It's really quite difficult for a non-accounting major to ever feel qualified to sit for this exam. Granted, the California Board of Accountancy tells me that I'm only 1/2 semester unit away from giving it my first shot. Somehow, my mind still tells me otherwise.

As I worked my way through nine weeks of FAR material, I found my Intermediate Accounting books incredibly useful. I've devised a "non-accounting major" notebook to help me scribble (to myself) the ins-and-outs of the most tricky concepts that I still have a hard time grasping, such as Capital/Operating/Sales-Type/Direct Financing Leases, Ceiling- and Floor- determinations of Lower-of-Cost-or-Market, and so on... I see that there is a danger in spending too much time on this part of the exam, though. So I think I'll give myself a maximum of two more weeks with FAR material. And then I'm going to have to ditch the Intermediate Accounting books and re-friend my Federal Income Taxation book and begin entries in my "non-accounting major" notebook for those topics. Meanwhile, I am taking the AUD review sections along with my last accounting class, which happens to be Audit as well! Simultaneously, these two classes will hopefully give me the proficiency that I need to get this portion of the exam over with, asap.

My goal, was to attempt all four parts of the exam before the end of Summer. At the present moment, given the sheer quantity of information that needs to be versed and rehearsed (in my head), I wonder if it might be more suitable to aim conservatively (perhaps shoot to knock two of the hardest parts out of the park)... After all, if not anything else, accountants forecast conservatively =P We shall see... as soon as my transcript posts at the end of May (showing that I've fulfilled more than the last 1/2 unit that I need for the exam), it'll all be up to how quickly the CBA sends me my Notice to Schedule. I figure that I am willing to spend the first two of ten summer weeks drilling for the AUD portion (hopefully my easiest part of the exam), and then spend the next eight summer weeks tackling FIN and REG (in that order).

Wow... I've reached the quarter mark!!! Thus far, I've found that studying at the McDonald's will no longer work b/c I don't have a place to plug in my laptop. I've also decided that (even though most successful CPA exam test-takers swear by studying at the library), I must have the distraction of passersby and coffee bean grinders to hone my concentration. Finally, I am certain that keeping up with my exercise is just as important for my brain as it is for my body.

My fiance is super understanding and I love it that he never makes me feel guilty for the amount of time that I need (apart from him) to study. However, I am finding that my greatest distraction from quality study time is still related to him. Rather, it is the thought that I "should" be spending more time with him. So my personal challenge to myself is this: By the time I reach week 14 of 28, I'd like to report that I have silenced (or at least caged) this inner voice that sends me on guilt trips because I MUST stay put and achieve the goal at hand: 4 exams in 4 weeks before my next birthday!!!

There's only one more week remaining in this 4-week series on Regulation and I'm a bit flustered...

During my 8-hr class, when I start to feel like I might nod off, I play a few seconds of Tetris on my laptop (this sure beats hitting the munchies to stay awake b/c it doesn't make me pack on pounds!)

Yesterday, my instructor did us a huge favor by ending one hour early (leaving a full two hours for lunch!) A student decided to stick around and ask questions about real estate (completely irrelevant to our class). I felt bad for the instructor. I wanted to say to the classmate, "Yo Dude! Cut the lady a break. Let her enjoy her two-hour lunch, man!" But of course, I neither knew the classmate nor the instructor. *Shrugs*

With this 7-month goal in mind, I'm finding it kind of hard to maintain a steady attitude of focus. Maybe it's because I'm a multi-tasker and I rarely focus all of my attention on single projects at a time. But then, I find myself scaring myself back into focus whenever I imagine the possibility of looking back upon these 7 months with regret for a half-arse effort.