[Anonymous]

Curious as to the different hazards we all face in trying to find time to study. I personally work full time as a staff auditor. After failing a couple of exams I realized I need to step it up. I am now trying to study 3 hours every night after work ( alot harder than seems). I also try and get about 3 hours on sat and sunday. I am not married, have no kids, and the only thing I really am committed too besides studying is playing futbal once a week. On that night i only get about an hour in. I want to be done with exam once and for all and I am now willing to except that studying will have to consume my life.So with this new plan I am going to study every day including fridays. This will get me approximately 19 hours a week. I will hopefully try to get more than just 3 on one of the weekends but more importantly I would like to get in more quality study time. Im hoping to get the ball rolling and pass 3 exams before we start tax season in mid January.

[hellencpa]

For me,,,,i took REG on AUG 30th and passed and i am now studying for my final section FAR. I am married and have 5 month old baby boy (he sleeps max of 30 mins during the day) and the good thing is i am not currently working…….. still tough as a new mom to manage motherhood and study but i am getting used to it. Hopefully i will be done in the comin windown…..

[jle1028]

Thankfully … er, okay, not really … I'm presently unemployed with no other significant obligations. At the moment, it's a matter of buckling down and getting it done and trying my darnedest to not be sucked away by the myriad distractions that seem to rear their heads.

Deity willing, though, I will soon have to juggle the work/study balance. I guess I'll figure that out whenever the time comes, though I fear that I will lose a tremendous amount of potential study time to an unwieldy commute. C'est la vie, I suppose.

REG -- 77 (11/12)
AUD -- 77 (2/13)
BEC -- 89 (4/13)
FAR -- 91 (10/13)

Roger CPA, Wiley

[littlenumberrobot]

Work full time, study part time(15-18hrs/week), 1 dependent cat, an auditor boyfriend who travels alot, no social life and a family who thinks I LIKE to study and work more than spend time with them. I use ELL plan for my study time. It's not easy for me, but I know others have more on their plate than I do.

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[mgoloubenko]

I'm single but seeing someone, haven't started work yet but will begin in January which is why I'm really pushing to try to be done by then. I was still in my MAcc program when I passed FAR, but I'm done with school now. I try to work out regularly, and still make time to see friends these days except no long nights of partying but more like a quick dinner, or a movie. Low key stuff!

FAR 4/9/12- PASSED
BEC 7/13/12- PASSED
AUD 8/16/12- Ughhh 71, Rematch: 90!!!
REG-12/6/12 PASSED

USC MAcc- Fight on!

They say good things come to those who wait, but only those things that are left by those who hustle.

[Anonymous]

Studying full time from June until October 1. Start full time work on October 8, hope to have 2 parts done by then!

[LSNYC]

I work long days usually 8-6:30 sometimes longer, I have no kids but I do have a husband who luckily is pretty understanding, he has his moments. I try to study 3-4 nights a week for 2-3 hours and I try to get 4-5 hours on Saturday and Sunday. I do usually read on my commute since I take public transit, that gives me about 45 min a day of reviewing.

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[HustlinHustlin]

Work full time plus some in busy season (yeah, that's right now), but usually about 50 hrs a week. The hardest part is having deadlines to meet which cause me to work into the night sometimes or traveling to audits. When I am traveling, I try to bring flashcards to review in the car if I am not driving, but it is never a very quality study.

Most days, I try to wake up at 5am, kick my bf out of my bed, chug some coffee and study until 7am. I am not a morning person so this is new. If I can, I get an hour in at lunch. It can be hard because of other people interrupting/overhearing phone calls.

When there is downtime and I can get away with it, I eat up some admin hours and study. I try to get another hour or two in after dinner or the gym.

I moved in with my boyfriend this year (we have a 2bed/2bath) so its nice I can have my own space when studying. No kids and he's a private banker so he's totally understanding. I will admit it is easier to study when he isn't around though – I was single all through college and survived on marathon library hours and staying up late.

I did lead a very active social life and love the nightlife. This is my biggest downfall and my friends who don't understand how demanding this exam is and how big of an impact it will be on my career.

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[momto5]

I work a 40 hour week and study most evenings, sometimes a little in the morning, and probably average 12-16 hours on the weekend. My kids are grown, although my youngest just moved back in after graduating from college. My husband and I work at the same company, so we ride in together (30 minute commute) and sometimes I work through flashcards or MCQ's on the trip. He does almost all of the cooking and basic upkeep around the house so that I can study and wants me to be done as soon as possible. I have been taking college classes for the better part of the past 7 years basically and he is ready to have his wife back! I am also looking forward to redeveloping some friendships again that have been sort of on “hold” during this process – you all know what I mean. Kudos to all of you who do this with families and all those other responsibilities!

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[Anonymous]

Wife (today's our 20th anniversary), two kids, one thankless dog, a tax business on the side and a full-time and a half job that never seems to have a slow season. Not to mention I was just promoted. Thank the Lord above I am through with three parts…..if I had more than one to go I don't know if I would have the stamina.

Whatever you do, figure it out. I've done it both ways—as a know it all 20 something and now as a man who realized he has limitations….aka not ten feet tall and bulletproof. The exam is the same but being able to study without distraction will never be easier, nor will the ability to retain information. Do it now.

As for you, failing two parts you need to revamp your study program. You sound like me the first time I tried it in my 20's, studying on a hope and a prayer. Study like the exam is your second job and just do it. Whatever program you are using, supplement with Wiley. Take notes, rewrite those notes about three weeks out from the exam and do your review course and Wiley's mcq's and SIMS 3x each. You can do it. But two failures indicates some problem with your study program.

Best of luck!

[missjones513]

I'm single, no kids and I work full time (only 40 hours a week). I try to study when I get home from work and on the weekends. I get distracted though by hulu, YouTube, Pinterest and Facebook. On top of that, I'm a football fan.

I study by reading and taking notes on each chapter, then doing the mcq's in the book. I've been doing mcq's on the wiley test bank as part of my final review but I'm trying to do some sooner. I think I'm going to stop scheduling sections until after I have studied notes and did some practice sessions. I'll schedule a section ahead of time but then end up slacking.

REG - 5/29/12 (64), 10/1/12 (74), 5/20/13 (75, expires 12/31/14)
FAR - 8/14/12 (64), 8/5/14 (75)
BEC - 11/19/12 (70), 2/25/13 (72), 11/21/13 (73), 1/21/14 (73), 8/30/14 (72), 11/24/14 (75)
AUD - 4/22/13 (65), 10/12/13 (79)

I'm done!!!

Ethics - Pass

[Author]

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