After 13 months and 10 days, after 30 additional credit hours of classes, after nearly 2,600 pages of Gleim reading, some 7,200 practice questions, 126 simulations, and nine months of dedicated preparation for the various parts of this exam, I am inside of 24 hours from taking the final section.

I’ve done everything I can do to prepare for this last section. I have applied the exact methods that have worked for the previous three sections. My weighted average on everything throughout my preparation for this section is roughly an 85. Based on empirical evidence taken from the previous three sections, in comparing my prep scores to the official posted scores, I am fairly confident that my official grade on this section will fall between an 87 and a 99. All I need is a 75 to pass.

I’ll know more tomorrow evening after I’ve actually taken the test. Historical information seems to indicate the official grades will post about the 20th of March or so, at which point, assuming a pass, I’ll just have an application packet to fill out and send into the state. I am hoping by mid summer to have an official certificate to hang on the wall.

Life is about to change gears. I’ve got a few things lined up I need to get done while I still have the advantage of not working full time. However, in the next several weeks, I will be jumping back onto the job market for the first time in a while. Needless to say, as cool as it has been to be able to experience the college life again, I’m done with it now and ready to make some coin again. Although finances are in pretty good shape considering I haven’t worked in 13 months, I do feel that I have some financial catching up to do.

Taking advantage of my airline job furlough to get this CPA done was the best decision that could have been made in the face of otherwise bad news. My wife and I are still pre-kids, she is gainfully employed, I lost my job (I likely wouldn’t have quit a good job to do this full time), the timing was good, and it all made sense.

We’ll see what the future holds for me going forth. But, one thing is for sure: It’s time to start DOING, instead of just preparing. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and start playing a new game, because I’ve pretty much worn this one down to the nub.

Wish me luck! Catch you when I am a CPA (well, except for the requisite paperwork).

This entry was posted on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 9:06 pm and is filed under Day to Day Stuff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.