on stationary for your leaving cert ....haha or drink:D to be more precise.

i didn't really check, but what were the chances it was gonna be 1,2,3,4,5,6? (thats a rhetorical question, don't feel the need to spend ANY amount of time answering it)

i am a LC student and i don't play the lotto. i do spend my money on stationary and alcohol.

i made the trip to dcu on tuesday. cousin gave me a tour of the campus and a roof over my head. went to the citibar (thinks thats how it was spelt on the stamp) tuesday night (according to the aformentioned stamp, its a bit hazy though).

sat into a 'Fourier Analysis' lecture wed morn. all seemed vaguely related to LC maths. complex numbers, integration etc.

Post Scriptum: thanks for the study tips

Ah so you went to a second year class then. More importantly, the year myself, Eoin and Cliste are in. Not that I was there though......

Grudaire

carlowboy wrote: »

Not that I was there though......

Cause you're Mad?!:pac:


I'm not mad - I was there However most importantly - don't mind what Eoinsays - that waster is away with the horses.

Fince

carlowboy wrote: »

Not that I was there though......

Frat party?

carlowboy

Fince wrote: »

Frat party?

A combination of things including that....

Ace2007

carlowboy wrote: »

A combination of things including that....

was it good?