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If I decide a year or two after enrolling in college, will it be too late to switch to actuarial science?

Unsure if I will like actuarial science
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Terence’s Answer

It shouldn't be too late, but I would advise that you speak with an academic advisor at your school. You would probably want to take classes that go towards the intended major, while fulfilling your undergrad prerequisites. The danger is that you could be taking a bunch of classes that don't apply to your desired major (actuarial science).

Overall, I advise people to think through what they like about a field or potential job. What are the things that draw you to them? How does that compare to your skillset and your personality? Ideally, there's a level of alignment with all of these things.

As an example, I knew I wanted to go into technology as a general field as I grew up in the Silicon Valley, but knew I did not want to be a full-on developer or programmer. I took classes in engineering and confirmed that I did not want to be deep in the technical weeds, but I did find a way in the "business" side of tech. That fit my personality and skillset much better. My classes generally overlapped in a manner where I could switch out of the major without delaying my progress towards a degree.
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Donna’s Answer

If you are thinking of actuarial science as a specific major, you would need to talk to your university about its requirement. However, to pursue an actuarial career you do not need to major in actuarial science or any particular major. I didn't decide on pursing an actuarial career until my senior year of college. That being said, I did love mathematics and had majored in it so I did have a strong background for taking the initial exams. Also, my first boss had been an English/theology major. Many, if not most, actuaries do not have actuarial science majors and historically very few had that major. A strong academic orientation and the discipline to pursue the exams and other requirements to become a professionally accredited actuary are what is needed. And, also, that being said , I have know a few actuaries who didn't graduate from college but passed the actuarial exams.
Obtaining internships, talking to others in the actuarial profession, and checking out professional websites such as www.soa.org are some ways to help you determine if the career is right for you. An actuarial career can take many different directions. And one of the things I liked most about the 40 years I spent in the field is how varied my career was.

Donna recommends the following next steps:

Go to www.soa.org and see what the requirements are for becoming a professional actuary and learn about actuarial career paths.
Thank you comment icon As a fellow Actuary, I found this to be spot on! Mark Berquist
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Kate’s Answer

I received my degree in Actuarial Science and did not declare this major until 2 years into my college enrollment. It was not a problem for me that I waited this long to decide my major, but it was crucial to communicate with my college advisors and make sure I took the right classes at the right time and did not delay graduation.

After college, I found a non-actuarial role in Enterprise Risk Management that better suited my interests but still utilized many of the skills I had learned through the actuarial science degree.

If you are interested in becoming an actuary, research the industry by familiarizing yourself with the Society of Actuaries, the exams you must take, and the different pathways for actuaries (consulting, insurance, financial services, etc.). The most successful students from my class passed 1-3 SOA exams before graduation. This takes a lot of discipline to accomplish but will launch you farther into your career after graduation.
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Jeff’s Answer

I would say there is definitely time to pursue the career. In fact, I have known plenty of people that even started down the actuarial pathway after college altogether. I would recommend at least taking an exam to make sure it is the right career for you and you will be ok repeating the process a number of times as you gain credentials. If you enjoy math and statistics classes and are looking for an interesting and dynamic way to apply your knowledge and skills, I would definitely recommend the career path and never close any doors while still in school!

Jeff recommends the following next steps:

Take first exam - some schools may cover cost, so check with advisors
Research the industry
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