NJSCPA Exam Cram Blog

My first promotion!

So last week I received my first real promotion! My former title at Merrill Lynch was a Senior Specialist and last week I was promoted to an Assistant Vice President...it sounds so official! My position and function in internal audit won't change, but I'll be expected to take on more responsibility and keep my performance at a high level. I've always enjoyed my job, and have worked hard at it, but this was a bit of a surprise. I had thought that a promotion was a slim possibility, but unlikely due to short period that I've been full-time (only since May/June). But apparently my performance spoke for itself! ;-) I'm just really happy and really excited that my managers and coworkers noticed my hard work. It gives me all the more motivation to keep working hard and excelling.

I can only imagine what getting that first passing CPA test score back feels like, but this feels really good right now and I'd assume its similar! The promotion has given me more motivation to study too, not sure why, but that's definitely a good thing. I guess that it just brightened my outlook on things, maybe life in general (I was having a bad week). One of those life reassurances...hard work really does pay off. It's awesome.

Anxiously checking the mail...for my NTS

So I sent in my exam application during the second week in November; the check I wrote for my exam fees was cashed on December 24. That's a good sign, considering I've spoke with others whose checks took months to clear - only 6-weeks for me seems quick. Yesterday, I contacted my school to mail an official copy of my transcript in (I completed my final 4-credits for my BS in Accounting on December 20, 2007 and the school offices only reopened on January 2). I'm now counting down the days until I receive the NTS. I'm planning to take the first exam on February 28, so hopefully the NTS gets here soon! How long has it taken others out there to receive their NTS? Has anyone else recently submitted their application first and then their transcript later (upon completion)?

Over my vacation from work, I didn't accomplish nearly as much studying as I had hoped...I re-watched two of the financial lectures but didn't work on many multiple choice problems at all. I did, however, get in some great days snowboarding at Sugarbush and sledding in VT. Not that it will help my CPA exam score, but it did provide some great mental relaxation from the normal CPA studying brain drain.

I also received the final section of the Becker CPA course in the mail recently. The first three sections of the course I took with an instructor live in Woodbridge, NJ but the hike out there via Route 1 was becoming grueling. I called Becker and changed the fourth section (Regulatory) to the CD-ROM version. If I were still taking the live course, it would have began on January 2, so my goal was to keep up with the CD-ROM course at the same pace...that hasn't worked out so well either, haha. I think I'll use that time more wisely by concentrating on one section at a time (i.e. Financial Accounting & Reporting).