September 23, 2016 - Day 3 of the CFE

I thought I had posted it already but here's how my day went:

I didn't have much time to prepare for day 3 other than:

- the work I had done throughout the capstone 2 program which was doing day 3 cases every week. 3 of them at a time only during week 4.

- the studying I did from the end of the day 2 exam to the beginning of the day 3 exam, which was a few study sessions during odd hours of the night. Because after day 1, my brain was feeling burnt out after the exam. And then after day 2, I wasn't feeling so burnt out because I didn't find it too difficult. However, I did end up having to pass out after a few hours of being home. Then I'd wake up and study eat, brush my teeth, study, eat, brush my teeth, sleep, and so on and so forth until I had to grab the car keys and leave for the exam location

- I looked over some notes as I was driving. Got to the exam. Stayed in the car for a bit

OH. They make you put your jacket, and bag in a weird room, and then they want you to compete with the other 1000 something students to get your jacket and bag first lol. After I experienced this in Day 1, I was like eff that! So I would just left my jacket and my bag in the car.

I personally feel I didn't have enough to eat during day 3, but I thought if i did eat before the exam, I might start sneezing or coughing. You literally have to train yourself to be a robot for these exams, which is hard because we're humans.

Annnnyways: I sat down at my exam table, and they gave me a faulty USB key... so i had less time to write the CFE Day 3 than everyone else which sucked. There are three cases and you have to write them in minimum time which means a little time is useful.

As promised, CPA gave us the following:

- financial reporting issues
- management accounting issues
- assurance issues
- Personal AND Corporate  tax issues
- strategy and governance
- finance issues

I did fine on everything except for the personal tax and strategy and governance. In my opinon. In fact, I would say I bombed the personal tax and strategy and governance parts. That being said, I bet I failed day 3 just because of the rigorous passing requirements of CPA.

I'm going to do 2 things to respond to my experience with the CFE:

1 - create a plan to master all the above areas
2 - be glad I learned SO much from this journey
3 - Rigorously review all the material that I was given + do more technical work and ensure that I pass next year.