Dear Diary: Advice and Unsolicited Advice

Most people don’t appreciate unsolicited advice. Or any type of advice when they are stressed and if there is one thing I can assure you about it is the last few days before the exam are stressful…for most people anyways. I’m different, I don’t work.

Glancing in the Rearview Mirror
After reading and being on the receiving end of lots of advice I found that everyone missed one crucial piece of advice. Comparing your own study methods to the previous level. This is probably only relevant for CFA level II and III candidates. I’ve studied twice and hard and did twice as many practice exams than I did for level I so I feel good. Actually my cumulitave score for my CFA level II mock exams are about 5% higher than my CFA level I mock exams. I am feeling pretty comfortable comparing myself to the past and feel that I can hang up hat up and relax a bit before the exam.

Of course I am always simply horrified when I see the detailed discussions on this forum. Glued to my screen I read in morbid horror and realize I have no idea what they are talking about. @Vincentt and @Sophie are currently having a detailed discussion about the MF model and all I can think of is the fact that there are no graphs and these words are not sinking in. I was taught with graphs but I digress.

Peer Pressure
When I was studying for level I there was no peer pressure. I did self-study, I had friends pepper me with advice but I was mostly on my own. Nobody to compare myself and nobody to keep pace with. Actually a week before the exam I was fed up with doing questions and spent the week marathoning Korean drama and folding kusudama’s because that is what I do. And because I had nobody reminding me of all that I didn’t know. Nothing is worse than somebody asking a question and all you can draw is a blank expression. It is that gut-wrenching feeling that keeps you up late studying. If you are reading this chances are you use this forum and contribute if not that at the very least lurk. This forum fills the lack of community many CFA candidates have to deal with. I find it really nice being able to ask, “Hey question 21, why is it option b again?” and the other person thankfully understands what I mean.

So what is my point? I want to thank @Zee, @Sophie, and @Christine for making it possible and the rest of you for asking question, sharing stories and for the occasional laughs.