FIRST YEAR INFORMATION SESSION 11132019 Dina Dawoud Mirabelle

FIRST YEAR INFORMATION SESSION 11/13/2019 Dina Dawoud Mirabelle Huynh Emily Kozlowski Riley Metzger Alice Pfeifer-Hanov Reza Ramezan Steve Van Doormaal

Meet your Statistics, Data Science and Actuarial Science advisors: » Dina Dawoud – Lecturer, Waterloo alumni in Biostatistics, and also a math co-op and math exchange advisor. » Mirabelle Huynh– Lecturer, 3 time Waterloo alumni (Bmath, Mmath, Ph. D), and is also an FSA with industry experience. » Emily Kozlowski – Lecturer, Waterloo alumni, twice in Actuarial Science (BMath & MMath), and worked in industry. » Alice Pfeifer-Hanov – Head Actsc advisor, person who schedules all the SAS courses and a Waterloo Arts alumni. » Riley Metzger – Continuing Lecturer, Head Stat advisor, and Waterloo alumni, twice (BMath & MMath), in Statistics. » Reza Ramezan – Lecturer, Waterloo alumni with Ph. D in Statistics. » Steve Van Doormaal – ISC, Waterloo alumni with both BMath and BSc. First Year Information Session PAGE 2

What do the advisors do? » Sign course override forms for all STAT and ACTSC courses (also, MTHEL 131 and ENGL 378). » Sign plan modification forms (used to declare ACTSC or STAT as your major) for all ACTSC and STAT plans. » Answer questions about courses in ACTSC and STAT. Things like pre-req or anti-req questions, offerings, order to complete them and so on. » Answer questions about the programs in ACTSC and STAT, such as electives needed, average to maintain, average calculation, how to do a double major or a minor with it. » Help you figure out where to get information when it isn’t something we can do. » Many, many more things! First Year Information Session PAGE 3

How do I get my question answered by an advisor? Ø First check the two FAQ pages on the department website. Ø If you can’t find your question, then you can either email the advisors at SASugrad. ADV@uwaterloo. ca or visit them during their regular office hours. We have standing hours, not appointments. Ø Hours are posted outside of M 3 3106, on the department website http: //uwaterloo. ca/statistics-and-actuarial-science/advising and weekly on the Waterloo Actuarial Science advisor facebook page. First Year Information Session PAGE 4

What are the SOA, CIA and CAS? The SOA (Society of Actuaries) and CAS (Casualty Actuarial Society) are both organizations that administers actuarial exams. Ø The SOA focuses on non-casualty insurance. Designations: ASA, FSA, CERA Ø The CAS focuses on casualty insurance. Designations: ACAS, FCAS The CIA (Canadian Institute of Actuaries) is the national organization of the actuarial profession in Canada. § The CIA uses SOA and CAS exams to fulfill part of its qualification requirements. § Designations: ACIA, FCIA First Year Information Session PAGE 5

What will I need to declare ACTSC? To declare Actuarial Science in 2 A you need the following: ØOverall average (CAV) of ≥ 70% ØCompleted 10 courses (so no fails in first year) ØCompleted MTHEL 131 with a grade of ≥ 60% You do not have to declare in 2 A. You can declare later too. First Year Information Session PAGE 6

What will I need during first year to declare Statistics or Biostatistics? To declare Statistics in 2 A you need the following: ØOverall average (CAV) ≥ 60% ØMath Faculty average (MAV) ≥ 65% You do not have to declare in 2 A. You can declare later too. First Year Information Session PAGE 7

What if I want to declare BOTH Actuarial Science and Statistics? To declare a double in Actuarial Science and Statistics you need the following: ØOverall average (CAV) of ≥ 70% ØMath Faculty average (MAV) ≥ 65% ØCompleted 10 courses (so no fails in first year) ØCompleted MTHEL 131 with a grade of ≥ 60% ØTo complete the double you need to meet all of the Actuarial Science requirements PLUS have STAT 332, and 3 400 -level Statistics courses. First Year Information Session PAGE 8

What will I need during first year to declare Data Science? To compete to join Data Science in 2 A you need the following: ØOverall average (CAV) of ≥ 60% ØCompleted 10 courses (so no fails in first year) ØMath Faculty average (SMAV) ≥ 65% ØCS Faculty average (MAV) ≥ 70% ØCompleted CS 136 Currently the averages to get in are much higher, so realistically all of them should be in the 80’s for you to have a chance. If you are in 1 B and will have completed CS 136 and 10 courses by the end of the term, you may apply by filling out a web form. The link is https: //uwaterloo. ca/statistics-and-actuarialscience/future-undergraduate-students/interested-transferring-bmath-data-science. First Year Information Session PAGE 9

Data Science – Bmath vs BCS BMATH BCS Second communication course is ENGL 378 Selection from EMLS 101 R-104 R, 110 R, 129 R, ENGL 101 B, 108 D, 109, 119, 209, 210 E/F, 251 A, SPCOM 100, 223, 225, 227, 228 9 Free choice non math courses Non math courses must follow depth and breadth requirements Statistics with CS Courses CS with Statistics Courses • Admission decisions for both programs are decided by the same person. • You can apply to both the BCS and BMath versions at the same time. • Admission is competitive and you should have a CS, MATH and CAV all in the 80’s to have a chance. • You can apply more than once – but this is only recommended if your averages (CS and MATH) go up. First Year Information Session PAGE 10

