It's inevitable that my grades would start to slip now that I'm studying so much for the CPA exam, but I didn't think I'd feel the pain as quickly as I have haha. I took a midterm awhile ago that was worth 45% of my grade (yeah... whatttt...) and I really didn't get it. I truly, truly, did not understand over 50% of the material going into it... it was all horrible statistics and stuff. But I didn't care enough to really learn it, especially since I'm cramming for the CPA. Aaaand we got our grades back today... 71%. Like... that is FORTY FIVE PERCENT OF MY GRADE in that class. Which means... basically impossible to get an A. Or almost even a B at this point, considering the final is cumulative and ALSO worth 45% of my grade.
:( I don't know what to do. I can't afford to study for the CPA exam any LESS than I'm studying now. There's no way I'm going to get it done in time if I do. Luckily I don't really have any exams coming up until finals... even then, I don't know how much time I'll have. Yikes.
Spring quarter cannot come soon enough, when I'm only going to be taking 12 credit hours!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
"Gold, silver, and other precious metals, and meat and some agricultural products are valued at net realizable value, which is net selling price less costs of disposal. In some exceptional cases, such as precious metals having a fixed determinable market value with no substantial cost of marketing, inventory may be stated at the higher market value."
omgggg I don't careeeeee. When am I EVER going to have to account for precious metals or farm products? Oh, I don't know, perhaps NEVER?
eff this.
omgggg I don't careeeeee. When am I EVER going to have to account for precious metals or farm products? Oh, I don't know, perhaps NEVER?
eff this.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Study Break
Okay. I'm interrupting my CPA studying to bring you this RIDICULOUS note.
So, since the CPA exam is absurdly difficult and confusing, and they're always adding new questions to the review software, questions come up from students all over the country about the lectures and the review software questions. So Becker (the review course I'm using) has a 'knowledgebase' where they post updates to their questions and the textbooks. Sometimes they post corrections to mistakes they've made, and sometimes they post clarifications on really confusing questions.
So I was confused about a question, and - surprise - it was on the knowledgebase.
This is the end of their clarification: "If we had divided, we would have computed 250,000 franc / $.20/franc, or franc / $/franc, and we would have ended up with franc2$, which makes no sense whatsoever, even on Pluto, back when Pluto was a planet."
This is legitimately what I deal with on a daily basis.
Other gems from the Becker review course (yes, I keep a word document open and I write down these quotes during my studying):
So, since the CPA exam is absurdly difficult and confusing, and they're always adding new questions to the review software, questions come up from students all over the country about the lectures and the review software questions. So Becker (the review course I'm using) has a 'knowledgebase' where they post updates to their questions and the textbooks. Sometimes they post corrections to mistakes they've made, and sometimes they post clarifications on really confusing questions.
So I was confused about a question, and - surprise - it was on the knowledgebase.
This is the end of their clarification: "If we had divided, we would have computed 250,000 franc / $.20/franc, or franc / $/franc, and we would have ended up with franc2$, which makes no sense whatsoever, even on Pluto, back when Pluto was a planet."
This is legitimately what I deal with on a daily basis.
Other gems from the Becker review course (yes, I keep a word document open and I write down these quotes during my studying):
- If a shareholder dies, who cares?!
- Let's go back to the notes. Don't you feel sorry for your friends and family right now? We're off doing something else. Maybe they're sleeping, taking a nap, out drinking, doing something, while you're enriching your mind, right? Going to be a big time CPA. Just think about all that money you're going to be make, right? Big car you're going to drive, nice house you're going to live in. It's going to be a good time.
- Okay, next page. Multiple step income statement. Here's your date for Friday night. Whatever you were going to do, you need to cancel those plans immediately.
- Your life, while you're studying for the CPA exam, you having fun while studying for the exam most definitely should be an extraordinary item. It'd better be both unusual and infrequent. (Yes, this is an accounting joke. For something to be considered an 'extraordinary item' it has to be both unusual and infrequent in nature. Gag me.)
- There's an inverse relationship between your happiness and your likeliness to pass the exam.
Monday, February 15, 2010
It's been awhile!
It's been awhile since I've updated. Let's see...
