| Author | Message | ||
     Sac |
Well, even if I'm not cool, I figured it's time to post a profile. I almost did this last summer when I got involved in a discussion thread (/discus/messages/3130/3835.html? ... latter sections of the thread) with Cheindog and enigmabomb and posted a good bit of my resume in the process. At any rate here goes ... MWF - mid 40s (ouch!) I've been lurking in MOL, with occasional bursts of posting energy, for over a year now. I grew up in Houston, Texas where I also went to college, started my career and started married life with my husband (in that order.) We moved to Maplewood in 1986 when we had been married for about 2 years, so most of our adult/married lives has been been spent here. I'm a computer systems analyst/project manager/IS consultant by profession and was employed by a major corporation for 21 years before becoming a consultant, but I continue to work for the "same" company, which is now my client. ("Same" in quotes since it really isn't the same company anymore, after several downsizings and a merger.) My consultant status and other circumstances at work have allowed me to reduce my hours and increase my schedule flexibility in the last year or so. I have always been something of a volunteer-aholic outside of work and those tendencies have increased as my work situation has allowed. I have two children who attend Seth Boyden, one of whom previously attended Tuscan, so I tend to get drawn into some of the school-related discussions, particularly when there is a need to clarify or amplify statements about what is going on over at Seth Boyden. My kids also attend the After School Program, so you sometimes see me chiming in on that subject. I have benefitted significantly from MOL, including finding an excellent wallpaper hanger, a non-scamming chimney contractor and, hopefully, a good decision about whether to switch from oil to gas heat in the near future. Beyond those mundane (uncool?) but concrete results from my participation here, I have become much more aware of issues, activities, concerns, etc. around our community, many of which I would never even have heard about otherwise. I have also gained fascinating insights into many of the posters here ... some of whom I know in the "real" world but not at all in the same way as online, but most of whom I wouldn't know if I passed them on the street or sat next to them in the PTA or in church. And that probably happens more often than we realize. | ||
| Notehead |
Let's hear it for computer people! We control everything. Yaaaayyyy!! "...occasional bursts of posting energy"... yeah, that's how it goes for me, too. I actually don't feel like posting when people get too fired up, but I definitely like to know that there are a lot of thinking, feeling, creative people in this area. Have a lark lurking! | ||
| sac Citizen Username: Sac Post Number: 1648 Registered: 5-2001 |
I just found this ... forgot that I had ever posted it. I should amend the information above to note that the older child is now in her last year of Middle School (That's a life stage we will certainly be happy to put behind us ... but that is not intended as a commentary on the school itself, only the age.) The younger one is still happily at Seth Boyden ... now in 4th grade. My how time flies ... I'm still a part-time contractor for my former employer, doing more financial work than computing these days although still a mix, but perhaps only for a few more months. The budgets and the projects are running out and new projects are no longer coming our way. (I guess they are all going to some 3rd world nation or perhaps somewhere in the corn belt now.) And I'm still pretty uncool ... just ask my teenaged daughter if you don't believe me ;-) I can't find those discussions anymore ... and the one with the link must have been archived long ago ... but we had quite a lively thread on coolness around that time. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2460 Registered: 5-2001 |
Joan says: "Blogs are ... a great way to work through new experiences ... and life changes." So, here's my life change going on now and soon ... As mentioned above and on other threads, I'm no longer working, partly as a result of my prior employer's downsizing and offshoring and partly by choice as I'm ready to explore some new career and life possibilities. Fortunately I did work through my children's infancies and toddlerhoods (albeit with long maternity leaves and a good bit of flexible work scheduling) so I am now in better financial shape to take some time off and redirect than I might have been otherwise. I have been accepted to the business school at Seton Hall and will be in the MS in Accounting program. I start classes in September right after Labor Day. I have been taking some onesie-twosie classes for the last year and a half, including the Financial Planning certificate sequence at FDU, so it isn't a completely new thing for me, but this is more REAL, somehow. Over the summer I had to take the GMAT - that was scary, but I did well. I also had to take an undergraduate prerequisite - Managerial Accounting. At times it is pretty boring, but necessary stuff. I'm more interested in small business and individual work, especially taxes and