By Philip Pantitanonta, Student in the Actuarial Science Program, School of Professional Studies
It was a Monday morning, and I rushed to Faculty House to grab my name tag on the first day of orientation to quickly find my seat in a hall crowded with strangers who would soon be my new friends.
One of the key moments during orientation week was when Dr. Lina Xu, the Actuarial Science program’s deputy director, discussed the expansive career resources the program offered, including career coaching and assistance at the Career Design Lab. She introduced us to the Proseminar, a required course that invites industry professionals to give talks about their companies and provide glimpses into their careers. Lina also provided us with a list of career events for the upcoming semester, encouraging us to attend fairs such as the ASNY Virtual Career Fair, Gamma Iota Sigma Annual Conference, and the Columbia Actuarial Science Career Fair, which she emphasized was the most crucial to attend among all the events.
As a Columbia-hosted event specifically tailored for its students, the Career Fair was the one I anticipated the most. I went well prepared, practicing potential answers in the mirror, printing more than 30 resumes with the finest paper, and dressing up in my best suit.
After my Actuarial Models class, I hurried from Lewisohn Hall to Casa Italiana on the opposite side of campus. After climbing the marble staircase to the second floor, I was overwhelmed with choices. There were more than twenty companies spanning all sectors of the industry, all eager to connect. Which one should I head to first?
Students at the 2024 Actuarial Science Career Fair at Casa Italiana.
I decided to warm up at New York Life, a familiar name among Actuarial Science students. There, I reconnected with Ilya Gorshteyn and Alex Zaslavskiy, whom I had previously spoken to during our Proseminar and the ASNY Career Fair. I was glad they recognized me, as we were able to continue our conversation from our previous interactions and I was able to gain more insights about the company’s operations and summer internship program.
I then went to reintroduce myself to other past Proseminar companies such as Marsh, Global Atlantic, and Arch. It seemed as if it was a reunion event since, similar to my interaction with New York Life, I was able to pick up conversations where we had left off and delve deeper, reinforcing my candidacy. I also explored new companies that were in attendance. Some of them I was not as familiar with but quickly learned about as their representatives enthusiastically shared insights.
A representative from Global Atlantic Financial Group greets students at the Actuarial Science Career Fair.
What distinguished this career fair from countless others I have attended was that it was exclusively targeted to Columbia Actuarial Science and adjacent program students. The ratio between companies and attendees was much lower, which meant that recruiters were able to engage more attentively with each student. I felt more natural speaking with the recruiters as there was no need to rush the conversation, which has typically been my experience with larger fairs.
As my friends and I exited Casa Italiana, we left not only with company swag filling up our bags, but also a sense of confidence and motivation, a clarity about our career paths, and an excitement for the professional journey ahead. I could not have felt any more empowered having had the chance to connect on a deeper level with professionals who truly valued the actuarial skills I was developing. The fair reinforced my commitment to this field with new insights, stronger professional connections, and a greater sense of purpose.
About the Program
Bolstered by research and faculty from Columbia University's department of statistics and Columbia Engineering School, the M.S. in Actuarial Science program equips students with the tools, skills, and knowledge to excel in today’s rapidly evolving actuarial and related workplaces. Graduates are sought after by insurance, investment and banking, and media and technology companies, among others.
The 36-credit program is ranked No. 1 for the best master's program in Actuarial Science in the United States and is the recipient of the Society of Actuaries Presidential Award, and is available full-time and part-time in person, with select courses available online.
