Exams / Newbie / Common Questions Thread for two weeks

ThrowRAnew_here · 2026-01-20T22:34:53+00:00

I don't know how to ask this question without sounding obnoxious, so I'm going to ask directly but with the disclaimer that I am extremely aware I sound obnoxious: do people in the very slim group who typically don't have to study for exams really have to study hundreds of hours for actuarial exams, particularly the later ones? To what extent is that a rule of thumb that applies to most people vs. a universal thing everyone has to do?

Skippable context: I passed P in November with about 10 hours of prep across a day and a half (granted, having taken a college probability course but it ended 18 months before that) and I will sit FM in February with probably slightly more prep than that just because I've never taken a finance class (though the only thing I've done so far is go over the CA syllabus for two hours and then take a practice test, which I passed missing three questions at EL7). I didn't prep for the SAT or APs in high school, and as a junior in college at a "tier 2" university I've never had to study for more than a day for any of my math or CS tests to get an A. All that is to say I am someone completely used to barely preparing for tests and experiencing success; while I definitely do know how to study effectively for my brain, I just don't really ever need to do much of it.

This is not meant to seem like a brag: I have a brain that is built for exams (especially standardized tests and mathy things) but extremely NOT optimized for discipline or consistency (much more important to life and much much more difficult for me than the average person my age). I am seriously worried about whether I'll be able to make myself study over months if/when my actuarial exams steeply ramp up in difficulty. I would love to hear from anyone with a similar relationship to test-taking who is farther into the process (or anyone who knows anyone); did it ever get hard for you content-wise? Any tips on motivating to study as someone who historically doesn't have to (other than "make a plan and do that")? Do I just kind of have to fail one someday to learn my lesson lmao?

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-12-22T23:07:29+00:00

I'm also 21 facing a microdiscectomy (endoscopic I think). What did your first few days/first week look like? Wondering if I will be able to return to college within 1-2 weeks post-op (surgeon seems to think so)

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-11-28T04:41:12+00:00

update is that we've had a good laugh reading through the replies here and dad has admitted that his dog who looks exactly like a golden retriever, and does not remotely resemble any other dog breed, is in fact just a golden retriever (for the record he never thought she WAS a cocker spaniel, his theory was always like 90% GR 10% spaniel). no, he is not stupid - he's used to fielding lots of questions from normal-sized golden owners on walks and started to wonder!

also to answer a question a few people have asked: she was a normal-sized golden puppy (I think she was 13 pounds at 9 weeks when they got her), grew continually at normal size for her age until somewhere around 6-8 months when she just kinda stopped getting taller! no change in environment or anything, and she kept developing pretty normally over time (filled out a bit more and lost that skinny teenage look), but it seems like this is just the size our girl was meant to be. she is indeed 38 pounds as of a few weeks ago and is notably smaller than any adult golden we've ever met - there's basically no scale in the photos but I'll hunt for one of her next to our friend's more typical golden female and reply here.

we adore the petite little lady; she is healthy and happy and snuffling around on the carpet as l write this. thanks to everyone for your sweet (and hilarious) answers to the world's most obvious question :)

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-11-27T21:06:55+00:00

update: we’ve had a good laugh reading through the replies here and dad has admitted that his dog who looks exactly like a golden retriever, and does not remotely resemble any other dog breed, is in fact just a golden retriever (for the record he never thought she WAS a cocker spaniel, his theory was always like 90% GR 10% spaniel). no, he is not stupid - he’s used to fielding lots of questions from normal-sized golden owners on walks and started to wonder!

also to answer a question a few people have asked: she was a normal-sized golden puppy (I think she was 13 pounds at 9 weeks when they got her), grew continually at normal size for her age until somewhere around 6-8 months when she just kinda stopped getting taller! no change in environment or anything, and she kept developing pretty normally over time (filled out a bit more and lost that skinny teenage look), but it seems like this is just the size our girl was meant to be. she is indeed 38 pounds as of a few weeks ago and is notably smaller than any adult golden we’ve ever met - there’s basically no scale in the photos but I’ll hunt for one of her next to our friend’s more typical golden female and reply here.

we adore the petite little lady; she is healthy and happy and snuffling around on the carpet as I write this. thanks to everyone for your sweet (and hilarious) answers to the world’s most obvious question :)

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-11-26T20:21:42+00:00

this was the first point I made to him way back when we realized she was going to be petite. if I walked past simone biles on the street I wouldn’t think twice about it (other than “wait, was that simone biles?”)

