1. First Year Information Session
November 16, 2017
Dina Dawoud
Emily Kozlowski
Riley Metzger
Alice Pfeifer-Hanov
Reza Ramezan

2. Meet your Statistics, Data Science and Actuarial Science advisors:
Dina Dawoud – Lecturer, Waterloo alumni in Biostatistics, and also a math exchange advisor.
Emily Kozlowski – Lecturer, Waterloo alumni, twice in Actuarial Science (BMath & MMath), was 2nd in her class for her Bmath, 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 who came back to us after teaching in California, and Waterloo alumni in Statistics.

3. What do the advisors do?
Sign course override forms for all STAT and ACTSC courses (also, MTHEL 131).
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.
Many, many more things!

4. How do I get my question answered by an advisor?
First check the two FAQ pages on the department website.
If you can’t find your question, then you can either the advisors at or visit them during their regular office hours.
Hours are posted outside of M3 3106, on the department website science/advising  and weekly on the Waterloo Actuarial Science advisor facebook page.

5. - Society of Actuaries -
What is the SOA?
- Society of Actuaries -
Professional body in the United States. Actuaries complete a series of professional exams to earn an actuarial credential.
ASA – Associate of the Society of Actuaries
CERA – Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst
FSA – Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (top level)

6. What is the CIA? - Canadian Institute of Actuaries -
Professional Actuarial body in Canada. Actuaries complete a series of professional exams (SOA/CAS) to earn their Canadian actuarial credential.
Students can receive exemption from CIA exams by doing very well in their Waterloo courses. See our website for more information.
ACIA – Associate of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries
FCIA – Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (top level)
CAS – Casualty Actuarial Society
A more specific professional body dealing with Casualty insurance.

7. What will I need during first year to declare Actuarial Science?
To declare Actuarial Science in 2A you need the following:
Overall average (CAV) of ≥70%
Completed 10 courses (so no fails in first year)
Completed MTHEL 131 with a grade of ≥60%
You do not have to declare in 2A. You can declare later too.

8. What will I need during first year to declare Statistics or Statistics for Health?
To declare Statistics in 2A you need the following:
Overall average (CAV) ≥60%
Math Faculty average (MAV) ≥65%
You do not have to declare in 2A. You can declare later too.

9. What if I want to declare BOTH Actuarial Science and Statistics?
To declare a double in Actuarial Science and Statistics you need the following:
Overall average (CAV) of ≥70%
Math Faculty average (MAV) ≥65%
Completed 10 courses (so no fails in first year)
Completed MTHEL 131 with a grade of ≥60%
To complete the double you need to meet all of the Actuarial Science requirements PLUS have STAT 332, and level Statistics courses.

10. What will I need during first year to declare Data Science?
To compete to join Data Science in 2A you need the following:
Overall average (CAV) of ≥60%
Completed 10 courses (so no fails in first year)
Math Faculty average (MAV) ≥65%
CS Faculty average (MAV) ≥70%
Completed CS 136
If you are in 1B and will have completed CS 136 and 10 courses by the end of the term, you may apply by

11. Data Science BMath vs BCS
Second communication course is MTHEL 300
Selection from EMLS 101R-104R, 110R, 129R, ENGL 101B, 108D, 109, 119, 209, 210E/F, 251A, SPCOM 100, 223, 225, 227, 228
8 Free choice non math courses
Non math courses must follow depth and breadth requirements
Statisics with CS Courses
CS with Statistics Courses

12. 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 2A.

13. What other courses should I watch out for?
ACTSC 232 – often taken in 2B, requires ≥60% in ACTSC 231 and ≥60% in MTHEL 131
ACTSC 331 – requires ≥60% in ACTSC 232
MTHEL 300/ENGL 378 – will be offered starting Spring 2017, requires ≥70% in your first communication course (EMLS 101R, 102R, EMLS/ENGL 129R, ENGL 109, SPCOM 100, 223)
STAT 330, 333, 340 – require ≥60% in STAT 230
STAT 331, 332 – require ≥60% in STAT 231

14. 2018/2019 calendar changes
When you declare a major you can use any calendar that has existed in your time studying. So for you that means 2017/2018 and later.
Changes coming in 2018/2019 to Stats and Actsc :
Statistics for Health will become an undergrad Biostatistics program

15. Adding the Finance Option to ACTSC
As of the 2016/2017 calendar, to complete Honours Actuarial Science with the Finance option requires you to complete the Honours Actuarial Science plan plus the following:
1 of AFM 472/424 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”.

16. Adding the Predictive Analytics Option to ACTSC
Starting in the 2017/2018 calendar, to complete Honours Actuarial Science with the Predictive Analystics 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 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.

17. Summary of Important 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%
STAT , ACTSC , MTHEL 131 as pre-reqs for other courses
Mark of ≥60%
EMLS 101R, 102R, EMLS ENGL 129R, ENGL 109, SPCOM
Mark of ≥70%
Actuarial Science questions?
Data Science questions?
Statistics questions?
Communication skills are CRITICAL to be successful!

18. Thank you! Any Questions?
Actuarial Science Advisor: Data Science Advisor:
Statistics Advisor:
Advisor office hours: uwaterloo.ca/statistics-and-actuarial-science/advising
For more information see our Frequently Asked Questions page:
or our First Year Frequently Asked Questions page: