Is SAS a valuable skill set?

[smwong]

Hey people,

I know a lot of actuaries know how to use the SAS language. I want to learn it, but I have to pay for myself to learn this statistical language from computing school. Just wonder if this is a worthwhile investment since a course like this costs more than 2000 bucks.
I also wonder which type of actuary (P/C, Life, Pension) come across or make use of SAS the most. Also wonder if there are a lot of banks or financial firms out there use SAS to do programming projects. Thanks.

[GefilteFish144]

$2000 is way too much for a student to pay for a computer course, especially SAS. The only applications you must know are MS Word and Excel. MS Access is encouraged but not required. Aside from that, you should have proficiency in at least one programming language, such as Visual Basic or C++. Our department uses SQL, but most of our new hires have never used it before. No biggie -- we figure that as long as you know one useful language, you'll have no problem learning another.

[DW Simpson]

Originally Posted by smwong

Is SAS a valuable [actuarial] skill set?

Absolutely. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...Adwsimpson.com will give you an idea of the variety of actuarial employers who specifically seek SAS experience.

There are a lot of free tutorials out there. http://www.google.com/Top/Computers/...Languages/SAS/ lists some of them.

[Last Train to Skaville]

Keep in mind that there is a difference between the using SAS in a mainframe environment and the SAS software package.

[JTBenson]

Originally Posted by smwong

Hey people,

I know a lot of actuaries know how to use the SAS language. I want to learn it, but I have to pay for myself to learn this statistical language from computing school. Just wonder if this is a worthwhile investment since a course like this costs more than 2000 bucks.
I also wonder which type of actuary (P/C, Life, Pension) come across or make use of SAS the most. Also wonder if there are a lot of banks or financial firms out there use SAS to do programming projects. Thanks.

Yes, it is valuable. No, don't spend 2000 on it. If your company uses it, you can learn on the job or maybe they will pay for training. If your company doesn't use it (or plan to use it), then you are wasting your money on something that won't help you.

[smwong]

Actually a few people in my office know how to use SAS, but I don't. I have also had quite a few interviews that the employers asked me whether I am familiar with SAS. So that's why I want to learn the tool. I have seen some online courses offering at around 50-60 bucks...... wonder if I can learn SAS by registering those online courses.....

[Happy Professional]

Don't learn anymore than you have to.

If you know too much SAS you will get type cast as a SAS monkey while the incapable actuaries get VP titles.

[felipe_R]

Hey, I saved 3000 dollars on a SAS class.

A local prestigious university was offering one, and I just showed up for the first day and after the lecture asked the prof if he minded if I audited.

Him "I assume you have some sort of connection to [our school]"

Me: "Nope"

Him: "I probably didnt want to know that"

As the assignments were emailed thru the schools system, he even asked me for my email and sent them independently to me.

the marginal cost to the school was almost zero, so really there was not problem.

Profs hate students who arent interested but just want the grade/credit, so conversely they wont say no to those who are interested in the subject and not the grade/credit.

[JTBenson]

Originally Posted by Happy Professional

Don't learn anymore than you have to.

If you know too much SAS you will get type cast as a SAS monkey while the incapable actuaries get VP titles.

I understand your point, but disagree with you assertion and reason.

You don't want to get type cast as just a SAS monkey. I was type cast as a VBA and Access monkey at one time and it was a tough transition to move myself out of that.

However, you skills as a programmer will be valuable. Just make sure you round it out with business skills.

[Happy Professional]

Well put.