Paige McAuliffe

Class of 2009

Hometown: Pepperell, MA
Major: Actuarial Mathematics
I am a senior Actuarial Mathmatics major at WPI. On campus I participate in the Big Sisters Program, play intremural sports, am the treasurer of the actuarial club, and work as an admissions intern. I hope you enjoy reading about what it’s like to be a student at WPI!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

First MQP Meeting

For me, and the majority of my classmates, MQP has officially begun. We have met with teammates and advisers, talked to companies, and for the past 3 years, taken as many related classes as possible. . . so now its time for the fun to begin.

step 1- Research

My schedule this quarter is not very time demanding. Today for example, I begin class at 9am, and finish at 10am. Although to many people this may sound like a day of rest and relaxation, my day is not yet over.

Today I will spend a few hours reading and taking notes - research for my MQP. Currently my teammates and I are researching how certain actuarial tables are developed. We are reading rules and regulations, going through case studies, and when the books arrive, we will be studying from actuarial text books as well.

Our project involves actuarial assumption setting. More specifically, that of a a certain company. We will review the tools and techniques they use, determine their effectiveness, and then propose practical improvements.

My MQP will not be quite as glamorous as those of some of my classmates. The ones working with breweries, designing buildings, or building cars for example. However, it is the kind of work I will be doing throughout my career. . . and a great addition to my resume.