Johnny's advice: There is a tremendous demand for promising actuarial students in the workplace. If you can pass an exam or two, are bright and presentable, you have a great chance of landing a good job coming out of school.

Johnny, what got you interested in actuarial science? My wife Helen had heard about it, and her company had done some work for an actuarial firm. She thought actuarial science would be a good career for me. It sounded like a good fit.

You made a transition from a prior career. How did you accomplish that? Yes, I was an insurance producer in commercial lines, part of the sales force. I went back to school at MTSU and got a degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Actuarial Science. I found out about MTSU's program through a friend.

What position do you currently hold? I am an Actuary with Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Inc. in Nashville, TN.

What types of projects do you work on? I work with extended warranties and contractor's equipment coverages that accompany Caterpillar products. And here in the Product Development Unit, we design new products that involve actuarial expertise.

Every career has its plusses and minuses. For you, what's the biggest plus? Self-determination. Through your own efforts, you have more control over career advancement than people in most fields.

And biggest minus? The exam process. It's the ultimate double-edged sword. If you pass you can advance, but you have to pass exams to advance.