Should I major in Computer Science or Statistics?

[NoMoreExams]

The only positive aspect of attainig a stats degree, as it applies to actuarial science, is that it will hopefully expose the student to SAS, which is important for Health & P&C
work. If you are looking for a major that will teach you to think, I would put physics at the top of the list. As far as the stats material covered on the exams, anyone with half a brain can learn it on his own.

Pass MLC and C on your first try, then talk about the material not being hard enough.

[R_T]

..........

[sohpmalvin]

Just about any moron can pass P!

:shocked::embarrassed::wideyed:

[mekosmowski]

One would argue if high schools started offering classes beyond calc. 2 that they should offer real analysis before calc. 3. A lot of kids coming out of a high school program do not understand calculus. And a lot of people will argue that to really understand calculus 3, you need linear algebra and some analysis/topology. In any case, most advanced math students will go on to major in math (at least from what I've seen) and they would benefit more from Real Analysis than trying to understand calc. 3.

I agree. I didn't start to understand calculus until real analysis.

[probability]

One would argue if high schools started offering classes beyond calc. 2 that they should offer real analysis before calc. 3. A lot of kids coming out of a high school program do not understand calculus. And a lot of people will argue that to really understand calculus 3, you need linear algebra and some analysis/topology. In any case, most advanced math students will go on to major in math (at least from what I've seen) and they would benefit more from Real Analysis than trying to understand calc. 3.

Great idea. Maybe we should start having high school students take abstract algebra and measure-theoretic probability as well.

[NoMoreExams]

Great idea. Maybe we should start having high school students take abstract algebra and measure-theoretic probability as well. That way they can be ready for the Ph.D.
Qualifiying Exams by the time they're 18 and go directly from high school to graduate school.:wacko:

I'd wager any kid that can take Calc. 3 in high school can understand the basics of set theory/real analysis.

[probability]

I'd wager any kid that can take Calc. 3 in high school can understand the basics of set theory/real analysis.

You're right, but what percentage of such students can be found in today's high schools?

[NoMoreExams]

You're right, but what percentage of such students can be found in today's high schools?

Hence the "if" in my original statement.

[probability]

Hence the "if" in my original statement.

Why limit(pun intended) this argument to multivariate calculus? A student will not gain a rigorous understanding of single variable calculus as well until he studies analysis.

[NoMoreExams]

Why limit(pun intended) this argument to multivariate calculus? A student will not gain a rigorous understanding of single variable calculus as well until he studies analysis.

Isn't that what I said in my original post?

[probability]

In any case, I think that actuaries who work
in industry could probably get away with just a superficial understanding of calculus. After all,
it's no longer being tested directly by the SOA or CAS.