I PASSED!...I think.

This past Wednesday, I took the first SOA Actuarial Exam (P) for the second time this year. After putting in over 300 study hours only to fail with my first attempt, I discovered different areas of study that I lacked to cover and hammered in on them this time around.

When I completed the test on Wednesday, the computer printout read "Congratulations! A preliminary analysis of your test results shows that you were successful in achieving a passing score."... PRELIMINARY!

The above statement infers that I need to wait at least six weeks before official results are mailed. Until I receive this notification, the only inkling I have is a preliminary passing mark — and that's good enough for me! With a passing score, I will have officially begun my career as a budding actuary. Through sequences of more tests and seminars, I can eventually hone in on a specific career, gain larger responsibilities within my field, and eventually work my way up the pecking order.

Nevertheless, these hopes are merely preliminary as I sit and play the waiting game.