[ROACH]

why?

My work is pretty demanding… I don’t even work many hours– 40 + some change every week. But still I feel so unmotivated at the moment that I want to just put the CPA exam on hold until I can get myself together. Also, I have no friends and no hobbies and it’s making me sad panda.

I just want to hear some stories from the community right now. What kicked started your butt cheeks back to studying for the exam etc.

BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
AUD: 8/28/2013
REG:
FAR:

[Anonymous]

Thank you MLA 1169… In fact you are all my heroes…And when I look at the grades….for those who pass, it's such an acomplishment; for those who do not pass…it's such an accomplishment that they had the power to sit in front of a computer and work the questions….A bad grade is a step ahead towards passing….

[Anonymous]

Thought I would share my experience and motivation…

Graduated college in 2001

Went to work for one of the Big 4 (Big 5 then)

Sat for the CPA exam that fall – signed up for Becker but only went to a couple classes, didn't study and obviously failed

During my first busy season, worked so many hours that I fell asleep at the wheel on the way to work one morning after only getting 2 hours sleep = bad car accident

Decided it was not worth it to put my life in jeopardy for a job and quit

Worked in the corporate world for a while and was much happier

First child was born in 2004, and I have been a stay at home mom ever since

There are a few reasons I'm working on passing the CPA exam now…

For starters, I don't feel like my accounting degree is “complete” until I pass the exam. I want to go back to work in a few years when my kids are older, so taking the CPA exam now will show that I'm up on the current issues despite being out of work for several years. It will also make it easier for me to get a job, and my earnings potential will be higher. Plus I figured I should get this out of the way while I'm not working. I have so much respect for those of you who work, have kids and take on the exam. I don't think I could do it!

Good luck to everyone!

[jints]

I'll be 63 next month. I never needed a CPA for the positions I have held until I went looking for a job a couple years ago.

I came up through the ranks as assistant controller, assistant treasurer, to finally chief financial officer and treasurer for a small firm. Even though I had a BBA and MBA without the CPA designation I could not get my resume past any screens and any accounting related jobs. I was fortunate to land a position that didn't require the CPA.

So three years ago I went back to school and got a second masters degree in accounting and started to sit for the exams this spring. Not done yet as REG and FAR seem to be very hard. But I will stick at it so I can hang out a shingle in my “retirement” years.

[Anonymous]

WOW! Camelia and apbandj! Those are some inspirational stories! I wish you all the best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Wow, reading each of these posts is so inspiring. It makes me feel more and more grateful for my current situation, and admire the strength it took for each person to get to where s/he is.

It's amazing how everyone has a story…

Best of luck to all!

[Anonymous]

Talk about putting off…These are what I have purchased: 2004 CPA excel, University of Houston Financial review class 2005, 2009 Becker Reviews (all parts). And I don't remember how many times I applied for eligibility to take the CPA exams after it expired…

I graduated with a BA in acconting over ten years ago and worked as a staff accountant after school. It didn't work out well after a year, and I opened up a smooth shop (with my dad's $) and closed it after two years. During those struggling years, I was determined to become a CPA so I attended school to obtain enough credit hours to sit for the exams.

After I got the qualification, I was excited to take the CPA and purchased the review materials. Meanwhile, I got a job offer from my current employer and met my another half. Things started to get comfortable and I had decided cuddling and watching TV were lot more fun than figuring out employee retirement benefits. And years went by fast while you were comfortable and busy doing something else: I bought and sold two houses and moved into our current house. Meanwhile, I found a passion in antiques and decided to become a part time collector. I also helped my significant other establish a fitness business.

I don't think I am a lazy person. Accounting is just not my cup of tea. There were times I tried to quit accounting/finance once for all. Beside, taking a CPA exam needs lot of scarfice and self-decipline, which I don't have. It's like going to see a doctor, it's not a fun thing to do so I would postpone it as long as possible. Still, it bothers me everytime when I think about the years I spent in school and nothing came out from it. If I don't have a CPA or at least try studying to take it, I would never stop asking myself “what if” for the rest of my life. I also don't feel securied about my current situation in term of job and personal finance. Once a while, I asked myself what I could do to mantain my quality of life if I loss my current job. The though of it keeps me awake at night.

My qualification expired early this year and as usual I applied for it again. This time I noticed something is difference: after July 2011, a candidate has to take two more classes (or something likes that) to be eligible. I realized my time was running out. This could be my last time I am eligible to take the test! I don't think I want to go back to school for more classes again. I am 38. If this is not a good time for me take the test, it will never be.

I called Becker in June and ordered the reveiw materials. Since I am a return student, they offered me a discount rate. However, I only ordered one part (Audit, in class method) this time because I didn't want to waste money like I did before. I was actually excited, as before, when I received my material. In last two months, I have been studying almost non-stop. After work, I would drive to a local college and lock myself up in a study room at a library and study 3-4 hours every day. As I studied, I got into the zoom that I really want to do this, and strangely, I started to enjoy it as I am feeling I have a goal in life and working toward it. It's a feeling I rarely have that I am proud of myself. I also gained a confidence that I can possibly accomplish this.

