Mentees
Getting a mentor can be one of the most crucial pieces of being successful as an aspiring actuary at Penn State. An older student can help guide you through the exam process, help you pick out the perfect classes to take, and improve your interviewing/resume building skills. All of this will help you find more success in securing internship and job offers.
Benefits of Receiving a Mentor
1. Scheduling Classes
The Penn State Actuarial Program is fantastic, but it can be very confusing for new students to navigate the three possible majors (Math, Stat, and Business). Challenges can include declaring your major on time, achieving additional minors, finding extra classes to learn coding, and creating a balanced schedule each semester. Your mentor will most likely be in your same major (possibly even similar minors), so will be a great resource for you to have the perfect schedule during your time at Penn State.
The Penn State Actuarial Program is fantastic, but it can be very confusing for new students to navigate the three possible majors (Math, Stat, and Business). Challenges can include declaring your major on time, achieving additional minors, finding extra classes to learn coding, and creating a balanced schedule each semester. Your mentor will most likely be in your same major (possibly even similar minors), so will be a great resource for you to have the perfect schedule during your time at Penn State.
2. Passing Exams
Your mentor will be on the same exam track as you (SOA or CAS), so you will have a resource from day one to answer questions about exams. Your mentor will have seen success in passing exams and know what it takes to get through the exam process. Whether it be help learning the material, understanding how to schedule an exam through Prometric, or finding the best study materials, a mentor is critical to passing 2, 3, 4, or more exams while in college. Who knows, may you will even be able to nab your mentors old study materials for a discount, or maybe even for free!
Your mentor will be on the same exam track as you (SOA or CAS), so you will have a resource from day one to answer questions about exams. Your mentor will have seen success in passing exams and know what it takes to get through the exam process. Whether it be help learning the material, understanding how to schedule an exam through Prometric, or finding the best study materials, a mentor is critical to passing 2, 3, 4, or more exams while in college. Who knows, may you will even be able to nab your mentors old study materials for a discount, or maybe even for free!
3. Resume and Interviewing Help
Beyond classes and exams, knowing how to build a strong resume and master the art of interviewing is a process learned through experience. Your mentor will have revised resumes numerous times before, and be well-versed in how to prepare for and take part in an interview. Set up times to do mock interviews with your mentor, send them a copy of your resume to review, and you'll be swimming in internship and job offers in no time!
Beyond classes and exams, knowing how to build a strong resume and master the art of interviewing is a process learned through experience. Your mentor will have revised resumes numerous times before, and be well-versed in how to prepare for and take part in an interview. Set up times to do mock interviews with your mentor, send them a copy of your resume to review, and you'll be swimming in internship and job offers in no time!
4. General Advice and Friendship
There are few actuaries who become successful without the assistance of others. Your mentor will be present to support you should you fail an exam or struggle in class and always be a smiling face as you walk around campus. The actuarial community is relatively small, so building out your network can ensure you build a strong reputation for yourself.
There are few actuaries who become successful without the assistance of others. Your mentor will be present to support you should you fail an exam or struggle in class and always be a smiling face as you walk around campus. The actuarial community is relatively small, so building out your network can ensure you build a strong reputation for yourself.