A new semester
Hi guys!
So I’ve been a little quiet, which usually happens when I’m not studying enough for the CPA exam! After hearing that I passed REG, I had a hard time motivating myself to study for AUD, which seems so much easier! But still, I need to keep reviewing, or I might find it much harder than I expected!
Classes started Thursday, so I have to get back to homework and readings. My first assignment of the semester is due tomorrow. We have to read an article titled “The Seven Deadly Myths of Accounting” by Moses L. Pava, and then write a one-page response about a particular one of the myths we agree or disagree with.
I couldn’t find a copy of the article online to link to, so I’ll summarize it briefly. Essentially, the article seems to be written for an audience of accounting professors, regarding the myths that accounting students have.
These myths touch on the idea that many students have that accounting is simply a set of rules, and if one memorizes the rules, one will be a successful accountant. Pava argues that accountants, above all, must be approach accounting like a foriegn language, and must learn to communicate in this “language of business” and that simply memorizing the rules is like trying to learn a foreign language by memorizing long lists of vocabulary words, without learning grammar or practicing speaking or writing.
The myth I chose to respond criticizes the way accounting students accept accounting rules without questioning them. Pava talks about the blank looks he gets from students when asking them to talk about the weaknesses of how we calculate net income. He says:
“It is almost as meaningless as asking them to evaluate the benefits and limitations of “subtraction” as a mathematical operation. Just as students take subtraction for granted, students have inherited a view where net income enjoys a granite-like status. Net income simply is.”
I’m sure that some of you out there held beliefs as students that were ripped to shreds upon entry into the “real world” of accounting or business. Could you share some of those “myths” with us that you think should be on this list?
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I am really interested in reading the article is there some way you can email it to me. For example, scanning the article and emailing me the image. I’d appreciate it.
I contacted the website that the article was published on to see if I can get a link to it. Unfortunately, I can’t scan and send it myself without violating copyright. Hopefully IMAnet will get back to me about it!
Email me so I can send you an outline of things to focus on for Audit and the latest AICPA ?s if you want them.
Good luck, you’re doing great so far and I’m sure you’ll rock AUD too!