Are you a future CPA? If this is part of your goals, you should know these before it’s too late. Don’t wait until you badly want to shift to another course.
Studying BS Accountancy seems daunting and very intimidating. It is often heard that only the smartest ones persevere in the course, or matira matibay.
It’s definitely difficult but all you need to survive the course is a strong character. Self-discipline, hard work and willingness to finish what you started! This course is for you only if you are up for the challenge.
As a former accountancy student, who took the course without any guidance from ates or kuyas, there are a few things that I wish I knew before starting as a freshman.
I was aware that it was a difficult field of study given the well-known fact that the CPA Licensure Exam has the lowest passing rate. You can’t miss out this exam if you claim to be a future CPA.
However, there are certain things I experienced that would really have been easier if I received any heads-up.
Future CPA, read these before it’s too late.
Never mess up with time.
From my experience, a lack of time management paired with overprioritizing rest has been very detrimental in studying accountancy. One thing I would make sure to do differently if I had to take my first year again would be to plan out my tasks by the half hour.
It wasn’t enough to jot down in a daily planner to “Study Chapters 1-3”. You need to schedule breaks, divide your studying time as needed and make sure you stick to your plans.
Accomplish your tasks, no matter how small they are!
There is a reason why your professors assign you work to do by yourself. Studying accounting takes practice. You need a good grasp of the concepts and you should be able to apply these in practice with ease. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. If you copy off your classmate, you miss a chance to learn.
Focus on studying.
You need not only to study as much as you can, but you need to make sure that you are studying effectively. By the time your professor starts discussing a chapter, you need to have at least a basic understanding of the lesson. In that way, when it’s time to ask questions, you know where you have gaps in learning the topic.
Also, in case there are quizzes or seatwork, you can already find it a lot easier to do than if you didn’t read at all.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Future CPA, read these before it’s too late.
If you are confused with anything, clarify it with your professor. List down confusing items or concepts you encounter while studying. In this way, you can ask your teacher about it when it is appropriate.
There is absolutely no shame in asking for help, especially during discussions. Good professors will allot a certain amount of time to entertain questions from students to address any confusion. They want you to learn, and they are there to help you.
You can’t rely on your “bawi lang” mindset when studying accountancy.
Every score counts. For quizzes or assignments, or even attendance, you need to make sure you give your best all the time. You cannot afford to slack off in one exam in the hopes that you can score high enough to pull up your grade in the next one.
The most important thing you need to do is give your best effort in every submission that you need to do. The most important thing you need to do is give your best effort in every submission that you need to do. If you feel like you didn’t do good in one exam or quiz, make sure you take note of where you came short and learn what you should have done, then move on and do better in the next.
Keep your goals in mind. Always.
You need to remember that the ultimate goal of studying accountancy in college is to graduate and become a CPA. You are preparing to take the CPALE as early as your first lesson in your first year.
Make sure that you are learning and internalizing these concepts that your professors teach you, since that will be your career if you choose to pursue this course.
Laban lang, future CPA!
