Month: October 2018

Apply for the 2019-2020 CAS Trust Scholarship

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The Casualty Actuarial Society is accepting applications for its scholarship program for college students pursuing a career in actuarial science. The CAS Trust Scholarship Program, funded by donations to the CAS Trust, will award up to three scholarships to deserving students for the 2019-2020 academic year. One recipient will receive a $10,000 scholarship. Two other recipients, if chosen, will each be award a $5,000 scholarship.

To apply online, please visit the CAS Trust Scholarship Program website.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must submit all sections of the CAS Trust Scholarship application by January 31, 2019
  • Currently attending a U.S. or Canadian college or university as a full-time student and continuing as a full time student at a U.S. or Canadian college or university in the 2019-2020 academic year
  • Applicants must plan to sit for at least one actuarial exam by March 31, 2019
  • Applicants should demonstrate high scholastic achievement and strong interest in the casualty actuarial profession, mathematical aptitude, and communication skills.

Application Details:

  • The online CAS Trust Scholarship application and attached essay.
  • The 2 recommendation letters included in this application, preferably completed by internship supervisors, instructors and/or advisors at your educational institution who know you well. Only 2 recommendation letters will be considered.
  • A current official transcript.

Please upload your official transcripts directly to the CAS Trust Scholarship application.

If you have questions or need more information, contact:

CAS Trust Scholarship Coordinator – Maha Chaudhry
Mchaudhry@casact.org

Completed applications are due by January 31, 2019. Winners will be notified of award decisions by May 17, 2019.

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Apply for the 2018-2019 Central States Actuarial Forum (CSAF) Scholarship

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The Central States Actuarial Forum (CSAF) will award a scholarship of $1,000 to up to two college students in the central states for the upcoming academic year. The scholarship program’s mission is to encourage students who reside or attend school in the region to become future working members of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

The CSAF Scholarship Program is open to all college students who will be continuing as full-time students for the academic year (or half-year for December graduates) to which the scholarship will apply at a college or university in one of the following states: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, or South Dakota.

The selected candidate will:

  • reside or attend a college or university in one of the Central States,
  • currently attend a U.S. college or university as a full-time student and continue as a full-time student at a U.S. college or university throughout the current academic year,
  • have sat for at least one actuarial exam by the application deadline,
  • be a member of CAS Student Central, and
    (Join here for free: CASstudentcentral.org)
  • demonstrate high scholastic achievement and strong interest in the casualty actuarial profession, mathematical aptitude, and communication skills.

Completed applications are due by October 31st of each year for scholarships awarded for the academic year beginning in the Fall. Winners will be notified by December 15 .

Download CSAF Scholarship Application

If you have questions or need more information, contact:

Mikey Cafarelli
Casualty Actuarial Society
4350 N. Fairfax Dr. Suite 250
Arlington, VA 22203
mcafarelli@casact.org

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CAS Sponsors Successful 47th Annual Gamma Iota Sigma International Conference

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CAS Student Ambassadors with Mallika and AlisaThe Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) joined over 625 of the top insurance, risk management and actuarial science students and advisors from 65 colleges and universities across North America at the Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) 47th Annual International Conference October 4-6, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. As a Sustaining Partner of GIS and a Platinum Conference Sponsor, the CAS had an active presence at the three-day conference, themed “Amplifying Disruption.” The CAS presented two educational sessions, interacted with students at the career fair, and met with university faculty.

GIS Booth 4The conference offered students exposure to the insurance sector and programming related to its many diverse career paths. With 84 exhibiting organizations and nearly 600 internship and entry level job interviews, the conference remains the most comprehensive event for the next generation of the insurance industry. The CAS provided a booth staffed with CAS member volunteers, who shared their advice and insights as practicing actuaries with students. CAS volunteers included Mallika Bender, Meghan Goldfarb, Chris Gross, James Hollman, Carlo Lahura, Alisa Walch, and Chase Wurdeman.

The two educational sessions led by the CAS included:

  • Understanding Predictive Analytics
    This session, presented by Meghan Goldfarb, FCAS, CSPA, Architecture Director at State Farm and Chris Gross, ACAS, President of Gross Consulting, covered how to get started in predictive analytics and provided examples of real world actuarial applications.
  • Warranty Case Study
    This session, presented by Alisa Walch, FCAS, Actuarial Studies Program Assistant Director at the University of Texas at Austin, took the students through an interesting insurance application, delving into a smart phone warranty case.

In addition, the CAS:

  • Delivered a presentation to university faculty at the Faculty Roundtable.
  • Participated in a gathering of insurance industry trade and professional organization representatives at the Association Roundtable.

Group Photo - BoothAlso of note, during its meeting held in conjunction with the conference, the GIS Board of Trustees approved its new President, CAS Member Wesley Griffiths, FCAS, Second Vice President and Actuary at Travelers. In addition, the Board appointed Mike Boa, Chief Communications Officer at the Casualty Actuarial Society, to his third term on the Board.

Notable industry-leading events that took place at the 2018 Conference:

  • GammaSAID, a groundbreaking student-focused initiative fostering meaningful dialogue and action across the industry around diversity, inclusion, and authenticity, facilitated the exploration of these topics throughout the program, with an interactive presentation during the Recruiters Roundtable, and in sessions led by Chief Diversity Officers and students from the GammaSAID Council.
  • Insurance Nerds Day, a new event featuring 20 engaging Learning Labs, a Distracted Driving Luncheon presented by Travelers, and an engaging line-up of speakers for Nerdy Nanotalks.
  • In partnership with the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), students and advisors held a letter-writing community service project to benefit Cradles to Crayons and Operation Gratitude, kicking off GIS’s 5th Annual Week of Giving.