estate/retirement planning, but I know that I have to master the managerial/corporate end in order to get where I'm going. I've been taking the course online, rather than in a classroom situation, since none of the summer class schedules in the area meshed with my family's schedule this year. One thing that has been interesting, and also very disappointing, has been my experience taking an online course. Given that I'm a big emailer and occasional IMer and, of course, very active on MOL ... I thought that an online course that included some discussion with the mentor and classmates would be right up my alley. Perhaps it is just the particular students or mentor, but there is absolutely nothing happening discussion-wise in this class. People post their required discussion submissions and respond very sterile-ly (is that a word?) and politely to the other classmates in order to get credit for the discussion ... but it never goes any farther. So, I have come to the conclusion that online communities don't just happen and, when they do (like here) it is a very special thing. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 6013 Registered: 5-2001 |
SAC: It may be an accountant thing. Most accountants I have met are true to steriotype, quiet by nature and much more into making sense out of the world through numbers crunching than holding deep discussions which rely on the careful selection of WORDS. It may also be that most of the students in your class have extremely busy schedules and are just in it for the credit. Summer course + online course leads to the second alternative as being a strong possibility. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1648 Registered: 9-2003  |
First of all, cool for you that you're back in school! I went back for an MBA in my middle '30's and didn't finish till I was early '40s. Real glad I did, and it awoke me from a sort of rut I didn't even know I was in. It was rejuvenating. I liked managerial accounting because it related to my work! My prereq's were Calculus, Calc based stats and Macroecon (as I'd been an English major previously with no exposure to that stuff). Interesting about the poor online discussion. I ahve heard mixed comments on such. I think the mentor matters a lot, and maybe, too, the course. I've heard that in English and Nursing courses (from friends at UDel) they get a lot of chat going. Maybe the combo of the subject and the mentor is to blame? I guess you could always throw a verbal bomb or two and see if anyone jumps! | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2462 Registered: 5-2001 |
I already tried that ... well, maybe they were firecrackers and not bombs as I was trying to test the waters ... once to deafening "silence" and a couple of times to very negative-sounding responses from the mentor (at least it came across that way to me.) In fact, I once mentioned that I was applying to grad school and not a single person has ever inquired about what the result was ... I haven't decided if/when to post it there. Also, I have this tiny fear that there could be some bias or bigotry involved ... I have an Asian-sounding surname, even though I'm about as WASP as they come. I'm also making pretty good grades in the class, which might fit an Asian stereotype. And, of course, none of these people have ever met me face-to-face. I will probably never know, but at this point I've decided to just keep my head down, do the work and be done with it ... I take my final exam on August 22nd so I have just about two more weeks. It's a pity, though ... In my CFP classes at Fairleigh Dickinson last year, our class developed a pretty good social and support group that we used to study together via email in between classes and before exams. I had hoped that would be duplicated in this course. Of course, perhaps the key was that we first got to know each other in person in class. It was mostly the same people in the class for several courses and the online repartee (is that the right word?) did evolve over time. I have seen some indication that the same educational online technology (Blackboard.com) is used by Seton Hall and likely many other schools, so I don't know if there might be online discussions to supplement the in-class learning in my courses there. (Sheena or anyone - do you know?) I have a feeling I'd like that. Once I know people in person, I think it is much more comfortable interacting online. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1649 Registered: 9-2003 |
I'll bet you're right about the face-to-face aspect, maybe especially for those over 30?? Does that bulletin board thing ask for an initial online profile of some kind? You'd sort of think that might help. Anyway, I can see how you'd just suck it up for now and get done with the course. Awhile ago now, but I know when I did my MBA socializing between the working/older v still student age people was scarce until we did joint projects. This wasn't online, but still there was a kinda cultural divide...don't know if that pertains in your program. Anyway, good luck on your final exam! | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2465 Registered: 5-2001 |
