Hey Catshirt, sorry for the slow reply but I lecture and that takes a lot of time haha.

Im sorry to tell you that you have a difficult road ahead of you. Public accounting is rough because you'll be abused with hours of overtime that makes you think you might as well create a startup, you be dealing with BS politics all the time, you're going to be undervalued and under paid.

I tell you this because you should know the shit storm thats coming. Knowing how rough it is will put you in perspective and help you deal with those rough days. Public accounting is meant to provide you years of experience in a short period of time. You can equate 3 years of experience to 1 year at a big 4. So the long term goal is to either become partner (which is a pretty shitty option) or to leave and get a cushy job as a manager, director, VP or CFO at a company and do nothing.

As for your own personal dreams and aspirations its going to be nonexistant your first year or two because your working, learning and trying to get a cpa.

But, like i tell everyone. If you want to do something, then stop sleeping. lol. i know it sounds like a joke but im serious. sleep vs success is a choice you're going to have to make in the accountant/law field.

I hope that Ive been helpful haha. and sorry for being a debby downer but the uninitiated need to know the truth.