Deep Gupta graduated from Ohio State Undergrad in 2024. He graduated with a majors in Actuarial Science and Data Analytics . He currently works for New York Life Company as an Actuarial Assistant in the Actuarial Development Program. Previously, he has interned at Principal Financial Group, Great American Insurance Group, and Nationwide P&C. Feel free to contact him at deepgupta11101@gmail.com. 

How did you first become interested in actuarial science?

I discovered the profession in elementary school (and became interested since then) through some good luck. Several actuaries throughout Columbus would attend math night events with our school's enriched math program, where we would all play games, puzzles, and math; these actuaries included fellow OSU program alum Sherry Chan, Bethany Coffey, and Martin Molloy, who I've reconnected with now as an actuary myself!

How did Ohio State's program stand out to you?

The program's size, alignment of curriculum to exam syllabi, and broad alumni connections in the industry all stood out to me and proved to be invaluable throughout my time as a student.

What do you love most about Ohio State?

Community and service. I was born and raised a Buckeye, and the feeling of being home on campus is unmatched. Buckeyes truly care about each other and the broader Columbus community and serve that community through so many philanthropic endeavors.

What did you think about the faculty in the program?

The faculty, both as professors in a classroom and heads of the actuarial club, always had the heart of a teacher, whether that was teaching long-term actuarial math or the nuances of navigating your first internship search.

How were your interactions with other students in the program?

I started school in the pandemic, so things looked a lot different for me for a few years; thankfully, as things reverted toward normalcy, I found study buddies for both courses and actuarial exams, which is an amazing way to stay motivated and navigate challenging material.

What role did OSU's program play in tackling the SOA or CAS exams?

The OSU curriculum was well crafted to match most (for many exams, nearly all) of the syllabus for all seven of the ASA exams I took; even for exams I did not take right after an OSU course, re-learning this content was much easier than seeing everything for the first time.

Tell us about your internship experience.

I'm thankful to have experience interning at a wide variety of organizations: smaller vs larger actuarial programs, SOA vs P&C, etc. 

What has been your biggest takeaway from the program? Was there any class or skill that stood out? How did the content prepare you for your role?

Perseverance and being a quick learner. The exam process is filled with fails and challenges, and most young actuaries are placed in rotation programs where you learn quickly and rotate to something new. Balancing a rigorous curriculum with a rich campus life is a great way to practice the demands on a young actuary!

How would you describe your work in actuarial science, and what excites you about the field?

I'm currently in a non-traditional role in our actuarial program, so my work doesn't always feel like it aligns very clearly with my education and exam knowledge. However, there is great value in such a rotation: I feel more well rounded as an actuary with exposure in the distribution and business side of things, and this broad exposure and value across an insurance company excites me.

Is there anything about actuarial science that might surprise someone new to the field?

How collaborative the work is. While studying in university and for exams is an individual, technical endeavor, so much actuarial work is within your team and across other teams, whose work you rely on and who will rely on your work. Learning to communicate, document, and plan is just as important as the technical analysis you'll complete.

Can you elaborate on your current role and typical things you encounter on a day to day basis?

I'm currently in our agency compensation area, where we design and analyze the incentives, bonuses, and other compensation that drives agent recruitment, productivity, and retention. Typically, my days are split between more regular reporting analyses on existing programs, designing new analyses to develop or change some program, and meetings with various stakeholders who oversee agency distribution.

What advice do you have for current and future students?

Be involved on campus! It's easy to see the importance of doing well in class and passing exams as boxes to check and have on a resume that will land you an internship. However, it's also very important to be an effective time manager, communicator, leader, etc. and such traits are not as easily developed in the classroom or in actuarial exams. Being involved on campus will sharpen these skills and make your experience as a Buckeye much more holistic.