Last Week of Class

It’s the last week of class and for most people in my program, it’s a bittersweet ending to what has been an intensive, challenging, and exciting semester! Part of me feels sad and yet happy that classes are over. Sad that it happened so quickly and yet happy for a much needed winter break.

Today Professor Smith from my Professional Responsibilities in Accounting class gave a nice tearjerker farewell. My class discovered how much we had learned in 28 days of lecture and realized how far away the first day of class now seemed. She also passed on her keys to success and how they have helped her throughout her experiences. For me personally, her most meaningful key catalysts for success included:

1. Establishing your goals – Make a goal list and revisit that goal list periodically to help you stay focused on achieving your goals.
2. Work well with others – Throughout this semester, one thing every person in my program learned was how difficult group projects can be. Even if you have issues or problems, it’s always important to remain professional and not burn your bridges. Who knows? Someone you have had trouble with may reappear in your future when you need them most and least expect it.
3. Stay upbeat – It can be very challenging to stay positive especially when all you’ve been doing is working and you haven’t gotten much sleep the past week or semester. However, no one likes to be around negativity. Throughout this semester, there have been times when I have struggled to keep a smile on my face. But, look in the mirror and tell yourself that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. You’re almost there.
4. Make it happen – Lastly, take charge of your life and think about what you want. Be proactive about your needs.

With that advice, to my fellow MAccs/MBTs, using the words of Professor Owens, what have you learned this semester?

Hello, Hell Week. How are you?

For many people in my program, this week is Hell Week, which essentially translates to a maximum of 2 midterms, 2 papers, and 1 presentation or a minimum of 1 midterm this week depending on which classes you are signed up for this semester. The best part is that after a tough semester of studying, recruiting for jobs, group projects, and other tough obstacles, you see people coming together and supporting one another. Many of my classmates and I will head to the Accounting Library to study and often, you’ll see and find a familiar friendly face. For me personally, I enjoy having that friendly presence. People also start forming study groups or you’ll see group members covering for one another to help lighten that classmate’s load and allow them time to focus on that other class assignment or test.

For my MAccs and MBTs, just wanted to let you all know that we’re almost there! You got this! Only a little bit to go before you can relax and enjoy winter break!

Initial Impressions of a MAcc Girl

Before I started my accounting graduate program, I thought that all I would be doing would be journal entries, more journal entries, and maybe some basic arithmetic.  

However, that has definitely proved not to be the case. Rather, my program at USC has been focusing on building the foundation to be successful as an entry-level accountant.

In my communications class, we focus on becoming more effective writers, presenters, and communicators, essentially the soft skills that could become the differentiating point between you and someone else for that job or promotion you have been angling for.

In my professional responsibilities and accounting class, we discuss the FASB Codification and how accounting is really not just about the journal entries. It’s more than that. Accounting involves a lot of judgment and the question is how do you use that judgment? How does that human factor affect the financial statements? This class is half-discussion and the other half involves cases and group work. As a group, we read a case and then decide what should management or the audit team do in this situation.

In my information systems class, right now, the main focus is on how to make effective flowcharts through Microsoft Visio.

To summarize it all up, USC doesn’t just teach me the skills to be an accountant or an auditor, but rather, the skills to benefit me beyond that entry-level audit job. For all those interested in master of accounting programs, these programs or at least the program at USC goes beyond advanced accounting.