I got to see Donny this weekend, so that was a huge perk, to say the least. In this crazy, mixed-up world we live in, it's so unbelievably calming to know that there's someone right there with you every second of the way, even if they're not physically with you. And when they ARE with you, it's even better! We didn't do anything spectacular... it was our SIXTH Valentine's Day together, though!! How insane is that? But yeah, we kept it pretty low-key, as we do for pretty much everything in our lives haha. On Saturday we woke up, made brunch which was nice, then headed to his house in Westerville to hang out for a bit. It's always nice to see his family, too. Then we headed towards Polaris to buy him a camera for Ecuador (!) and then it was off to Olive Garden at 4:15 haha. We knew it'd be crazy the day before Valentine's Day. We only had to wait 20 minutes (they told us 45), and our server was hilarious. My chicken alfredo was delicious, and I don't care that our server made fun of me for "getting what I always get." Yum. Pluuuus infinite breadsticks. Pluuuus delicious wine that Donny didn't like so more for meee!
After dinner, we went to World Market, got a bottle of wine I knew we'd BOTH like (white zinfandel... my all-time favorite wine), then went to see Couples Retreat at the dollar theater (what uppp). The movie was pretty good... not everything I was hoping it to be, though. Then back to the apartment where we watched the Olympics and drank wine and traded Valentine's Day cards :) And then we went to bed early because we are old. Ha.
Him leaving on Sunday was even harder, knowing that he's going to be in ECUADOR in less than two weeks! He's going with other people in his program (it's like... through his program) for their spring break... but they are going to actually be gone for more like almost two weeks. He'll basically be in the jungles of Ecuador doing sustainability stuff (what that means, I have no idea). He's turning into quite the world traveler... by this summer, he'll have passed me in countries visited! (I've been to England and Italy... he's been to China and soon Ecuador and India... his countries are more legit than mine, anyway.)
Coming up:
Really, the worst part of the week is over (the assurance midterm) so I should just concentrate on being HAPPY that the rest of the week should be somewhat better. Phew.
I got to see Donny this weekend, so that was a huge perk, to say the least. In this crazy, mixed-up world we live in, it's so unbelievably calming to know that there's someone right there with you every second of the way, even if they're not physically with you. And when they ARE with you, it's even better! We didn't do anything spectacular... it was our SIXTH Valentine's Day together, though!! How insane is that? But yeah, we kept it pretty low-key, as we do for pretty much everything in our lives haha. On Saturday we woke up, made brunch which was nice, then headed to his house in Westerville to hang out for a bit. It's always nice to see his family, too. Then we headed towards Polaris to buy him a camera for Ecuador (!) and then it was off to Olive Garden at 4:15 haha. We knew it'd be crazy the day before Valentine's Day. We only had to wait 20 minutes (they told us 45), and our server was hilarious. My chicken alfredo was delicious, and I don't care that our server made fun of me for "getting what I always get." Yum. Pluuuus infinite breadsticks. Pluuuus delicious wine that Donny didn't like so more for meee!
After dinner, we went to World Market, got a bottle of wine I knew we'd BOTH like (white zinfandel... my all-time favorite wine), then went to see Couples Retreat at the dollar theater (what uppp). The movie was pretty good... not everything I was hoping it to be, though. Then back to the apartment where we watched the Olympics and drank wine and traded Valentine's Day cards :) And then we went to bed early because we are old. Ha.
Him leaving on Sunday was even harder, knowing that he's going to be in ECUADOR in less than two weeks! He's going with other people in his program (it's like... through his program) for their spring break... but they are going to actually be gone for more like almost two weeks. He'll basically be in the jungles of Ecuador doing sustainability stuff (what that means, I have no idea). He's turning into quite the world traveler... by this summer, he'll have passed me in countries visited! (I've been to England and Italy... he's been to China and soon Ecuador and India... his countries are more legit than mine, anyway.)
Coming up:
- seriously concentrating on the CPA exam. I didn't get off to quite the amazing start I was anticipating. If everything goes well, I'll take the first test in less than 2 months... AHHHH.
- Kiley coming home for a bit!! And our Oscar party!
