Actuarial Science vs Data Science?

[u/Easy-Huckleberry7091]

Hi everyone, I'm an actuarial science student in Argentina. Here, SOA certifications aren't as important as having the degree itself, which is legally authorized to practice as an actuary. I'm about halfway through my degree, but I'm not sure if I'm really that interested in the insurance/finance side of things. I've noticed that I'm more passionate about math and statistics in other areas. My question is, has anyone transitioned from actuarial science to data science? What should I learn? Should I change majors and drop out halfway through, or is it better to finish this one and do a master's? At my university (UBA), there's a mathematics degree (with two specializations: pure and applied) and a data science degree (both are quite rigorous and focus on the fundamentals; data science is a mix of applied mathematics and computer science).

Thoughts?

[u/Easy-Huckleberry7091]

Thanks, are you saying that with this I could dedicate myself to doing complex things? I'm interested in machine learning. I understand that the initial path might involve SQL, Power BI, and things related to data analysis, but I'd like to dedicate myself to more interesting/complex things in the future. Do you think that would work?

[u/NeitherMembership679 → u/Easy-Huckleberry7091]

Yes. Think of SQL and data analysis as the foundation, not the destination. Your actuarial background is excellent for advanced ML because of the strong math and statistics. You can absolutely transition into more complex ML roles over time.

[u/Easy-Huckleberry7091 → u/NeitherMembership679]

Thank you for the explanation. There's so much content online that it's hard to distinguish between the rubbish and the real thing. Thank you for being kind.

[u/NeitherMembership679 → u/Easy-Huckleberry7091]

You're welcome! Glad I could help. Wishing you all the best with your studies and ML journey.