Starting Graduate School today, anyone...

[ClassicIsBetter]

gone through this before? I am getting my Masters in Accounting and Finance. Just the sound of it sounds hard. I am very nervous. (I have no experience in Accounting at all.) My friends that know me well think I can do this with little difficulty. They have more confidence in me than I do. Pre-Grad school jitters, no doubt. What can I expect from Grad school? In my mind, I have elevated the situation to "near-impossible, to be pursued by Mensa-certified geniuses only." A lot of people say my life is built around accomplishing the impossible, but it doesn't apply to everything... Maybe I should heed my father's advice: "Son, at the very most you have only half the brain cells I do, there is no reason why you can't be a genius also." lol Obviously I am rambling. Will go to bed now before I talk myself into the kind of hysterics that Matt Deckard seems to experience in a suit shop full of incorrect arm holes.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

I do know what it's like going back to school after being out for a while. I also know what it's like to go into a field in which I have no experience.. Just think of it as an adventure. You're heading down the right path, a path of knowledge and experience that will open up a lot of new doors.
I wish you all the best of luck on your journey.
Daisy

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

Ditto and good luck ClassicIsBetter!

Swing High,
- C H

 

[VivianRegan]

That's exactly how I felt two years ago before going for my MA in history (emphasis in historic preservation). It's almost done. Just the thesis to go.

But it was a relatively smooth transition, considering I hadn't been to school in six years.

Campus took a little getting used to... all the little coeds looked like Paris Hilton! Very different from my undergrad days...

You should do fine, once you get into the swing of it. And don't forget (and it sounds obvious), but you are there to LEARN. You get to work up to expert level, gradually, over a couple of years. I was awfully hard on myself initially, in that respect.

Hope you make a lot of friends, too! School is sure great for socializin'...

 

[Rosie]

Grad school for me was like undergrad, just slightly harder, with older people and better discussions in class. You'll be fine. Good Luck!

 

[Sunny]

I'm in my second semester of grad school, getting a degree in accounting. And my undergrad degree has nothing to do with business, either! I'm also working fulltime. As VivianRegan said, don't be too hard on yourself right out of the chute. Space out the harder classes until things really start clicking - and they will. Good luck!

 

[Harp]

Grad School

Don't worry about it kid, you'll do fine.

 

[ProperRogue]

Been there a few times...

I actually have a couple of grad sheepskins including an MA and a MS and have finished the course work for a Ph.D., so a bit of experience here. I loved grad school a whole lot more then undergrad - actually got to think, debate and reason in grad school - some of the benefits of a liberal arts degree! You will do fine. Yes, there is a lot more work and you won't just be able to regurgitate answers but it is doable by anyone.

You might be interested in what my mentor told me before I pursued my first grad degree: “Getting a Ph.D. is a matter of persistence, not intelligence.” Just keep at it and you should be fine.

PR

 

[TM]

My one suggestion is to socialize well the first week of school. In my case at least, my closest friends were the ones I met in that first week. And still keep in touch some 20 years later.

Tony

 

[Paisley]

I'm not an accountant, but I work at a CPA firm. I think we're busier than most CPAs--a consultant once said that joining our company was like joining the marines (I guess he's not a veteran). It's definitely not a 40-hour a week job: lots of evenings and weekends, lots of continuing education. They're sharp, quick and hardworking. Anyone here who doesn't show an aptitude for accounting is asked to move on.

Despite accountants having a reputation for being nebbishes, I haven't found that to be true. The people who've gotten ahead here aren't the life of the party, but they do have a good nature and yet a strong personality. You have to when you face the IRS or the SEC, or just an irascable client.

Classic, I suggest you spend some time at a few accounting firms and see if it's a good fit.

 

[ClassicIsBetter]

Well, I do know that accounting was a difficult subject for me during undergrad. I've had 3 accounting courses, the 3rd of which (managerial accounting) was the most difficult. I passed with a C then, only because the professor decided to make the final exam optional. I almost made a makeshift vigil and started praising God immediately. Reality/real life has changed my ways tremendously, and I'm interested to see what kind of impact it's had on me as I near my first class.

Paisley: My step-mother just got promoted to director at Delloitte and Touche, (sp?). I agree with you that it is boot camp. They have mandatory 45 hour work weeks, travel extensively, and during audit season folks work through the night. That actually sounds like fun to me. Yes, I have no life.

Sunny: How well are you doing? What was your first class? Mine is Financial Accounting. I don't know how similar it is to the Financial Accounting I had in undergrad, but the undergrad one wasn't too difficult (with studying and self-discipline, of course.) It'd be nice to keep in touch as we go along!

Class is in 1 hour! Better move it. Thanks for the positive comments all!

 

[Lady Day]

I wish I didnt go to the school I went to (for profit). I feel like I paid for a Master's degree, not earned one.


LD
Good luck to you tho, and may you kick much butt with it.

 

[deanglen]

My MDiv from Seminary was worth every penny and drop of sweat. It was great to study things that had direct application to a career. My BA in Communication Arts was an asset, but the graduate atmosphere was wonderful. Do it!

 

[ClassicIsBetter]

I wish I didnt go to the school I went to (for profit). I feel like I paid for a Master's degree, not earned one.


LD
Good luck to you tho, and may you kick much butt with it.

What school did you go to?

 

[Lady Day]

What school did you go to?

http://www.academyart.edu/


LD

 

[Nathan Flowers]

.

