Does this mean I can't do Actuary even if I get in ?

[bentoscano]

I have been thinking of going to Melbourne for Bachelor Of Science because I am not good enough to get into Bachelor Of Commerce and then try and make a end of year transfer.

I've been interested in Actuary Studies but I just discovered on the website students intersted in Actuary have a specific course pathway they must take from the first year. (Pretty much they don't do what conventional commerce students do) which would mean even if I did somehow magically get into commerce second year would that mean I wouldn't be able to do Actuary studies because I am missing all the first year requirements ? (Unless I am able to do them in Bachelor Of Sciences o_o?)

Here is the website I read this on.
http://www.bcom.unimelb.edu.au/bachelor/majors/actuarial_studies.html

At near the bottom it says students intested in majoring in Actuarial Studies must take blah blah blah from the First Year.

Hopfully somebody can explain all this too me.

[Russ]

If you transfer to commerce you have to transfer to 1st year commerce, so it should be fine

[bentoscano]

Oh What ? So that's like pretty much staying down a year ? =(

[Russ]

Well if you do a year of science, how does that prepare you for second year commerce subjects?
If you do some commerce subjects in science you can have them credited, but you're not going to get into 2nd year commerce without having done 1st year

[simpak]

Oh What ? So that's like pretty much staying down a year ? =(

Yes.  But it's not that bad I promise youuu.

[Gloamglozer]

"First year", "Second year" are just terms used.  They don't mean anything and doesn't mean that you've "stayed down a year".  It just means that you've gone on to pursue other interests.

[simpak]

Think of how many people change their minds and switch out of their degree after the first semester or year!  So many!

[tram]

Is there a specific reason you don't think you're "good enough" to do get into commerce, i.e. is it jsut you're ATAR you're worried about or is it the maths requirements?

If it's the ATAR, well for now don't stress, you might just surprise yourself at the end of the year!

If it's the maths requirements, then don''t worry, there are alternate pathways that get you to the exact same place (case in point, ILoveMathMeth-somewhere still on AN)

Having said that you have two options

a) As you said, do science for the first year/semseter then transfer (i would recommend taking commerce subs as breath and taking the appropriate math pre reques i.e. A-maths 1/2 if you can get in, Calc 2/Linear algebra if you can't) so you won't be too behind.

b) Complete the bachelor of science and major in maths/stats/prob and do the master of actuarial science (will put you in the same position as if you did the three year actuarial major)

The latter might me more appropiate if you're not 100% sure on actuarial, speaking of why DO YOU want to do actuarial? Just interested

[Gloamglozer]

Just need to point out with trams suggestion b:

If you do end up doing a Master of Actuarial Studies, please note that you'll only be able to get exemption from Part I of the exams, and not Part II.  I asked Professor Dickson on Open Day last year and he said that only honours students in actuarial studies can get exemption from Part II.

[tram]

Just need to point out with trams suggestion b:

If you do end up doing a Master of Actuarial Studies, please note that you'll only be able to get exemption from Part I of the exams, and not Part II.  I asked Professor Dickson on Open Day last year and he said that only honours students in actuarial studies can get exemption from Part II.

yup yup, doing the masters of actuarial science is the same as the three year commerce degree majoring in Actuarial studies (not including the honors year)

[bentoscano]

Is there a specific reason you don't think you're "good enough" to do get into commerce, i.e. is it jsut you're ATAR you're worried about or is it the maths requirements?

If it's the ATAR, well for now don't stress, you might just surprise yourself at the end of the year!

If it's the maths requirements, then don''t worry, there are alternate pathways that get you to the exact same place (case in point, ILoveMathMeth-somewhere still on AN)

Having said that you have two options

a) As you said, do science for the first year/semseter then transfer (i would recommend taking commerce subs as breath and taking the appropriate math pre reques i.e. A-maths 1/2 if you can get in, Calc 2/Linear algebra if you can't) so you won't be too behind.

b) Complete the bachelor of science and major in maths/stats/prob and do the master of actuarial science (will put you in the same position as if you did the three year actuarial major)

The latter might me more appropiate if you're not 100% sure on actuarial, speaking of why DO YOU want to do actuarial? Just interested

Wait so your telling me I can go do Master Of Actuarial Science directly from Bachelor Of Science ?
Would there be any minimal requirements ? (GPA Or Pre-Requisites) and would it be similarly "effective" as doing VIA Commerce?