- hopefully surviving finals
- SPRING BREAK! I'm starting it off by flying to Atlanta to see JAMIEEEE and then I'll come home just in time for my dad's birthday, then it's off to Pittsburgh to spend time with Donny!!
Really, the worst part of the week is over (the assurance midterm) so I should just concentrate on being HAPPY that the rest of the week should be somewhat better. Phew.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
More CPA stuff. ::shrugs::
So, more CPA stuff. Sorry. I'm warning you in advance in case you want to skip this haha.
I think the worst part about studying is the fact that EVERYTHING is critical to memorize. Like, I basically have an entire textbook worth of accounting knowledge to memorize. And that's for ONE section of this test. So it pretty much re-teaches you accounting... and like, ususally when you read a textbook, you can pick out what's most important. Nope, not anymore. Every single word they say needs to be memorized. They've like, basically condensed all of accounting into an outline and so it's ALL the most important points. It's so overwhelming. Because I find myself flying through a page like 'yep, I know that, yep, I know that.' And then I remember "I mean, yeah, when I read it, I know it's true, but I doubt I've memorized those 6 types of events that can result in changes of accounting estimates I just skimmed over.
I don't know if that made sense or not. It makes sense in my head.
Anyway, maybe I should just re-title this blog "Britney's CPA Exam Journey." I'm sorry that this is going to become even more boring to read for the next 6 months, but literally, this will be my entire life. 25-30 hours a week of studying (on TOP of my schoolwork) will do that to you.
Maybe some really badass events will happen in the next 6 months that will keep you all reading. Ha :)
In other news, I'm still only on season 4 of The West Wing. I seriously watch SO many episodes (like, I probably average 2 a day) and I'm only halfway through the series! It blows my mind.
A guy in one of my groups for school didn't come to our meeting today because he was 'sick.' I was just on Facebook (clearly studying...) and another guy (we'll call him 'Miami Boy') in our program posted pictures from this weekend... apparently Miami Boy invited a few MAcc guys to Miami for the weekend... the guy from my group was in some pictures from Miami. Sooo clearly 'sick' means 'horribly hungover.' Ummm THREE of the 5 people that showed up to the meeting were hungover (including me) and we all managed to drag ourselves there and get a lot of work done. So... the moral of the story is SUCK IT UP, LAME-O.
Big Bang (the piano bar) was AMAZING last night, even though we had to wait for 30 minutes out in the cold to get in. And even though I lost $20 in cash, after spending $28 on my credit card on mine and Katie's drinks. Add in parking and the cover, and I had about a $55 night on the town. Sad face.
I'm basically procrastinating, in case you couldn't tell. Sigh. Time to get back to "Accounting Changes and Prior Period Adjustments." Omg.
I think the worst part about studying is the fact that EVERYTHING is critical to memorize. Like, I basically have an entire textbook worth of accounting knowledge to memorize. And that's for ONE section of this test. So it pretty much re-teaches you accounting... and like, ususally when you read a textbook, you can pick out what's most important. Nope, not anymore. Every single word they say needs to be memorized. They've like, basically condensed all of accounting into an outline and so it's ALL the most important points. It's so overwhelming. Because I find myself flying through a page like 'yep, I know that, yep, I know that.' And then I remember "I mean, yeah, when I read it, I know it's true, but I doubt I've memorized those 6 types of events that can result in changes of accounting estimates I just skimmed over.
I don't know if that made sense or not. It makes sense in my head.
Anyway, maybe I should just re-title this blog "Britney's CPA Exam Journey." I'm sorry that this is going to become even more boring to read for the next 6 months, but literally, this will be my entire life. 25-30 hours a week of studying (on TOP of my schoolwork) will do that to you.
Maybe some really badass events will happen in the next 6 months that will keep you all reading. Ha :)
In other news, I'm still only on season 4 of The West Wing. I seriously watch SO many episodes (like, I probably average 2 a day) and I'm only halfway through the series! It blows my mind.