My only advice is to treat grad school like a job.

Never be late for class.
Stay late after class with questions.
Visit the professors in their offices on days you don't have class.
Ask plenty of relevant questions during class.
Have every reading and assignment done at least 1 day before class if possible, so you can go to the professor if you have questions regarding the assignment before it's due.

Some folks consider these things kissing-up to the professors, but I consider it good sense. Think about it this way: You are probably paying a lot of money to be in that school. Therefore, to ensure you're getting a good bargain for your money, do everything you can to take advantage of these professors, their time, and the school. Form friendly relationships with others in class to help with studying and gaining different perspectives on the material.

Doing these things won't ensure absolute success, but they will definitely not harm your chances.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

My only advice is to treat grad school like a job.

Never be late for class.
Stay late after class with questions.
Visit the professors in their offices on days you don't have class.
Ask plenty of relevant questions during class.
Have every reading and assignment done at least 1 day before class if possible, so you can go to the professor if you have questions regarding the assignment before it's due.

Some folks consider these things kissing-up to the professors, but I consider it good sense. Think about it this way: You are probably paying a lot of money to be in that school. Therefore, to ensure you're getting a good bargain for your money, do everything you can to take advantage of these professors, their time, and the school. Form friendly relationships with others in class to help with studying and gaining different perspectives on the material.

Doing these things won't ensure absolute success, but they will definitely not harm your chances.

Hey Zohar, that's very good advice. Become the "teacher's pet", I wish I had done that, it might have helped me get through three years of hygiene school. Your idea of making the most of your money is great. I wish I had put some of my teachers to work. Seemed to me, everytime I visited one in their office, they were sitting around doing nothing or talking to friends on the phone. They even got the students to grade papers and exams for them, for no credit!! I went to a very sorted school.

 

[Nathan Flowers]

.

Well, you don't necessarily become their "pet". I did this with some professors that were jerks who didn't really like anybody, but they begrudgingly respected that I was actually interested in learning. The professors are usually required to keep office hours to answer your questions, and this should be taken advantage of. Doing these things doesn't always ensure all A's, but they will ensure that you learn as much as possible (which should be the true reason for going to graduate school in most cases).


The professors that responded well to this have always served as excellent references for my career, and have ended up becoming some of my great friends, especially since they now come to me with many of their research questions (I'm an academic librarian).

 

[ClassicIsBetter]

Thanks for the good advice. Your are right in thinking that I'm paying good money for grad school (it's a private school, enough said!). I had a full scholarship for undergrad. No such pleasure this time.
Class went well last night. It is long, but my professor seems pretty cool. He looks and acts like Walter Matthau. Very sarcastic. Makes 3 1/2 hours of accounting class much more bearable. There seems to be a whole lot of work involved, but if I stay on top of it, I should be fine. I finally got my $200 textbook today, so I will be spending my Friday night hitting the books!

 

[Johnnysan]

Many years ago, someone shared this with me as I was headed off for my Master's Degree...enjoy!

Graduate Student Placement Examination
(New Format)​

Instructions: Read each question carefully. Answer all questions. Time limit is 4 hours. Begin immediately. Work in numerical order (equipment remaining from item 1 may prove useful with items 3 and 6.)

1. MEDICINE: You have been provided with a razor blade, a piece of gauze and a bottle of Scotch. Remove your appendix. Do not suture until your work has been inspected. You have 15 minutes.

2. HISTORY: Describe the history of the Papacy from its origin to the present day, concentrating especially but not exclusively on its social, political, economic, religious and philosophical impact on Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. Be brief, concise and specific.

3. PUBLIC SPEAKING: Two thousand drug-crazed aborigines are storming the office. Calm them. You may use any ancient language except Latin or Greek.

4. BIOLOGY: Create life. Estimate the difference in subsequent human culture if this form of life had been created 500 million years earlier with special attention to its probable effect on the English Parliamentary system.

5. MUSIC: Write a piano concerto. Orchestrate and perform it with flute and drum. You will find a piano under your seat.

6. ENGINEERING: The disassembled parts of a high powered rifle have been placed in a box on your desk. You will also find an instructional manual printed in Swahili. In 10 minutes, a hungry Bengal tiger will be admitted to the room. Take whatever action you feel is appropriate. Be prepared to justify your action.

7. SOCIOLOGY: What sociological problems might accompany the end of the world? Construct an experiment to test your theory.

8. MANAGEMENT SCIENCE: Define management. Define science. How do they relate? Crest a generalized algorithm to optimize all managerial decisions. Assuming a 7600 CPU supporting 50 terminals, each terminal to activate your algorithm, design the communications interface and all necessary control problems.

9. PSYCHOLOGY: Based on your knowledge of their works, evaluate the emotional stability, degree of adjustment and repressed frustrations of each: Alexander of Aphrodinias, Ramses II, Gregory of Nicea and Hammurabi. Support your evaluation with quotations from each man's work. It is not necessary to translate.

10. ECONOMICS: Develop a realistic plan for refinancing the national debt. Trace the possible effects of your plan on these areas: Cubism, the Donatist controversy, the wave theory of light.

11. EPISTEMOLOGY: Take a position for or against truth. Prove the validity of your position.

12. CLASSICAL PHYSICS: Explain the nature of matter. Include in your answer an evaluation of the impact of the development of mathematics on science.