Professor Elam

Tuesday Oct 7 2014

I have had at least three students today by e mail after class or in the office obsessing with their grade. 

Well yes there is something to grades but we are only six weeks in here. 

You do not want Cs on your transcript. I never realized the impact of that unti my 'advisor'  in college,actually one of my finance professors, was examing my transcript. He looked over the top of the folder and casually said

You have nevermade a C, in any class, have you. 

I had not thought of it that way and replied well no.

Today I realize I was probably the only student he had ever sat with who could make that claim, mind you this was at th height of the Viet Nam war, grade inflation had not happened, you could and many did, literally flunk out of college. 

At any rate, here is what you should be focusing on. 

I returned to college after completing my MBA and working for two years. Then I spent yet another semester studying for the CPA exam.  But, a short term sacrifice paid lng term dividends.

I began studying January 1975. By February 1976 I hd my answer, I had passed all four parts of the CPA exam on my first attempt, virutally unheard of at that time, about 3-5% of candidates did that well. 

So, if you can walk into the interview, and announce that you have already passed the appropriate certification for the job, all you need is the experience, 

trust me, they won't worry about your grade. 

Bottom line, focus on learning,coetence, big picture, read for context, 

right now can you lead a discussion on

new COSO requirements

New revenue recognition requirements

whether RSH will avoid bankruptcy, or SHLD for at matter

what do you think of the audit partner sign off suggestion

how will dollar strength affect multi-natonal companies

the ability to do this would set you apart from other candidates

and that is the purpose of this blog

to set you apart from all the other graduates in town