What is MTHEL 131? Introduction to Actuarial Practice Individual life insurance products. Introduction to property and casualty insurance. Introductory risk management, insurance pricing and valuation. Pension plan design. Think of it as Actuarial Science without all the math. It also includes a large writing component that will be submitted a few times. The course is offered every term, so if you aren’t in it now, make sure you sign up for it in Winter, otherwise you won’t be able to declare Actuarial Science in 2 A. First Year Information Session PAGE 11

Courses to watch out for. Ø ACTSC 232 – often taken in 2 B, requires ≥ 60% in ACTSC 231 and ≥ 60% in MTHEL 131 Ø ACTSC 331 – requires ≥ 60% in ACTSC 232 Ø Honours ACTSC requires one of STAT 340 or 341 but the options require a specific one, so make sure you know which you want before taking them. Ø ENGL 378 – requires ≥ 70% in your first communication course (EMLS 101 R, 102 R, EMLS/ENGL 129 R, ENGL 109, SPCOM 100, 223) and counts as your 2 nd communication course Ø STAT 330, 333, 340, 341 – require ≥ 60% in STAT 230 Ø STAT 331, 332, 371, 372 – require ≥ 60% in STAT 231 First Year Information Session PAGE 12

Future calendar changes In Fall 2020 ACTSC will be changing the 431 -432 sequence and making it become ACTSC 363 any of 431, 432 or 463. » These changes are most likely going to make this calendar much more popular than the current one. In Fall 2021 more changes will come to ACTSC courses but this time on the 371/372 side. More will be posted once approved by senate. Make sure you check course pre-reqs when new calendars come out. Program changes are tied to a specific calendar, but course updates take effect immediately. So you can follow the 2019/2020 calendar as long as you study here but if a pre-req changes on a 4 th year course in 2022 you need to meet that new pre-req. First Year Information Session PAGE 13

Adding the Finance Option to ACTSC. To complete Honours Actuarial Science with the Finance option requires you to complete the Honours Actuarial Science plan plus the following: • 1 of AFM 424 or ACTSC 471/AFM 476 (advanced Finance course). – will count on “Two additional courses chosen from” list. • 1 of CS 370 or CS 371 – will count as the “One additional 300 - level or 400 -level math course”. • All of ACTSC 372, ACTSC 445, STAT 340, AFM 102 and CS 476. – ACTSC 372 will count as the other course on the “Two additional courses chosen from” list and ACTSC 445 will count as one of the “Three additional 400 level ACTSC courses”. First Year Information Session PAGE 14

Adding Predicative Analytics to ACTSC. Starting in the 2017/2018 calendar, to complete Honours Actuarial Science with the Predictive Analytics option requires you to complete the Honours Actuarial Science plan plus the following: • 1 of ACTSC 433 or STAT 437. – ACTSC 433 will count as one of the “Three additional 400 -level ACTSC courses”. • 1 of STAT 440 or STAT 442. – will count as the “One additional 300 - level or 400 -level math course”. • All of CS 330, STAT 341, STAT 431, STAT 441 and STAT 443. – The 400 level STAT courses can count as your “Two additional courses chosen from” list. First Year Information Session PAGE 15

Adding another Minor/Major. » Honours STAT is the easiest program to add another major or minor too as it has the most free choice. There are several MATH 3 xx or 4 xx and the non-math courses only use up the communication courses. Common additions include ECON, ACTSC, Business plans like FARM, CO, etc. . » ACTSC has 1 MATH 3 xx or 4 xx, and uses 6 or 7 of electives. Common additions include STAT double (only requires 2 extra courses if planned early) » Data Science cannot be combined with another major, but can have minors or joints. First Year Information Session PAGE 16

Tips for Success! Ø Course Select your classes Ø We use course selection numbers to decide the size of our classes. If you do not course select and a course is full or has a conflict, you will not get in. Ø Plan in Advance Ø Use the program sheets online to plan out your future terms. Not all courses are offered every term. Ø Come to Advising hours prepared Ø Have any forms already filled out that you will need Ø Only come during advising hours Ø Plan mods done after the first two weeks of class First Year Information Session PAGE 17

Summary of things to remember. Admission into Actuarial Science CAV ≥ 70% Remain in Actuarial Science SMAV ≥ 70% Admission into in Statistics CAV of ≥ 60% and MAV ≥ 65% Remain in Statistics MAV ≥ 65% APPLY to Data Science CS, Math and CAV ≥ 80% Remain in Data Science MAV/SMAV ≥ 65% and CS MAV≥ 60% STAT 230 + 231, ACTSC 231 + 232, Mark of ≥ 60% MTHEL 131 as pre-reqs for other courses EMLS 101 R, 102 R, EMLS ENGL 129 R, ENGL 109, SPCOM 100 + 223 Mark of ≥ 70% Advisor email SASugrad. ADV@uwaterloo. ca Communication skills are CRITICAL to be successful! First Year Information Session PAGE 18

ADVISOR EMAIL: SASUGRADADV@UWATERLOO. CA ADVISOR OFFICE HOURS: HTTPS: //UWATERLOO. CA/SAS/CURRENT-UNDERGRADUATESTUDENTS/ACADEMIC-ADVISING First Year Information Session PAGE 19