Our first discussion assignment was actually introductions - and I put up the spiel about being a career changer, my IT background, applying to grad school, etc. The others in the class were all working on undergraduate degrees, but had work experience that indicated that no one was a teenager and most were probably well over 30. However, even that discussion was very reserved and there was no followup after the second week of the class. Thanks for the exam wishes ... hopefully it will go well. My main concern is what to memorize and what to "just understand well". Unfortunately a query to that effect on the class message board was one of the ones met with a very unsatisfactory response from the mentor - to the effect of "I hope you aren't planning to wait until the last night to study ..." It wasn't exactly those words but it is how it came off. I still haven't figured out where she got that from ... especially considering that I posted the question more than 3 weeks ahead of the final exam date (out of a 12-week course.) | ||
| las Citizen Username: Las Post Number: 293 Registered: 10-2003 |
Sac, I have also had pretty negative experiences with Blackboard discussions at my school (Montclair State). They're not quite discussions, rather, a bunch of unrelated posts that nobody makes an effort to connect. It's from the Blackboard I realize fellow students are afraid to share their information, not recognizing that in a grad school setting we should be there to support one another and work together to succeed. At least in my program, it shouldn't be a competition. Smart move to keep your head down and be done with it. Some courses are just worth three credits. Others will be worth so much more, but you just have to accept that you won't always get your money's worth. Hang in there - it's almost over! | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 8894 Registered: 1-2003  |
Great news, sac. And good luck with that. Online communities really do sprout up, you just never know where or when. I haven't taken a class since before the internet was big, and I can't imagine taking an online course! | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1716 Registered: 9-2003 |
sac, did you get through your final exam OK? Do classes resume for you in September (like public school)? | ||
| campbell29 Citizen Username: Campbell29 Post Number: 200 Registered: 4-2002 |
I took the CFP class at FDU 2 years ago (took the test last summer). When my group went through - we complained alot about the instructors - I wonder if they upgraded their instruction staff. Care to comment? BTW - did you take the test yet? Have you been able to do anything with the certificat? | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2608 Registered: 5-2001 |
I missed those last two posts while I was on vacation and then in all the "back to school" rush. Just came back to this now. I passed the final exam with flying colors and made an A in the Managerial Accounting course. Never did have any more online discussions with classmates - good, bad or indifferent. Re the CFP classes at FDU - people are still complaining about some of the instructors. I had really good instructors for tax and estate planning, OK for insurance and not so great for Investments and Retirement planning. I have not taken the exam and probably won't for a couple of years now that I'm doing the MS/CPA track in Accounting and hoping to specialize in tax and (to whatever extent possible) also get some more grounding in estate and retirement areas, which are really just extensions of tax. Several of my CFP classmates took the exam and I've already heard that 3 of them passed. I haven't heard from the rest. I haven't done anything with the certificate since I decided to do the accounting degree. For at least this semester, I'm not planning to try to find work, until I see how the load goes ... unless something drops in my lap. So, I started at Seton Hall last week and have now been to class three times. This is a very different experience from either the CFP or the distance learning since I'm taking courses with undergraduates (one for undergraduate/prerequisite credit and one for graduate credit toward my MS) and these undergraduates are typical, young college students rather than distance-learning adults. With just a couple of exceptions, all the other students are about 20 years old. And college sure is different ... for example, half the class takes notes on their wireless laptops (often with several IM sessions and their email running at the same time.) And all of the notes and announcements are posted on the Internet and/or sent via email. Not a problem at all, in fact I am thrilled, but it sure is different from my original college experience. I got my wireless laptop configured to work on campus, but I'm not ready to give up my pencil and paper for taking notes ... I think I remember it better that way. Our first test (in Intermediate Accounting) is online and due on Monday, so we'll see how that goes ... And, on a more mundane note, parking is a real pain at SHU. It takes me about ten minutes to get to campus from my house, but I spent twice that much time finding a parking place on the first day. Not quite so bad the other times, but still frustrating. Maybe I should ride a bike! | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1796 Registered: 9-2003 |
