If your e-mail software mangled our newsletter, you can view it online at http://www.tscpa.com/student/newsletter/February_07/february07.htm.
 

Volume 2007 Issue 1    

Money Management
Easy Credit Can Mean Long-Term Hardship for College Students
Shrink Student Loans with Public Service
 

 New Member Benefit: ExamMatrix Review Software

ExamMatrix uses assessment-oriented CPA review software that will continually measure your strengths and weaknesses, customizing a study regiment unique to your needs and then managing your studying for you. ExamMatrix also offers a Pass or Refund guarantee - if you don't pass the CPA exam the first time after using their review course, they'll refund your money or give you a free update of their software.

If you're a TSCPA member, contact Jennifer Manning to find out how to receive your discount when ordering ExamMatrix materials. Not a member? Potential student members can find an application here, while those applying for associate member status can find an application here.
 

In 2006, TSCPA awarded $126,000 in scholarships to deserving accounting students across the state. The Scholarship Committee will be selecting recipients for 2007 in June, so don't miss your chance to apply! Applicants must have completed introductory courses in accounting and/or be majoring in accounting. You must also be a U.S. citizen, legal resident of Tennessee and attending a college or university in Tennessee.

To apply, complete the application form, and submit it to TSCPA by June 1. Please be sure to fully complete the application, as incomplete applications will not be considered.

Questions about the TSCPA scholarship program? Contact Wendy Garvin at 1-800/762-0272.
 

Looking for a job or internship? The 2007 Guide to Accounting Firms in Tennessee, produced by TSCPA in partnership with Becker CPA Review, is an all-new resource packed with information about more than 50 accounting firms across the state. Use the guide to find out which firms hire interns (and which ones pay!), what their client specialties are, who to contact about job opportunities and more.

If you're a TSCPA member, your copy is already on its way. Not a member? Fill out our order form to request your copy.
 

By Paul W. Barada, © 2007, www.monster.com

How do people new to the job market land that first job with little or no real-world work experience? What can you do to jump-start your career if all you have is a brand-new diploma and a couple of unrelated summer jobs?

Understand this: What you have to sell is job-performance potential, and that's what you need to highlight. Here are some useful tips on how to do just that.

Click here for the full article.
 

By Laura Morsch, © 2007, CareerBuilder, www.careerbuilder.com

Surviving those advanced integral calculus lectures and organic chemistry labs meant downing gallons of coffee, but that math- or science-related major might just be worth it – in terms of job outlook and high starting pay, that is.

According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), chemical engineering students graduating in 2005 reported snagging average offers of nearly $54,300. Computer science grads' job offers averaged about $51,300. Accounting grads got offers of about $43,800, and economics/finance majors' offers averaged roughly $42,800.

Click here for the full article.
 

By Kathy Chu, © 2006, USA TODAY, www.usatoday.com

In 2004, the latest year for which figures are available, three out of four college students had credit cards, and more than 40 percent had at least four, according to student lender Nellie Mae. As students advance through school, their card debt tends to swell. Seniors carry an average debt load of $2,864, nearly double a freshmen's average of $1,585, Nellie Mae's data show.

Why are college students so appealing to card issuers? They earn more on average during their lifetime than those who don't attend college. Many of them can also rely on parents to bail them out of financial trouble. And, "Every year, there's a new cohort to market to," says Robert Manning, a finance professor at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Click here for the full article.
 

By Elizabeth Kountze, © 2006, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, www.kiplinger.com

New grads who want to change the world often find that fighting poverty begins at home, as they contemplate their first measly paycheck and Kilimanjaro-size student loans. One solution: with assistance programs that repay student loans in return for work in underserved areas, you can do good and still make a big dent in that debt.

Click here for the full article.