August 4, 2008
CFA cram begins
You might remember that I used to occasionally complain here about studying for tests back when I was going to NYU. Thankfully that all stopped after I graduated and got a job. I thought I would never have to think about studying again.
But since I am a shortsighted idiot, I appear to have gotten myself into a test taking situation yet again. So I can only post this for my self encouragement. Coming this December, I'll have finished my first year as a full-time analyst at "Unnamed Corporation," so I figured (way back in March), that I would aim to use my year of experience as well as my still-recent (and thus hopefully relevant) undergrad education to help study for the level 1 CFA.
Well now I regret making that decision because some 8 months after I became an analyst (almost 2 years if you include the time as intern), I still feel like I know jack about the industry. Plus, from what I've read, even having a finance background doesn't help much on most of it anyway, because so does everyone else taking the test, and it's still hard as shit and curved just enough to make 70% of grown men cry. BUT my stupid ass foolishly publicized that decision back in March in my "stated self improvement goals" at work, so now I basically have to put my money where my mouth is in order to not look like a chump. Since it cost an arm and a leg to even register for this test, I can't really afford to piss away money by failing either. Thus, August marks the start of my CFA preparation.
There is some obscenely low pass rate usually attributed to people underestimating the study time for the test. I thought I had decent cramming skillz back in school, but since I've heard nothing but horror stories about the amount of studying required from most of my coworkers who I consider real smart guys (and some who have been working way longer than I have), I have been sufficiently scared into early preparation.
My current plan is to do one session every five days, with no breaks in between except for the few days I will be in Japan for Animelo. This should allow me to finish studying about three weeks before the actual exam, so I can spend the last month on nothing but practice tests.
Also if I pass, I get to look forward to another 2 more levels of this test that are supposedly even harder before getting certified. Oh boy! Then again at least I'm not going for a CPA. Haven't people killed themselves over that one?
Posted by Paranda at August 4, 2008 1:39 AM
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Comments
Good Luck, Paranda. Coming from a someone who studied for and took the bar, I know what you're going through man. Don't they have review courses for that? Well, it's nice to have an animelo break in between. Even I took a night off for new years when I studied...
Posted by: oblacxz at August 7, 2008 11:38 PM
As an ignorant high-schooler, I have no clue what you just said, but it sounds hellacious LOL I wish you the best of luck on your studies!!
Posted by: AnimeKittyCafe at August 13, 2008 8:55 PM