Reddit reviews Schaum's Outline of Financial Accounting, 2nd Edition (Schaum's Outlines)

I hope someone from the accounting degree/field can provide you with a more clear answer.

If you're having trouble retaining information, I would first consider, is this a field that you are even interested in? I get that it is a bit late after spending 3 terms on it but maybe it's not (just something to consider)? Also in a working world, you don't need to memorize everything like we do for tests. You have books and internet available where you can always utilize. It's not until you've been working in the "real world" do certain concepts sink in.

Second, if it comes to practice, there is alot you can do to keep applying your skills. A quick search on google just took me to this page: https://www.accountingcoach.com/quizzes. Has good amount of definitions and practice scenarios for you to calculate. I'm sure there's plenty of other sites as well.

I found someone recommending this book on another post: https://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-Financial-Accounting-Outlines/dp/0071762507

Also, have you had a change to check out Lynda, Pluralsight or youtube videos (Lynda and pluralsight are free to use as a student from WGU)? I usually find that if I am having trouble understand certain concept from reading, it's better if I hear and see someone work out the problem.

I found this from youtube on your current course: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIEoX8IiVPT-dW1aFWaG7twxLXx45ILWW

In regards to the job market, I would say make sure you're finding a location that has plenty of Accounting job opportunities, so you can bounce around after getting 6 months - 1 yr experience at each. I found this to be very effective method for my friends who are in accounting who graduated from college.

Having a degree is going to check off a box for the hiring manager. It does show that even though you are from a different background, you were able to understand the concepts of the degree that you studied for (atleast at a foundational level). It doesn't guarantee anything like how you will work with others or how you are able to meet deadlines (you should def highlight that achievement of completing the contract in 6 months, wayy ahead of schedule). You have to be confident in your interviewing skills and be able to demonstrate that you are capable of doing the job.

I would def also look into doing a CPA. I know companies that have bonuses on the line depending on if you can finish your CPA within a certain time of employment.

In summary, use the resources that are available to understand the problem, practice as much as you can till you're confident in your abilities, and keep striving to improve yourself and skills everyday.

(P.s. sorry for rambling, I can hardly get myself to write a one page paper for history but felt certain things that need to be said. Also that last line you said "i would be fine with a...", get that out of your head. Aim higher, and if you achieve that, aim even higher).

I wish you and your family the best of luck and happiness!

I haven't had a chance to look through it yet but I found this a couple weeks ago when I was looking for review material. They have several books that cover the full range of accounting and they're affordable.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0071762507?pc_redir=1408428804&robot_redir=1

I like the Kieso books here

and Schaum's outline if you just need a quick review of the topic.

but yeah, I'd pass on the courera courses. Way too basic.

Someone PM'ed me asking about how hard the tests are and I thought other people might be curious.. so I decided to post my reply here.

The tests are not really that difficult. It's just a way that the OCC ensures that applicants have a basic understanding of accounting principles, can write reasonably well, and summarize complex information.

The knowledge test is 75 multiple choice questions and you’re given 90 minutes. It focuses on fundamental accounting principles, financial statements (and ratios), and the time value of money. I stalked your reddit history and saw that you’re in the accounting program.. so I don’t think you will have any trouble. I would brush up on the topics listed in the link below. I torrented the Schaum's Outline of Financial Accounting to get a high level overview of accounting principles. I also think the sample questions on that page are a good representation of the actual test. If you still have your MGA201 book that would work too. I finished the test in a half hour or so. It tells you if you passed immediately, but it doesn’t tell you how many you got wrong. Many of the questions were incredibly simple. I remember being shocked when the question came up: is cash a current asset or liability? Like really OCC?

I thought the written test was even easier than the knowledge test. You are given ten documents and need to reach a conclusion about the bank and support it. The test is used to assess how well you can organize a lot of information and convey your ideas. It’s not used to assess your knowledge of banking or anything else. I thought the test was easy because they give you all of the information that you need. The documents have a lot of cross references, one of them will say something like see document six. You have to be able to follow the references, and pull information from the various documents to support your conclusion. I don’t think there is anything that you can really study for this test.

I would suggest that you book an appointment to take the tests as soon as you can. I applied on the second to last day of the hiring period, and had to go to Rochester to take the test. You should be able to get a location in Buffalo though.

http://www.occ.gov/about/who-we-are/careers/knowledge-test-entry-bank-examiner.html

http://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-Financial-Accounting-Edition/dp/0071762507

Are you referring to this one?



https://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-Financial-Accounting-Outlines/dp/0071762507