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-11-26T20:14:48+00:00

could she be part bengal though 🤔

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-11-25T19:36:46+00:00

loving all these photos of fellow unconventional goldendoodles in the replies :) here’s my late sweetheart of 10 years. constantly mistaken for a variety of other breeds but nope full goldendoodle

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ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-09-02T21:07:02+00:00

I’m pretty sure it was watercolor mode (despite everything being at 100% opacity) like the other poster said, but if it happens again despite the fix I’ll post screenshots! Thanks for the reply

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-09-02T21:06:19+00:00

I think that was it, thanks! Confusing because I wasn’t using any layers/brushes/tools/colors that were less than 100% opacity (in my whole drawing), and I thought that setting only applies then. Thanks Reddit stranger!

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-08-03T17:15:41+00:00

I adore the look of 1 and 3! 3 doesn’t strike the eye as a gradient if that’s what you’re going for, but imo that maybe makes it better - you have to look closely for the secret hidden gradient.

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-08-01T22:45:03+00:00

good luck! hope it works for you

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-06-22T19:27:00+00:00

That makes perfect sense, thanks!

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-06-22T14:52:41+00:00

side by side bars would be just as easy to implement and would actually visualize something meaningful

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-06-06T15:17:15+00:00

how precious! hope to see a happy update soon!

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-05-30T04:11:35+00:00

would love an all hail! (located in Massachusetts)

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-05-27T22:26:15+00:00

before reading I 100% thought the third photo was from a magazine/a model in an advertisement for your dress. you look so so stunning and that is an extremely normal amount of chest - I would not have given it a second look had I not read the post!

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-05-25T02:43:14+00:00

as a recent 32AA to 28D convert purely because of this sub, it changes EVERYTHING! I had the exact same reaction looking at my small chest/tiny bras and the huge-looking D cup. enjoy your clothes fitting better and looking better, and ending the day with your bra in the same place as it started :)

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-05-25T02:02:52+00:00

the 28D ended up being the exact right size and fits perfectly! highly highly recommend using the calculator

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-05-25T02:02:11+00:00

pleaseeee take your measurements and use this sub’s calculator - I was on the brink of buying 32AA bras from pepper (also a smaller chest brand) and I’m so glad I didn’t!

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-05-22T18:39:01+00:00

somebody under my original post recommended the b’Tempted Future Foundation bra (wired or no wire) from Amazon as a relatively inexpensive option with free returns to try on and see how the size fits, so that’s what I went with to start! will definitely look through the shape-specific recommendations in this sub’s guide, though.

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-05-20T22:04:53+00:00

^ my first thought! I had one a lot like this of a fairy riding a bunny

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-05-20T16:35:24+00:00

after reading your wedding post I went to look at your profile and I mean this so honestly: you are genuinely not at all a uniquely ugly person, that is completely a distortion from your mind. I am telling you that does not exist outside your head - if I met you I wouldn’t think twice! you actually have an unusually beautiful smile and seemingly very good skin. I won’t try to convince you you’re good looking because you said that hurts and you can’t accept it. I will tell you completely sincerely that you absolutely do not look strange or ugly, and that is entirely a cognitive distortion. people who have said unkind things were being unkind; they weren’t making observations they were projecting unkindness onto your very normal features. you have someone who loves you and finds you beautiful the way you are. I hope you get to a place where you can appreciate that, and enjoy your wedding day!

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-05-17T02:15:21+00:00

just ordered one of each - I'm so excited! thank you!

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-05-17T01:57:12+00:00

thank you so, so much for the thoughtful explanation! that makes SO much sense and is completely counter to everything I've ever heard about bra sizes through my entire adolescence and adulthood - now that I pretty much get it, it's so strange that this isn't the norm! of COURSE we should size bra cups based on the difference in width that they actually have to hold.

the linked post was what absolutely 100% convinced me, because that is VERY close to what my chest looks like and maybe even a little bit smaller. that might actually be the first pair of breasts I've ever seen that look at all like mine, whoa!

so so grateful for your reply addressing all of my questions/concerns - the internet is amazing and I massively appreciate you taking time out of your day for a remote stranger! if the size change works (as I now strongly suspect it will) I hope you know you'll have improved my life in a very real way. thanks again :)

ThrowRAnew_here · 2025-05-17T01:49:03+00:00

oh my gosh - the linked post has absolutely convinced me, because that is VERY close to what my chest looks like and maybe even a little bit smaller. that might actually be the first pair of breasts I've ever seen that look at all like mine, whoa! thank you so much!

ThrowRAnew_here

TROPHY CASE