The leading news and information resource for future CPAs from the Virginia Society of CPAs
   
 Volume 5, Issue 1
  
January 2005
Did you know?

Before belting out jazz tunes, famous saxophonist Kenny G. crunched numbers
as an accountant!

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Tell a friend about VSCPA student membership Top

Do you know other college students or have friends who might be interested in VSCPA student membership? Tell them about these great benefits they receive for just $15 per year:

  • VSCPA Educational Foundation student scholarships
  • Student Zone Web site with student and educator resources
  • CPA Connection mentoring program
  • Free access to the VSCPA Career Center, where you can post your résumé, access exclusive internship opportunities and search for future employers
  • Opportunities to network with more than 8,000 experienced Virginia CPAs
  • $300 discount on YaegerLambers CPA Review
  • Up to $200 discount on MicroMash CPA Review© by Pass Matrix
  • Advi$or bimonthly e-newsletter just for students
  • Footnote monthly e-newsletter for all VSCPA members
  • A complimentary copy of New Accountant magazine, which keeps you posted on hot topics and issues that are relevant to accounting students nationwide
  • Discounts on CPE, plus … special deals from UPS, GEICO, MBNA and others
  • And … VSCPA student membership looks great on your' résumé while showing future employers your commitment to the profession

Encourage your friends to join today at https://host.thehostgroup.com/vscpa/Membership/student_apply_frame.htm.

Get your cool financial fitness calendar now Top

Check out the FREE 2005 Financial Fitness Calendar, packed with financial advice and tips as well as four profiles of Virginia CPAs working in exciting fields! Learn how to start saving young, how to make sure your credit stays healthy and more. Download the calendar now, or check out these other fun resources to make sure you know your money stuff!

For more information on the VSCPA's Financial Fitness initiative, check out the Financial Fitness Web site.

Accounting is top major across the nation! Top

You aren't alone in your interest in accounting. Across the country, more and more students are exploring the opportunities an accounting major offers them — from business and ethics courses to practical, real-life experience through internships. That interest makes accounting the top major choice of U.S. college students, according to a Job Outlook 2005 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

In spring 2003, 50,000 accounting degrees were awarded across the country, an 11 percent jump from the previous year. You picked a great time to be interested in this rewarding profession! For more information on exciting career opportunities in the CPA profession, visit the CPA Student Zone Web site.

Tuition is rising — Apply for a scholarship today! Top

The numbers don't lie. Last year tuition increased by 10.5 percent at four-year colleges and universities and 8.7 percent at two-year institutions. In Virginia, between 2002 and 2004, your share of education costs increased from 23 percent to 36 percent, while the state's share decreased from 77 percent to 64 percent. (More Virginia tuition statistics are available at the Explore Virginia Colleges Web site.)

You can offset your college tuition fees by applying for scholarships from the VSCPA Educational Foundation! Download the scholarship application and make sure you apply by April 15, 2005 to secure scholarships for next fall. The Foundation offers undergraduate, graduate and minority undergraduate scholarships.

For even more help, check out these articles: The Fundamentals of Financial Aid and Borrowing Wisely for College.

Real-life CPA stories give you the gossip Top

Today's CPAs can give you the best reasons to pursue and stick with accounting. Why not hear it directly from them? Visit the VSCPA Student Zone Web site for CPA Real World profiles, right on the homepage. Learn about the specialties and interests of CPAs across the state.

Or, check out video profiles and articles about CPAs at the Start Here. Go Places Web site. After a quick free registration, learn about CPAs breaking the mold and working in exciting industries such as entertainment, music, forensics and fraud.

Steps to become a CPA Top

So you want to take the plunge and secure your future by becoming a CPA.Visit the CPA Student Zone to learn where to start, how you become licensed, CPA Exam requirements in Virginia and more. All CPA Exam-related information, including the latest CPA Exam Alert, is available on the CPA Exam Web site, as well as more information on how to register for and take the CPA Exam.

Hot site: ExploreVirginiaColleges.com Top

If you're looking for information on attending a college or university in Virginia, check out the Explore Virginia Colleges Web site, full of links and resources to help you prepare for your future. Learn how to prepare for college, how to apply for college in Virginia and your options for paying for college. Already attending a college or university? Check out a section just for college students containing distance learning options, financial aid forms and more.

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Virginia Society of CPAs
P.O. Box 4620, Glen Allen, VA 23058-4620
(800) 733-8272 | CPE Hotline (800) 341-8189