sac, congrats on acing the exam! Now, be careful you don't push the curve up. How do you find the classroom atmospher with trad age students? When I was doing the mba, in a mixed class, the biggest pain to the older students was how long it took the class to settle down and get on task. Also, group project scheduling was a drag as the adults -- especially if working -- had different ideas about desirable times to meet than did the other students. I still use a pencil! Our secretary maintains an electric sharpener and keeps pencils just cuz of me! Good luck on all that tax stuff. I was never specializing in accounting so I had the Managerial Accounting, Financial Statement analysis, and one Tax and Public Policy class. Rest was marketing. Your bike idea sounds smart -- at least until bad weather... | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2609 Registered: 5-2001 |
I haven't seen a problem with the "settling down" issue, actually, perhaps surprisingly. Even in my tax class, where the professor seems to come in 5-10 minutes late every day, the students just sit there waiting. I don't think there will be groupwork or online discussions in these particular classes so I don't know how much interaction there will end up being. In the tax class, it is interesting to see how little "real world" knowledge the students have about things that most any of us know just from watching the news, doing (or complaining about) our taxes, etc. Yesterday the professor was describing the estate tax and the students were mortified to learn that the government gets a slice (or more accurately) a big chunk of many inheritances. And some of them didn't even know that there was such a thing as a property tax. I may try the bike, but I'm not sure because the books for these classes are HEAVY and needed at times and I may also want to have the laptop, since I have a free period between my two class periods. So far, I've been using my car as a "locker" to avoid schlepping everything all day. Fortunately, my classes are in a building not far from the parking garage, so that works, although yesterday's rain threatened to sabotage me for awhile. (note to self - make sure to have umbrella along!) | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2667 Registered: 5-2001 |
Boy, time sure does get away ... I never went for the bike option because I started to figure out the parking pattern (and likely empty spots in the garage) and haven't had so much problem recently. Also, my car has become my lunch/study spot for my "between class" period. I guess that won't last through the cold months, but it is working so far. I made it through a quiz and the first midterm (of two) in my Accounting class and aced both, so I'm feeling pretty good about that. Still nothing graded in the Tax class - midterm coming up on the 24th. I'm always glad to get past the first graded assignment in a course and have a better feel for what I'm up against, so I'll be glad to get to that milestone. Now, if I could just get my high schooler to hit the books similarly ... Luckily the second midterm in Accounting is the day before the Teacher Convention school break when my family has a brief trip planned, so that can be a real vacation for us and I can leave the books home. (My classes at SHU are on Mondays and Wednesdays, so I won't be cutting anything.) | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2686 Registered: 5-2001 |
My tax midterm is speeding toward me now - it's next Monday. If there is a curve, I'll probably do fine, but right now everyone in the class is a bit in shock over the volume of material and "mystery" around what he really will ask for on the exam. Those first exams are always the worst. I'm also pondering what to do about course load and potential part time work next semester. One possibility is to get a part-time job in an accounting firm, but I'm not sure I want to start off new in tax season, so I'm wondering if it would be better to wait until next fall to take that route and get a few months under my belt during a lighter period. However, it would really depend on the proximity (commute time) and flexibility of a potential position. It might work fine. Anyone know any accountants who would be open to hiring someone in my position? Another slim possibility is a graduate assistanceship. If I can get one mid-year (rare but not unheard of), it would probably be the best option financially because a big chunk of the compensation comes in the form of a tuition waiver which is not taxed. (I learned that in my tax class, actually!) To go this route, I would need to up my courseload to 9 credits rather than 6, but I'm feeling like I can handle that if the work is complementary as would probably be the case on campus. I'll definitely stick to 6 credits if I'm trying to work off campus. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2757 Registered: 5-2001 |
Oops - looks like I didn't quite get that right about the tuition waiver. (If provided in lieu of compensation for services, it IS taxable.) I got that straightened out in my head while studying for my midterm ... which today I learned that I aced. So, life is good (at least academically!) I did also learn that it is almost certain that I won't get a crack at an assistanceship before next fall, so now to figure out what to do to pay the bills before we use up our savings cushion. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2776 Registered: 5-2001 |