Predictive Analytics Presentation - Chris and MeghanGIS is committed to developing and sustaining a robust collegiate talent pipeline and connecting students who are interested in pursuing careers in insurance to opportunities across the industry.

 

The next GIS Annual Conference will be held in Dallas, Texas.

 

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About the Casualty Actuarial Society
The Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) is a leading international organization for credentialing and professional education. CAS credentials demonstrate the expertise to identify, analyze and advise on the potential financial impact of risk and uncertainty. Professionals educated by the Casualty Actuarial Society empower business and government to make well-informed strategic, financial and operational decisions.

 

About Gamma Iota Sigma

Incorporated in 1965 and boasting an annual membership of over 4,200 students and 25,000 alumni from a growing network of over 80 colleges and universities throughout North America, Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) is the industry’s premier collegiate talent pipeline with over 50 years of experience engaging students and preparing them for careers in insurance. GIS is the only organization of its kind and is the solution to the industry’s talent gap issue, pursuing a mission to promote, encourage, and sustain student interest in careers across all functional areas in insurance. GIS is committed to growing and supporting the number of highly qualified students entering the industry; to that end, not only has its core programming meaningfully expanded and diversified to include such initiatives as GammaSAID, One Campus at A Time, and the recently launched 2018 ITC Student Program in collaboration with InsureTech Connect, the number of GIS students and active chapters has more than doubled in recent years and continues to grow. In partnership with Sustaining Partners, corporate supporters, professional organizations, trade associations, and other industry collaborators, the full spectrum of GIS programming provides its members with valuable interaction with the industry, as well as the tools to pursue and succeed in an insurance career. For more information, visit: GammaIotaSigma.org.

 

About the GIS Annual International Conference
First held in 1973, Gamma Iota Sigma’s Annual International Conference is the largest international event of its kind convening top talent looking to enter the insurance industry with representatives from companies and organizations who recognize the importance of a talent pipeline and sustaining interest in industry careers. The conference attracts the very best and brightest students throughout North America pursuing careers across all segments of risk management and insurance. For more information, visit: GammaIotaSigma.org/events/international-conference/

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How I landed my Internship, and How You Can Too!

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Meet Wendy Guerrero, a current senior at DePaul University where she serves as Treasurer of the Actuarial Science Club. In her pursuit for an actuarial internship, Wendy realized that without exam experience, she’d need to come up with a game plan to stand out to prospective employers. Read along to find out how she landed an internship; her advice and experience could help you pursue your career goals too!

1. Wendy, as someone who was able to secure an internship, without having any actuarial exams under your belt, what were some of the ways you made yourself stand out as a candidate?

I attended multiple company “Recruitment Days,” in which you go in and tour the company and learn about the different careers available. I made sure to do my research and share my point of view on topics that interested me throughout these events. I had multiple resume copies ready, and every time I introduced myself I made sure to have an elevator speech ready.

2. What were some of the challenges you faced and how did you approach, or get through, the obstacles?

Well, the biggest challenge has been the exams. I changed my major at the start of my junior year and hence was very behind on exams. To combat this obstacle, I made sure to share how I was a strong candidate in other areas. I worked with the writing center at my university to improve my resume and get it in top shape. I practiced mock interviews with my mentor, as well as friends and family. I was also honest in the interview about my exams and I made sure to talk about my most relevant job experience and transferable skills to the position.  I put in many hours of research and networking, going to events and getting coffee with people, and submerging myself into the company. These steps paid off, and when it came time to interview, everything came naturally to me. Also, I think that my passion for mathematics was a key fact that people took away from my interview, along with the positive attitude that I presented throughout the long interview process.

Another challenge was that I was told that the company was primarily looking for interns outside of the Chicago area, and I live in Chicago. I did not let this criteria discourage me, and decided to be bold and still apply. Once again, if you put in the time and effort to have a strong application and resume, and you take advantage of available networking opportunities, there might be a hiring manager who is willing to overlook certain criteria.

3. What type of advice would you share for students who are looking to land an internship, or advance themselves on the track of becoming an actuary?

I would say to start off small. I started as a data analyst for a small company the summer prior to my internship, and that was the key experience that let employers know that I was serious about making my way to an Actuarial Analyst. I would also say to not disqualify yourself. By this I mean, do not give up on the opportunity without trying first. Although I did not meet the requirements for the internship, I made sure to network and show my interest for the position by attending company events and a job shadowing. If you are serious about landing that internship or even being an actuary, you have to put in the work and show your employer that you are either studying or sitting for an exam. The first couple of exams demonstrate how hard you are willing to work and that you are dedicated to the actuarial career path. So even though you might not have taken an exam yet, be serious about taking one soon. Lastly, do not be afraid to reach out to the hiring manager or people within the company to start networking and MAKE SURE to write thank you emails after every encounter.

4. What have been some of the most helpful resources throughout your journey so far?

Some of the most helpful resources have been provided through my America Needs You Fellowship and my Youtube inspiration, GaryVee. My fellowship allowed me to participate in workshops on interview skills, resume building, how to build my skills for the career path that I want, and how to have a growth mindset. I also had a mentor who was there for me, giving me advice and donating his time to me. Gary Vaynerchuck is a huge inspiration on how to approach situations when the odds are against you, and honestly his videos are a reminder of where I want to be and what work I need to put in to get there.

5. Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience, or any other advice you would give your fellow peers?

The last piece of advice I would give is that wherever you are in your internship or job search, we all have a different path and a different time of getting to where we want to be, so just be patient and work hard in the process. Maybe you are like me, looking for a job for after graduation while sitting for my first exam in December, and you have no idea what will come out of it, but continuing to work hard and surrounding yourself with people that are positive and taking advantage of every opportunity is the way to go. I was once told: if you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room, go find the right room.

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