Some questions from a senior high school student - Actuarial Outpost

Hey guys, I am in my final year of high school currently living in Ontario, Canada. I'm trying to decide what career to pursue and actuarial science seems like a strong choice. I just have a few questions before I dedicate the rest of my life to it, so here goes:

1. Why is the salary information that dw simpson posts so different than the salary information that I see elsewhere? For example, when I look at lists of good jobs in the US it lists actuaries as having something like 80k median salary, but that doesn't seem to agree with the information posted on the dw simpson salary. The only explanation that I can think of is that the 80k doesn't include bonus whereas dw simpson does, as well as the fact that a number of actuaries never make fellowship, but is there anything else that could cause this discrepancy. I only ask this because it seems mind blowing that such a job exists that you can make mid 100s when you're 30 and work about 40 hours a week (and have it be a job that essentially no one has heard of). It just seems too good to be true.

2. How much math is involved in this profession? I am a math geek and consider it essential that a job I do consists of using a fair bit of math. I've heard that P/C maybe involves more math that other disciplines. Furthermore, I've heard that you use less and less math the further you advance in your career. Are both these things true? When compared to being a professor or engineer (two other jobs I am considering) is the amount of math used comparable? Are there an other jobs that I should consider as a math geek?

3. How much of a difference is there in the actuarial science programs of different universities. I've applied to Western, Waterloo, and U of T. I've heard that Waterloo has the best act sci program, but by how much? And why, specifically? Like, is it worth turning down thousands of dollars of scholarship from Western, for example, to go to Waterloo? If I wanted to go work in the States after graduation, is there a university of those three that's good in that respect?

Thanks in advance.

Source: http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actuarial_discussion_forum/showthread.php?t=254932

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