In First Person

Sam Dillman: The CPA Exam- Studying Toward the Light at the End of the Tunnel

CPA EXAM, CPA EXAM, CPA EXAM, CPA EXAM – Keep saying those words to yourself, because you’re going to be looking at them for a long time.  So many words come to mind when I try to relate to the exam.  I can’t just choose one.  I’ll leave so many frightening ones out.  I am sure everyone has heard of Becker.  That’s what I use.  I went with the trend.  Can’t beat statistics, right? I can’t recommend it enough, but it does not teach itself.  No matter how good the study material may be, it’s the student using it and taking the test.  I think my good friend, Peter Olinto, from Becker says it best: “There is an inverse relationship between happiness and passing the CPA exam.”  There you are.  That sums it up pretty well, I think.  In other words unhappiness = pass.  Now, I am not telling you this to scare you.

The quote is realistic.  This is not a relaxing time at the beach.  This test demands time and dedication.  That’s my advice.  These are needs that must be met.  The instructors reiterate during every lecture that your Friday night will be spent in a library and just accept that fact. Personally, I do not do that.  I choose my room, but I do unplug my television and turn off my computer’s internet. Call me a geek, but you just really need to crack down when it comes to this material.  I am trying to get this finished as quickly as possible, so a bunch of crazy months will lead to a career full of greater opportunities.  I always tell myself this when I run into a wall studying or I think of 6-4-2.

No, that is not me attempting to add.  It is BBD’s glorious bonus for passing the exam:  6 grand for passing the first year which is my goal, 4 grand for 2 years, and 2 grand in 3 years.  I use this as my light at the end of the tunnel.  That is a lot of money to add to my cookie jar.  If the exam was easy, these bonuses would not be offered, and there would be many more CPAs out there.  It’s a challenge to complete.  That’s why BBD offers the bonus.  It is important to the firm that a CPA certification is reached, and they provide you with that added motivation.  Trust me.  It is definitely working on me.

All in all, scholars, you need to find that motivation.  You need to find that light and you’ll get there…eventually.  It is going to take time, dedication, and I’ll throw in a ton of effort as well.  If you do that, you will pass. You will succeed.  I just can’t wait to finish and have the ability to write those big fat letters after my name, C P A.  I just got chills.  So, remember there is an inverse relationship between happiness and passing the exam, but a relationship that will provide happiness for the rest of your life.  Until next time, good luck with everything you do.  I should be studying now, but I am writing this in my cubicle along with watching my fish slam its body against the wall of its tank.  Yes, I have a fish now, along with my tree.  Stop by and I’ll introduce you to “Bobbi THE Fish.”:: slam ::

 

Cristi Tilden: Matching Expectations With Reality

Going into my first full-time job I had a lot of expectations. I think most people do when they start anything new. Some of those expectations included:

• Full-time work would be easy
• Working in the city would be exciting
• Passing the CPA exam would be less difficult
• Partners are scary

Full-time work isn’t necessarily easy, but it is a great next-step after college.  Sure, I miss the flexibility that comes with a college schedule – sleeping in, staying out late, or going to the gym whenever I wanted – but working full time has encouraged me to keep a steady, enjoyable routine which I hadn’t maintained since high school. It can be challenging sometimes, but always rewarding.

I also can confirm that working in the city is fun! There are always people out getting lunch or going to happy hours.  There are amazing places to eat/shop and you can pretty much get anywhere by foot—which really helps burn a few extra calories.

Now let’s be honest: passing the CPA exam is difficult! But I was right – the opportunities provided on the job proved to be a practical way to apply what I’ve been studying.  Having been used to college exams, I quickly realized that the CPA exam is an exam that you really, REALLY have to study for, and one that requires a comprehensive grasp of the material. You can’t do the typical college thing – cram the whole night before and magically get a B+ on the final.  The CPA exam is a constant work in progress…studying must be continual.

Okay, I admit it! When I first started working at BBD I was very intimidated and scared of the partners – I knew they were knowledgeable and smart.  While it did take time to feel comfortable approaching the two partners I work with – Ron Scaramuzza and Adam Watson – I found that overall they are very helpful and approachable.  I am no longer anxious to talk to them about a question or issue.

Overall, there are so many expectations we have about the future.  Working at BBD is helping me match my expectations with reality, and the results have been pretty exciting.

Sam Dillman: From Intern To Full-Time

When I returned to BBD my first day as a full-time employee after graduation, I was worried that it would feel like the first day of school again. I couldn’t have been more wrong.  It felt like I had not missed a beat.  That’s one of the great things about the BBD family.  Even during my last year at the University of Scranton, BBD made me feel that I was never far from the company even though my internship and summer position had ended.  I said goodbye to my “cube” as an intern and said hello to my new one across from my own manager to begin my next phase at BBD.

I emphasize “my own manager,” because I never had my own manager, my own team, my own responsibility.  That is one thing I needed to understand when I left the role as an intern.  Yes, I had a great role as an intern.  My assignments were engaging and adventurous, but now I was on my own.  I knew I needed to direct myself with some assignments although I could always ask questions in order to make sure I understood everything correctly. I was grateful that I was now a larger part of the BBD team, and I seized the opportunity.   I knew I was depended upon and dependent upon others. I was a part of the BBD family.   We all know we can depend on one another, and I mean that. 

I know that I was always a part of the BBD family, but it really became official for me when I was hired to be full-time.  I can’t really describe it, but I just remember walking through the front door on the first day and feeling a rush, knowing the opportunity I had been given. A feeling came over me, and I thought to myself, “So, this is how it feels, huh?”  

I know I wish I could spend more time with everyone in the Great Room and not have to spend so much time studying for the CPA exam, but it is very important to me and to BBD.  I will continue to truck through as each exam nears.  That is my overall goal: to have those three letters, CPA, after my signature.  I will write them proudly.  Overall, the transition to becoming a full time employee was an easy one, especially because of my group.  

So, until next time on this blog, hope all is well on your end.  Good luck with everything.  If you feel like making a visit to 1835 Market St. 26^th floor, you can’t miss me.  I’m the one with the tree.  See you soon.

Rob Colby: Reflections On Taking...And Passing...The CPA Exam

I thought I was done with studying when I graduated…

The CPA Exam… quite a unique thing. I have recently spent eight months studying, but I am finally done. It has been a great learning experience and not just concerning the content of the exam. I have also learned the difficulties of dealing with failure, how to be disciplined, the importance of friendships, scheduling, and prioritizing. This was one of the most difficult things that I have gone through, but it has built my character for which I am grateful. The exams are passable though, as long as you are willing to put the time in, which can be a struggle. It may seem quite intimidating, especially trying to balance work, studying, and finding time to rest, but it helped having supervisors that were supportive of my studies knowing the importance of the exam. Another thing that was helpful was taking a review course; without it I wouldn’t even know where to start studying. If I had one piece of advice for any future CPA candidates out there it would be to take the exam as soon as possible. Once you graduate get your application in right away and have your school to send out your transcript, so that you can get the process started. The sooner you can get done the better off you’ll be. As time passes and responsibilities grow at work and in your personal life the harder the exam gets, so do yourself a favor and get studying!