A guy in one of my groups for school didn't come to our meeting today because he was 'sick.' I was just on Facebook (clearly studying...) and another guy (we'll call him 'Miami Boy') in our program posted pictures from this weekend... apparently Miami Boy invited a few MAcc guys to Miami for the weekend... the guy from my group was in some pictures from Miami. Sooo clearly 'sick' means 'horribly hungover.' Ummm THREE of the 5 people that showed up to the meeting were hungover (including me) and we all managed to drag ourselves there and get a lot of work done. So... the moral of the story is SUCK IT UP, LAME-O.
Big Bang (the piano bar) was AMAZING last night, even though we had to wait for 30 minutes out in the cold to get in. And even though I lost $20 in cash, after spending $28 on my credit card on mine and Katie's drinks. Add in parking and the cover, and I had about a $55 night on the town. Sad face.
I'm basically procrastinating, in case you couldn't tell. Sigh. Time to get back to "Accounting Changes and Prior Period Adjustments." Omg.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Beginning the CPA exam...
So as many of you know, I am in the process of figuring out when I'll be taking the CPA exam. As of last week, I officially submitted my application! They're still waiting on transcripts and GMAT score reports before they process it. Once they process it (which takes 6-8 weeks somehow), they'll send me what's called a "Notice to Schedule," or NTS. The NTS allows me to actually schedule when I'll take the exam. There are 4 parts to the exam, and I can take them however/whenever I want. The only stipulations are:
1) I have to take all of the parts that I applied for (I applied for all 4 at once) within 6 months of them sending me my NTS. So, for example, if they mail out my NTS on March 15, I have until September 15th to take all 4 parts.
2) There are certain months that are banned for testing. I'm unable to take any part of the test in March, June, September, and December.
My current goal is to take one part in late April (yes, while I'm still in school... eek), one part in late May (again, still in school), one part in early July, and one part in early August. I am very nervous. This gives me about 1 month to study for each section. Especially while I'm in school, this is going to be difficult. But I really wanted to avoid trying to take it while working, considering I start with E&Y in October. I've heard it's much harder to find time and motivation to study while you're also working full-time.
So as with any big-deal exam, there are review materials available. The leading CPA exam review provider is called Becker. Their review course basically provides you with everything you could possibly need to study to pass the exam. You have three options as far as taking the review course: you can do self-study, which is what I'm opting to do, you can do like an online classroom, where you have to submit homework to your 'professors' online and they'll give you feedback, or you can physically go into a classroom and take classes from a CPA in the area. All three options cost the same.
I was Becker's campus rep at Miami, so I was actually offered the entire review course for free as compensation (I believe the review course is near $3,000). However, E&Y already offered to pay for it. So I told the Becker lady this, and she said that she'd give me their flashcards (like a $200 value) and their "Final Review" course (a $550 value) which is like a crash course you're supposed to use the last week before you take the exam instead. So essentially I am getting every product that Becker has to offer for free. Not a bad deal.
I placed my order for the materials, and the flashcards and Final Review books came today. This is the box of flashcards. There are over 1,000 flashcards. I literally laughed out loud, because my life is about to get so ridiculous.
And of course, I opened the blue cards (clearly the biggest section) and promptly dropped them all over the floor. They were numbered and in order, too. So of course my OCD kicked in and I had to re-order them all haha. Oh dear.
Anyway, so that's an update on what's pretty much the most important thing going on in my life right now. Hooray!
1) I have to take all of the parts that I applied for (I applied for all 4 at once) within 6 months of them sending me my NTS. So, for example, if they mail out my NTS on March 15, I have until September 15th to take all 4 parts.
2) There are certain months that are banned for testing. I'm unable to take any part of the test in March, June, September, and December.
My current goal is to take one part in late April (yes, while I'm still in school... eek), one part in late May (again, still in school), one part in early July, and one part in early August. I am very nervous. This gives me about 1 month to study for each section. Especially while I'm in school, this is going to be difficult. But I really wanted to avoid trying to take it while working, considering I start with E&Y in October. I've heard it's much harder to find time and motivation to study while you're also working full-time.
So as with any big-deal exam, there are review materials available. The leading CPA exam review provider is called Becker. Their review course basically provides you with everything you could possibly need to study to pass the exam. You have three options as far as taking the review course: you can do self-study, which is what I'm opting to do, you can do like an online classroom, where you have to submit homework to your 'professors' online and they'll give you feedback, or you can physically go into a classroom and take classes from a CPA in the area. All three options cost the same.