Another midterm coming up next Wednesday. This time it's the second of two midterms in my Intermediate Accounting class. I guess I should be thankful that one professor has one midterm and the other has two, so they are a bit spaced out. The downside of that is that there always seems to be another one coming right up. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1951 Registered: 9-2003 |
Continued good luck on all those exams, sac. Aced it, YAY! I recall how great you feel when they're over. Wish I had some ideas on the p/t gig but don't. I surely would go for the TA in the Fall, though. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2796 Registered: 5-2001 |
I'm starting to make some contacts with several mid-sized accounting firms who had very encouraging reps at a "Meet the firms" night on campus early in the semester. In person at that event, they gushed a lot about my credentials and experience, and several mentioned that I should let them know if/when I was interested in part-time work during my time as a student. They all took my resume. However, now I'm having some trouble getting them to return calls, so I'm wondering if I have too much experience. I.e. am I scaring them off perhaps regarding how much they might need to pay me? I'm not quite sure how to address that issue in a positive, constructive way on a resume or cover note (or voicemail message.) I'm definitely willing and expecting to take a pay cut over my former "Senior IT Professional" salary, but I don't want to put myself down in the process. And, at this point, I put much more value on the learning I will gain from the position, as well as flexibility to work it around my classes and family, than I do on the salary level. (However, I do know not to overemphasize the flexibility need too much at this stage.) Anyone have any suggestions on how to pitch myself appropriately? | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1954 Registered: 9-2003 |
If you have a "Career Objective" line on your resume -- which wouldn't hurt -- I'd say something concise to address. This isn't quite it, but "Career-switching (or Former IT) professional seeks introductory Accounting position in small firm specializing in real estate" or similar. Cover letter could also speak to both conditions. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2801 Registered: 5-2001 |
I went back and looked and I did have something like that. I spiffed it (the resume) up a bit because I got one of those callbacks I'd been hoping for and they asked me to send the resume again. It is a firm that offers part-time internships to accounting students, working around class schedules, etc., so would be ideal, I think. Keeping my fingers crossed... | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 3429 Registered: 5-2001 |
Hey Sac, any progress with your new "goals"? I understand the difficulty switching fields and losing salary in the process. Good luck. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2820 Registered: 5-2001 |
No word since I sent the resume. We were away over the long (Teacher Convention) weekend, so I hadn't had much chance to followup, but I guess that's on my list for tomorrow or the next day. I did very well on my second accounting midterm, so I'm pretty comfortable about that course now. Still waiting for some late in the term case problem assignments promised by the Tax instructor but not yet provided to the class. (He's something of a procrastinator, as it turns out.) Once those are out of the way, the remaining (non-cumulative) final exams in each class are only about 25% of each course grade, so hopefully I won't let myself get too stressed over them. | ||
| sportsnut Citizen Username: Sportsnut Post Number: 2171 Registered: 10-2001  |
Sac - I just started reading this thread and see that you have an interest in Tax. I've been in tax for 15 years now, the first six of which were spent working for two different public accounting firms. I started out doing small business tax returns and some large individual returns, moved onto federal tax planning and finally settled in multi-state corporate tax planning. Back when I started it was very difficult to start out in tax. You had to get your audit experience, pass the CPA exam then move into tax while getting your master's degree. It's different now. You can get into tax directly but it becomes harder to obtain your CPA (if that's something you aspire to). To say that the CPA exam is hard is a colossal understatement. It was, when I took it, three days of torture. I've worked at a small firm, a midsized one and one of the big four and it looks I may go back to another big four firm so if you have any questions about any of the firms you are looking at I can try to answer some of your questions. Also, if you can land an internship at a smaller firm you can get a taste as to what its like. If you haven't already noticed tax attracts a very strange personality. Like I said if you have any questions about the field pl me I'd be glad to assist. Intermediate accounting is what separates the accountants from the pretenders. Seeing that your doing well in that class is a very good sign. The first day of my intermediate class the teacher said to look to the right and left of you by the end of the year only one of the three of you will still be an accounting major. Doubt the validity of that statement but it definitely was difficult. Do you plan on taking the CPA exam? | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2821 Registered: 5-2001 |