E.G. I heard doing Pharmarcy VIA Science is no where near as good as doing it VIA BioMed.

What do you mean with that examish stuff ? Not sure what your on about.

(Why I wanna do it - Well seems like a pretty chill job, just sit around and do sum maths then maybe later play sum dota LOL)

[tram]

Wait so your telling me I can go do Master Of Actuarial Science directly from Bachelor Of Science ?
Would there be any minimal requirements ? (GPA Or Pre-Requisites) and would it be similarly "effective" as doing VIA Commerce?

E.G. I heard doing Pharmarcy VIA Science is no where near as good as doing it VIA BioMed.

What do you mean with that examish stuff ? Not sure what your on about.

(Why I wanna do it - Well seems like a pretty chill job, just sit around and do sum maths then maybe later play sum dota LOL)

1) The masters degree is a postgraduate degree, you would do it AFTER your bachelor of science. It takes two years if i'm not mistaken (have a bit of a google and see what you should fine, it shoudln't be too hard UoM ususally dioes a pretty good job of making it's courses easy to find). If anything techinally you shoudl be more experienced compared to a person who has jsut done actuarial through commerce as you ahve two degrees (then again it does taked two years longer and people who have been out working have probs got their part two exams by then)

Total sidenote but: persoanlly it think that "I heard doing Pharmarcy VIA Science is no where near as good as doing it VIA BioMed." is not right at all. You can do the EXACT same subjects they do in Biomed in Science (albeit with a different cohort) but the science just gives you so much more flexbility and this is the exact reason that people i know who easily made it into biomed (i.e. my friend who got 99.65) CHOSE to do science. Anythign you can do from biomed you can do from science, but with sciecne you can jsut do MORE. But i digress;

2) There are three sets of exams that you must sit in order to be a fully qualified actuary. Part one is covered in the thee year commerce degree (or the masters of actuarial science), part two in the honours year (i.e. you add an extra year to your comemrce degree), and part three you do by yourself while working. (Note that to get exempeted from the part one and two sets of exams, you must get a 73% adverage in the specified subjects)

3) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do some more research before you decide to do actuarial studies, it is NOT a major you jump in just for the hell of it. The exceptionally high drop out rate if a testament to this. Have a look at this thread (http://vce.atarnotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,23875.0.html) there are many good links there if i remember correctely.

Admitedly the job is one of the more 'chill' jobs given it's salary, however getting there is the hard part, case in point, the pass rate of the part three exams if 30%, (and that's not including all the people who have dropped out by then).

The one questions you need to ask yoruself is, do you really enjoy maths? If this anwser if not defintively yes (note there is a difference between being GOOD at something and ENJOYING something) then i would reconcider persuing Acuarial Studies as a degree...

[Gloamglozer]

The one questions you need to ask yoruself is, do you really enjoy maths? If this anwser if not defintively yes (note there is a difference between being GOOD at something and ENJOYING something) then i would reconcider persuing Acuarial Studies as a degree...

The thing with most VCE students is that they perceive maths as just "calculating sums" but mathematics is more than that.  It is also about proof, deduction and logic. 

It is only apparent whether you "love", "enjoy" or are 'good at" maths when you complete a subject called MAST20026 Real Analysis With Applications*.  That subject gives you a slight taste of what maths is really about and all its horrors. 

* Or Accelerated Maths (which most actuaries-to-be do) but that is half Calculus 2 so hard to really include that or not.

[Russ]

Anythign you can do from biomed you can do from science, but with sciecne you can jsut do MORE

The biomed exclusive subjects and major beg to differ, not that it's relevant to actuarial

[bentoscano]

Thanks guys you have all been really helpful. Especially Tram as I had no idea the dropout rate was so high o_o.

I really don't know what occupation I should be aiming for =(
My dad says doing Earth Sciences wouldn't be too bad coss the mining industry is booming so its good money but his classic asian so maybe i shouldn't take his advice LOL.
He also said I.T is ded because all the asians and indians took the jobs.