The Shrine

<div style='font: 12pt "Cooper Black"; text-align: left; '>I started work on Monday and everything so far is going great. I interned at this place so fitting back in was not too difficult. After talking to a few of the young people i quickly found out that to pass the CPA exam (or atleast pass a few parts of it on my first try) i will pretty much have to start studying now and do it for the next 3.5 months. There is a review class i could take that meets on M and W from 6-10 and then SAT from 12-8. Thats insane, not only would i have to work for 40+ hours a week but then have to goto class for another 16? I do not think i will sign up for the class (which is $1500!) and will instead order this software/book/audio system from the internet for the low low proce of $900. I cant believe this shit is so expensive and will be so time consuming. The system i will order reccomends i spend 2 hours a day 5 days a week doing their system for the next 3.5 months... fuck, looks like i wont have a life anymore when this shit shows up at my door.</div>

<div style='font: 12pt Arial; text-align: left; '>Sounds about right... actually from what I've heard it's even harder. However to get anywhere in accounting it's kind of required.</div>

<div style='font: 12pt ; text-align: left; '>Talk to Zeus, this is his life as well.</div>

<div style='font: 10pt verdana; text-align: left; padding: 0% 10% 0% 10%; '>Two summers ago I worked as a sysadmin/programmer for a small business. The bookeeper was studying for his CPA, and he went to classes at NOVA community college a few times a week.</div>

<div style='font: 9pt ; text-align: left; '>I'm in the same boat here....gotta write an exam in january (4 months after work starts), go to a summer school for 4 weeks next summer, and write a 4-day exam next September, for which I have to start to studying for now....</div>

<div style='font: 12pt "Cooper Black"; text-align: left; '>There are 4 parts and its a 2 day test, 4 hours per part. To get certified you must pass all 4 parts, obviously. You can, however, pass some parts and fail others and only have to retake the ones you failed during the next sitting (which is only twice a year, soon to be 4 times a year). Only like 15% of the people who take it pas all 4 parts on the first try. My goal this November is to knock out 2 parts. To pass a part you must ge ta 75% or higher, for it to count you have to get atleast 50%'s on the other parts. If you pass one part and fail 3 then the one does not count regardless if you are over the 50% rule for the other parts. The average times it takes a person to pass the test is like 2.4

I once found a page with all sorts of these kind of stats. Was kind of cool, but scary at the same time.

Those three little letters of CPA can add like 10K to a salary though. I will pass the test eventually, hopefully sooner than later.</div>

<div style='font: 12pt "Cooper Black"; text-align: left; '>There are 4 parts and its a 2 day test, 4 hours per part. To get certified you must pass all 4 parts, obviously. You can, however, pass some parts and fail others and only have to retake the ones you failed during the next sitting (which is only twice a year, soon to be 4 times a year). Only like 15% of the people who take it pas all 4 parts on the first try. My goal this November is to knock out 2 parts. To pass a part you must ge ta 75% or higher, for it to count you have to get atleast 50%'s on the other parts. If you pass one part and fail 3 then the one does not count regardless if you are over the 50% rule for the other parts. The average times it takes a person to pass the test is like 2.4

I once found a page with all sorts of these kind of stats. Was kind of cool, but scary at the same time.

Those three little letters of CPA can add like 10K to a salary though. I will pass the test eventually, hopefully sooner than later. They say this exam and the bar exam (lawyer test) are the hardest certification tests ever.</div>

<div style='font: ; text-align: left; '>*sigh* I'm not the least bit looking forward to that exam. I think I've decided to go to graduate school before going out into the work force anyway, so I'll just concern myself with the GMAT for now.</div>

<div style='font: 11pt Dominion; text-align: left; '>My mom is CPA certified as is my Uncle (who got 2nd highest score in state, I'm told) -- all my mom said to this was she's glad she took the exam 27 years ago :P</div>

<div style='font: 10pt Arial; text-align: left; '>Does it pay good?</div>

<div style='font: 12pt "Cooper Black"; text-align: left; '>... i'm over the initial shock now and am ready to give this thing my full effort. Those 3 little letters can add up to 10K to your salary instantly and kick the door wide open for future success.</div>

<div style='font: 12pt Arial; text-align: left; '>It depends... you could make anywhere from 40K (as a book keeper) to 400K a year (as a CFO) being a CPA... depends on your skills, experience and *cough* who you know *cough*.</div>

<div style='font: 11pt ; text-align: left; '>Who you know is very important, no need to skimp around it.</div>

<div style='font: 10pt Arial; text-align: left; '>Or *cough* who you blow *cough cough* excuse me, it's from the bars in my chest....sorry....</div>