After my class sessions were over, I scheduled my first CPA exam on August 31st. Yes, I took the test yesterday!!! after years of trying. I am not longer a CPA virgin! as my friend said. 🙂

To me, a CPA title and a convertible have something in common: I desire both, but rarely attempt to get them. This year and next, I have decided to get both!!! and I won't get my converitable until I pass my CPA.

[khachik2003]

adderall.

Not that I take it but that “herculean strength” you speak of is often times supplemented by pills

[Anonymous]

bump

[jenuno01]

This is a great motivational thread! All these stories are great lessons for all young and seasoned candidates! Thanks for bumping this up @cannotpassagain

Class of 2012

[teegee63]

Great thread and topic. I am about to turn 48. I have a BS Acctg (graduated 1990) and MBA, great jobs since college, but I have always had the CPA in the back of my mind. Now that my kids are older I feel I have the time to make the study commitment. I just need to decide which section to start with and get busy. I am so glad to have found this board!

FAR
AUD
BEC
REG

[makinthemagic]

I put it off for a lot of reasons. I am 33 now. First, I got into accounting late. I started in engineering but diff eq kicked my a$$. I should have switched but I stuck it out another year and it cost me. Accounting was not an option as a new major but econ was. I took as much accy as I could and graduated. At that time, 2001, was when my state went to 150 hours. I was short of required classes so sitting right away wasn't an option. I finished grad school in the fall of 2004. I could have, and possibly should have, sat then. But the exam was starting computer based testing that year. I heard some horror stories about the first groups through CBT. FF to 2005-2009 and I get more responsibilities at work and rarely work only 40 hours. I often take work home nights and weekends during busy season. I also had a few girlfriends during that time to whom I devoted much of my remaining free time. I studied kickboxing for 3 years too. I had a good job with a large muni government and a pretty good defined benefit retirement package awaiting me in about 30 years. Unfortunately I got caught up in some layoffs in early 2010. Even then, I was in denial and scared of sitting for the exam. Failure scares me more than anything. I figured I would get a new job in a few months like I always had and could avoid the test. A softball teammate called me out at our end of year party. She said if you aren't working then you need to go CPA or go back to school for something else. So I started the process last year in December.

I wish I had done this 5 or 6 years ago after I finished grad school but waiting gave me some advantages. Those 7 years of experience as a staff accountant really helped me in FAR and AUD. I worked for a muni govt so all the govt/non profit components to those exams was not new to me. I have to understand all the “normal” accounting rules anyways so I think my work experience gave me a comparative advantage to most candidates. By waiting, BEC became more of an advantage as it now tests more non-accounting topics like econ and IT, than the FAR section it replaced. Also I got really good with Excel and that made doing sims so much easier. My undergrad degree was Econ and I've worked in, and had many friends in, IT. So I knew almost all of BEC except COSO and variances really well. So many people on here have problems with that test. I did not. My non-traditional educational and work experiences actually helped me become a CPA by giving me knowledge that many traditional path accounting students don't get.

Another advantage of waiting is maturity. At 25 I was more focused on getting drunk/high/laid. Now, I still like to have fun but I am smarter about it. There is now way I could have cast aside my social life for 6+ months back then. It wasn't much of a problem doing it now.

Bec 4/11/11 91
Aud 7/11/11 75
Reg 8/31/11 80
Far 5/24/11 86
Ethics - 98
California Licensed CPA
Illinois Registered CPA

[Anonymous]

great story @makingthemagic! who cares if you got your CPA late…your 7 years of experience trumps that stupid standardized test!

[HazeEastwood]

I originally graduated with a degree in business admin. Right after undergrad I got a degree in economics with an emphasis in finance. Before I graduated from grad school I was very tempted to wait a semester and take some undergrad courses in accounting but I decided not to. Once I graduated I had a difficult time getting a job in finance but accounting jobs were plentiful so I got a job at a manufacturing plant and I've worked in manufacturing accounting ever since. I put the CPA off for years making every excuse under the sun not to take the test. Finally in late 2009 I decided that if I wanted to go any higher or change career paths I would need to get the CPA. I was still lazy about doing it until I got the ultimate motivation. I was talking to a colleague about the exam and how I just couldn't muster the desire to take it. He responded with “You might be better off not taking it. African Americans typically do not do well on the exam. No need to waste time” That really pissed me off and I was on a mission after that. One month later I was studying and one year later I passed my fourth and final part!

FAR-81
BEC-84
AUD-91
REG-89

[Anonymous]

I got out of grad school with an MBA and was right in the middle of the dot.com bubble, so I got into IT. After it crashed and 10 years of a wobbly tech career at best, I decided to make a career switch, and am now taking the CPA with full gusto.

FAR, ethics and AUD have now been conquered. Now time for BEC.

[Author]

Replies