We still have a month left of the first semester and, looking around the class, it seems that a good chunk have dropped the course, so I'm not surprised that Intermediate is the "weed-out" course. I'm not finding it to be that hard, but there is certainly a LOT of material to cover. Twenty-plus years in a peripherally related field probably doesn't hurt my cause though. It isn't that I already know the details, but once the professor explains a new topic, it just seems to make sense and "fit" into the puzzle for me. Then, once I've practiced the homework problems a few times, I have been able to get it. However, I can see that when the CPA exam comes around (yes, I plan to take it), somehow to have to dredge it all up at once will certainly be a very big challenge. The ultimate, cumulative final exam, I'm sure. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2827 Registered: 5-2001 |
Why is it harder to get the CPA if specializing in tax? I guess I need to learn more about that whole process. | ||
| sportsnut Citizen Username: Sportsnut Post Number: 2174 Registered: 10-2001 |
Sac - Check out the experience requirements on the NJ website. In NY, where I took the exam and got my license, you needed to meet the education requirements, pass the test and get two years of audit experience. There was a fairly decent amount of paperwork that was required and the firm that you worked for needed to sign it to verify that you meet the experience requirement. Back then the experience that was required was basically audit work. You needed two years of audit before the state would issue your license. If you worked in tax the only way you could get audit experience was to either work on tax accruals or transfer to audit during their busy season to get enough time. If you worked on tax accruals it generally took about three to four years to meet the education requirement. I think NJ's requirements are a little less stringent but you should check just in case. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2867 Registered: 5-2001 |
Thanks for the info and suggestions. I have now spent some time on the NJSCPA website and it does appear that there needs to be some audit focus but it also looks like the experience requirement is only one year rather than two. That surprises me. I would have expected two or even more. The CFP requires three and I'm pretty sure that certification is not held in nearly as high esteem as the CPA. (Of course, maybe they are trying to make up for that with a higher experience requirement.) I received a polite rejection from the one accounting firm with which I had actually connected, so I decided it is time to ramp up my job hunting efforts. I've uploaded a resume to Monster.com and applied online to a couple of possibilities there and also reinitiated contacts with some other accounting firms that had been encouraging earlier in the fall (before I was ready to take the leap.) If anyone knows of any not-too-distant CPA firms that might need some extra help starting in January, please let me know. I would imagine that extra hands (and minds) during tax season would be a good thing. One more week of classes and then finals. I have A averages in both my classes with 50-75% of each grade firm at this point, so I just need to keep my act together and I should do well. My last final is scheduled for Friday, the 16th, but I may actually take it earlier, on the 14th with a different section of the same course. I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend starting Friday evening, the 16th! I'll have almost a month off, but probably quite a bit of Christmas shopping still to do at that point. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2905 Registered: 5-2001 |
I'm taking my first final tomorrow morning ... in the tax course. I could do really well or really mediocre-ly (I know that isn't a word, but what is the right word there?) I felt the same way about the previous exam and did really well, but I also got lucky on every place where I had to guess. If I'm unlucky in those places - that will be the mediocre result. Fortunately, we are probably only talking the difference between an A or B for the course, but since I have the A now, I'm greedy and want to keep it. I'm deciding that my best move now is probably to go to bed and get a good night's sleep. Hopefully that will work! | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 11275 Registered: 1-2003 |
You'll knock 'em dead. And I guess the word is moderately. | ||
| sportsnut Citizen Username: Sportsnut Post Number: 2215 Registered: 10-2001 |
Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine. If the test is anything like real tax just remember that there are no right or wrong answers, rather a vast gray area that should be worth at least partial credit. I don't have any leads on jobs for the upcoming tax season but if you haven't started looking at smaller regional firms that would be a great place to start. Most of the big firms don't really do very many individual returns because its tough to make money on them. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2957 Registered: 5-2001 |
Finally some downtime! (The presents have been opened, we've been to church and now I'm procrastinating (i.e. hanging on MOL) for a little while before cooking the big dinner for the family.) I did well on both my finals and made As in both courses. Hurray! Next semester I'll be taking Intermediate Accounting 2 and Cost Accounting. With the first semester under my belt, I'm feeling more confident about the courses and managing the workload along with ... ... a new job. I accepted a part-time accounting/bookkeeping position for an IT consulting firm in Springfield, which will draw on my IT experience while I'm doing financial work. The position seems like it will be very flexible and the commute is great. I had hoped for a more tax/CPA oriented opportunity, but NYC and/or the Big 4 really don't mesh well with my current lifestyle and family needs right now, and I didn't have any other offers on the table anyway. I had posted my resume on Monster.com and they found it and called me ... so it came somewhat out of the blue. I have a meeting tomorrow associated with the job, but will really start in earnest during the first week of January. Hopefully it will work out well. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 11576 Registered: 1-2003 |
That sounds great. It will be a good stepping stone, and you can't beat the commute. Congratulations on the A's! | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 2967 Registered: 5-2001 |
Thanks Tom! The grades and the job offer were a nice Christmas gift. Hopefully the New Year will live up to expectations! We are having a quiet holiday and trying to recharge the batteries a bit in my house. Unfortunately, my high schooler has some significant homework due on Monday, so it isn't all fun and games around the house this week and I'm spending more time than I like nagging... sigh! | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 5415 Registered: 12-2001  |
HAPPY NEW YEAR | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3011 Registered: 5-2001 |
It's a New Year and the new semester starts tomorrow. I have two classes - Intermediate Accounting 2 and Cost Accounting, both during the day, but there are night sections of both courses also which are an option for makeup purposes, so that provides some good flexibility. The day classes are twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Night sections are once a week, one on Monday and one on Wednesday. Hopefully I won't have a load of homework after the first day! | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3034 Registered: 5-2001 |
One week later and I'm down to one course. On the first day of classes last Monday, I first went to Intermediate Accounting and was quite psyched about the course and particularly the instructor. It promises to be pretty hard, but well-taught and worth the effort. Then I went to Cost Accounting and in the course of the hour and 15 minutes felt a very significant impending doom about it. Instructor is foreign and very hard to understand in the lecture (although not so bad in a one-one conversation, as I experienced briefly after class.) He also veered off the subject on various tangents during the lectures both Monday and Wednesday. (I later saw a "rate your professor" website, which cited both problems about the particular professor.) His syllabus also added to the feeling of doom - seemed to have a quiz or test on top of same on the Intermediate accounting side every time as well as a very high number of required assignment submissions. Now, after last semester, I am quite confident that I could pass both classes and probably do reasonably well, but I would give up a lot of sanity as well as cut corners on both courses in the end and I just didn't want to do that. So, today I dropped Cost Accounting and immediately felt a great sense of relief. Meanwhile I'm completely caught up in Intermediate (at least for the moment) and also starting to feel like I'm getting my feet on the ground at my new job. Originally I had signed up for a corporate tax course that I probably would have kept in my schedule if I'd had the chance. However, that one was cancelled due to low enrollment, so I never got a chance to find out. Hopefully it will be offered again soon, as that is one of the areas in which I hope to specialize. Cost accounting is required for my degree, but is not a prerequisite for anything else I expect to take, so all I've really lost is a bit of time at this point. And maybe, if I get lucky, they'll get a new professor for that course by the time I re-enroll. (Apparently that is a possibility, but remains to be seen, of course.) Even if not, I think I will be much better able to focus on it and do well in a semester in which I am not also taking a course like Intermediate Accounting (noted flunk-out class in the major.) |
