[beastmode]

This summer I took Becker Fast Pass and took all four parts of the exam.. so far I failed Audit and I’m waiting on my other 3 scores. Now I’m starting my job with one of the big four and I have no idea how I’m going to pass this if I couldn’t pass it over the summer with all that time to study ( and I studied a ton!). I would appreciate any advice about how to balance work/studying so I can retake audit in the up coming testing window.

Good luck to everyone!

[T-rex]

Spend weekends and evenings doing nothing but studying.

Stock up on microwaveable meals.

Forget about having a social life.

Put exercise on hold.

Don't bother cleaning up your house.

Just study, study, study as much as you possibly can. It's better to get this over with sooner rather than later.

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[Happen4reason]

I am in a similar situation. Took all 4 parts, (failed 3 waiting on one score) and I did this while finishing up my masters, working part-time and during the summer. I thought I could get it all done before starting work with a Big 4 in a few weeks…but I couldn't. I think you just have to remember this is a process and you will get through it as long as you keep at it. I am having to rearrange my “plan” and it sucks. What I realized is that most people are taking these exams while working full time and they make it happen. I have read such inspirational stories on this forum. It happens, live is gonna throw you curve balls, you just have to find the will to keep on going. You just have to make sure your leaving myself time to study after work. And you probably wont have a life for a whole, neither will I!!! I made sure to tell my friends I wont be seeing them for a while. I also find that when I do make plans I make them weeks in advance so that I can stick with my study schedule. I like organization so I have my workouts, free nights, studying all laid out. Its all about finding a balance that works best for you.

[Anonymous]

What t-Rex said. Speaking of not exercising and microwave meals…I had my biometric testing for my health insurance today… My BMI is now borderline overweight. I was going to try to explain life as a CPA candidate, but I figured it'd just be easier to say I'll exercise more and eat less saturated fats.

Make a study schedule. And stick to it like your life depends on it.

[rowingOC]

I am in 100% agreement with both T-rex & Erin. Forget your social life, forget cleaning the house, forget dates/husband/wife/gf/bf. I gave myself Sunday afternoons off, but otherwise I studied from 5-7am, worked from 7-4, studied from 4-7. Just be diligent and remember the more you study, the sooner it's all over with! GOOD LUCK!

@erin – i totally became a chunky monkey during all my studying too!!! Probably didn't help that I studied better while snacking =)

B - 11/10: 79
A - 10/10: 81
R - 2/11: 77
F - 5/11: 83 <--- DONE!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you're getting good advice here…

It's not going to be fun, but to echo the above – study, study, study.

Someone was recently telling me how her daughter was working for a Big 4 firm and taking the CPA exam and had no life, coming home at crazy hours, etc. and was thinking of leaving the firm…The honest truth is that it's (probably! 🙂 ) going to be hard, but it's a tradeoff.

And you can do it! You just have to devote the time and effort for it!

I hope you passed the other exams and good luck!

[Anonymous]

In order to keep my job and study, I had to break up with beer.

[Author]

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