Midwest High School Scholars Actuarial Academy for Underrepresented Groups

The one-week program is designed especially for above-average African-American, Hispanic, and Native American high school students who excel in mathematics, enjoy learning, and like to solve complicated problems. If you have a passion for mathematics and an appetite for knowledge, you may have what it takes to be an actuary. This program will help you decide if an actuarial career is a way to use your mathematical ability.

2017 MHSSAA program dates: Sunday, July 9 - Friday, July 14

2017 MHSSA Program Flyer

Visit the MHSSAA Facebook Page!

Purpose

This program helps to explain what actuaries do, where they work, what they have in common and if an actuarial career might be a good choice for you. You will meet and talk to actuaries, observe them at work, and learn how you can become an actuary.

Benefits

During the program you will:

Gain an understanding of what actuaries do in the insurance and financial services industries;
Acquire knowledge of how you can use your mathematical ability in an actuarial career;
Receive information about career and job opportunities available in the actuarial profession;
Learn about professional organizations representing actuaries;
Develop personal contacts with actuaries and organizations that provide scholarships, internships, summer jobs, and mentors to help guide your career;
Find out how you can become an actuary.

Click here to read testimonials from Samantha Buresch, Gloria Mascote, and Brandon Stevens who are past participants!

Scholarships

The Midwest High School Scholars Actuarial Academy provides, at no cost, on-campus room and board, field trips, and career information materials for students selected to attend the program. Each student also receives a $200 stipend to cover transportation and incidental expenses. Special scholarship opportunities available in Illinois State University's Actuarial Program.

Alumni of this program are eligible for a one-time $300 scholarship upon enrollment in a recognized program of study of actuarial science in a college of their choice. In addition to that, alumni of this program receive $400 one time scholarship if they enroll as students at Illinois State University, and also additionally, another $300 upon enrollment in the actuarial science sequence in the mathematics major at Illinois State University.

One-time $100 scholarship to a student who finishes the program, when this student takes, for the first time, a professional actuarial examination
offered by the Society of Actuaries and/or the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Key Topics

What actuaries do
Where actuaries work
What actuaries have in common
How to become an actuary
How to prepare for an actuarial career in high school and college
How actuaries achieve professional status by passing examinations

Special Features

Tour Illinois State University campus
Hear professional actuaries explain what they do
Take field trips to observe actuaries at work
Meet Illinois State University students who are preparing for an actuarial career
Talk to professionals about career and job opportunities for actuaries
Learn about Illinois State University
Learn more about the Department of Mathematics
Learn more about the Actuarial Science Program
Learn more about the Katie School of Insurance and Financial Services

Application Procedure

Enrollment is limited to 20-21 students. Completed applications, including a letter of recommendation from the student's mathematics teacher or principal and a grade transcript, must be submitted by April 1, 2017, to be considered for a scholarship to the program. Preference will be given to students who excel in mathematics, enjoy being intellectually challenged, and receive a lot of satisfaction out of applying their analytical skills to solve problems. All applicants will be notified of their status by May 1, 2017. Priority will be given to current sophomores and juniors, but all class levels in high school will be considered.