2016 Student Case Study Challenge

The Society of Actuaries (SOA) is dedicated to advancing education and research for the actuarial profession.  As part of its mission, the SOA recognizes the importance of partnering with  colleges and universities to help develop future actuaries.  With this in mind, the SOA launched its first-ever, Student Case Study Challenge, which provides an opportunity for teams of students to apply their actuarial skills on a real world problem.  Read the details of the case study, which focuses on quantifying healthcare industry adverse disruptors. 

SOA Announces Recipients of Case Study Challenge

The Society of Actuaries (SOA) announced the recipients of the Student Case Study Challenge :

• First place, the University of Waterloo with a $5,000 grant. ( Winning Submission)
• Second Place, the University of Hong Kong with a $3,000 grant. ( Winning Submission)
• Third place, two recipients: The University of Iowa ( Winning Submission) and Georgia State University
  ( Winning Submission) with $2,000 grants each.

The finalists included a team from the University of California in Los Angeles ( Winning Submission), and another team of students from the University of Waterloo ( Winning Submission).

Semi-finalists, in alphabetical order are:

• Australian National University
• Boston University
• Indiana University
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities

About the Case Study Challenge

Over the course of eight weeks, teams of up to five students will research a case study situation, conduct actuarial analysis, formulate solutions, and present recommendations.  The work will require a team approach to identify issues and organize priorities.  The team will need to understand and select from potential data sources, develop models with appropriate accuracy metrics, summarize relevant results, and then present recommendations in a written format.  Teams are encouraged to seek guidance from a faculty advisor to assist them in their overall approach.  Teams can look forward to showcasing their creativity while building synergies within an actuarial setting.

After grading is completed, finalists will be invited to formally present to a panel of SOA judges for top awards.  All teams meeting a minimum standard will be recognized in official SOA publications and team members will be awarded a certificate of participation.

Read the official rules of the SOA Student Case Study Challenge. Download the intention to submit form for the challenge or submit online.