I was Becker's campus rep at Miami, so I was actually offered the entire review course for free as compensation (I believe the review course is near $3,000). However, E&Y already offered to pay for it. So I told the Becker lady this, and she said that she'd give me their flashcards (like a $200 value) and their "Final Review" course (a $550 value) which is like a crash course you're supposed to use the last week before you take the exam instead. So essentially I am getting every product that Becker has to offer for free. Not a bad deal.
I placed my order for the materials, and the flashcards and Final Review books came today. This is the box of flashcards. There are over 1,000 flashcards. I literally laughed out loud, because my life is about to get so ridiculous.
And of course, I opened the blue cards (clearly the biggest section) and promptly dropped them all over the floor. They were numbered and in order, too. So of course my OCD kicked in and I had to re-order them all haha. Oh dear.
Anyway, so that's an update on what's pretty much the most important thing going on in my life right now. Hooray!
Monday, January 25, 2010
My life lately
I feel like my life is pretty freaking boring.
I mean, seriously. I'm not in an exciting city - I'm in the same city I've lived in my whole life, minus less than 4 years when I sort of lived in Oxford (also a not exciting city). I'm not doing anything exciting - I'm in grad school for accounting. I don't have any relationship updates and haven't had any for like... 3 years (although I'd consider this a very, very good thing, it's not exactly exciting). My days are incredibly boring. For example, take today:
8 AM - wake up, shower, get ready, watch a few minutes of The West Wing
9:30 AM - leave for class
9:45 AM - park in the commuter lot, wait for the bus
10:00 AM - get to campus, bum around until 10:30. Realize I can't make it through the day without a Diet Coke, purchase one.
10:30 AM - Foundations of Accounting (like I've mentioned before, this is NOT as easy as it sounds. In fact, it pretty much sucks)
12:30 PM - lunch... usually I forget mine, so I run to Subway and get the same sub I've gotten since I was 4. If I remember my lunch, it's always a turkey and provolone sandwich, with a side of mixed nuts or an apple. Always.
1:30 PM -Information Quality and Assurance Services (not nearly as easy as I was hoping it'd be)
3:20 PM - Change my clothes in a tiny bathroom stall - from regular clothes to work clothes
3:30 PM - Work... usually I'm fairly busy, but on days like today... I was definitely not busy at all. And I wrote most of this entry there.
5:00 PM - Catch the bus to my car, drive to rec, change clothes AGAIN - obviously into gym clothes this time
5:45 PM - get tired way too early, leave
6 PM - Usually I'd do about an hour of homework, spend 30 minutes wondering why I don't have more homework this quarter (it's a freak thing, I don't know), then spend the rest of the night watching TV.
MY LIFE IS SO BORING.
9:30 AM - leave for class
9:45 AM - park in the commuter lot, wait for the bus
10:00 AM - get to campus, bum around until 10:30. Realize I can't make it through the day without a Diet Coke, purchase one.
10:30 AM - Foundations of Accounting (like I've mentioned before, this is NOT as easy as it sounds. In fact, it pretty much sucks)
12:30 PM - lunch... usually I forget mine, so I run to Subway and get the same sub I've gotten since I was 4. If I remember my lunch, it's always a turkey and provolone sandwich, with a side of mixed nuts or an apple. Always.
1:30 PM -Information Quality and Assurance Services (not nearly as easy as I was hoping it'd be)
3:20 PM - Change my clothes in a tiny bathroom stall - from regular clothes to work clothes
3:30 PM - Work... usually I'm fairly busy, but on days like today... I was definitely not busy at all. And I wrote most of this entry there.
5:00 PM - Catch the bus to my car, drive to rec, change clothes AGAIN - obviously into gym clothes this time
5:45 PM - get tired way too early, leave
6 PM - Usually I'd do about an hour of homework, spend 30 minutes wondering why I don't have more homework this quarter (it's a freak thing, I don't know), then spend the rest of the night watching TV.
MY LIFE IS SO BORING.
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