[Anonymous]

First post here.

My journey to becoming a CPA has been one of fear.

When I started my full-time job, I started studying for the FAR exam using Becker self study.

Given the stories I heard and falsely accepted my game plan was to study one chapter per week and give my self two – three weeks to review. I am going to be honest, the whole exam had me down and pressure at work where others were taking the exam was not helping. I wanted to pass the entire exam before anyone came asking me how are you doing on the exams. Frankly, I avoided and just told people I am putting the exam off but I was secretly studying.

When the time came to take the test, I thought I had the correct NTS form but not so. I freaked out! The test agent said I could return if I would be back in 30 minutes. I was relieved since I could go back to the office to print out the correct form. But just my luck, the Yahoo mail server was not working. I was completely devastated and thought what a failure I am – have yet to take the test and cannot even bring the right form.

I went to a nearby theater to watch Batman Begins. I felt like during movie that Batman was kicking me down so much. I had lost it.

I just gave up completely on trying to move forward (I know its stupid thinking about it now).

Over the next year and half I avoided conversations about the exam. I would get so stressed out when anyone mentioned the word CPA – arrgghhh!!!!

Anyhow, after watching the entire season of 6 Feet Under sometime later, the last scene of the show hit me real hard (see link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el4eUKmLujg). When I say hard – I mean completely just slapped me in the face to the point where I was dislodged from the planet Earth and out of the Milky Way. At that point, I decided to let go of my fears – that weight was so heavy.

I came up with a new study plan – finish the exam quick!!! Which meant, instead of finishing one chapter/week, get two chapters done/week and stick to it. And I found there was no point in watching the Becker lectures. I would get off of work and take a nap for an hour; wake up and eat and start studying. Monday and Tuesday I would read two chapters. Wed, Thurs, Friday, and Saturday complete the Becker HW for both chapters and hopefully be done to where I could take a day off on Sunday.

Just recently after the score release on December 9th at 10:32AM, I had passed all three of the exams I tested for. I will be honest and say that I really thought I had completely f*bombed all three exams – but no. I checked the spam folder and State site like 13 times at work just to make sure there was no updates stating my score was incorrect.

So now, I am going to start studying for the last exam. I am scheduled to take it in February 2015. I feel more motivated now to study than ever – I do not want to even think about losing the credits. That’s my biggest motivation going forward.

My study plan only included reading the chapters (no highlighting, no note cards, no audio, no rewriting, and no simulations). I would just read the chapters. I made the mistake originally with FAR to focus on the HW more but than realized that reading was much more important. HW serves to supplement. For Becker, I would only flag the questions I thought I should remind my self to review – these would be questions that did a good job of illustrating tricky points or good to know main subjects. I would recite lectures (not memorize) in the shower or when I was going to work in the car or coming home. I have hard time processing information that is in memorization form – I grasp it more if I can process it in an application form and reading does that for me. I wasted too much time and needless stress in memorizing pointless mnemonics (not to disdain its abilities for others).

Anyhow, if you made it all the way down here, I just would tell you do not fear the exam. Its just an exam – it does not define who you are. I let it all the negative comments about the exam consume and feed my fears. Figure out what works best for you. Take maybe at least 2 tests or more per window. That way, at least you covered the information. So if you “failed”, you have that information fresh in your mind for the next window.

Sincere gratitude to Another 71 and all the persons I cannot name. I would spend time reading the blogs and that really helped me stay positive.

[super.senpai]

yea the two exam per window was recommended by undergrad government accounting instructor, but he didnt like me. but hey man, some people cant do it. like how everyone got different methods of studying, everyone has different levels of tolerance. i personally am considering studying for FAR and audit if I fail again in January. but i am also doubting this whole cpa thing, because I look at my audit scores and honestly can say maybe this is not for me. but then again, im too stupid to actually quit. in a conflicting situation. oh well we will see. congrats though on that accomplishment. that is beast mode. i need to get into beast mode, but im stalling on yeast mode, maybe not yeast since it actually rises to the occasion, where i am sinking to the bottom. bottom feeder mode. in regards to batman, i watch it now and i find christian bales facial expressions so funny especially when he gets serious and the batman voice he does when hes batman – deep and raspy – damn someone pass the ludgen's lozenge

BEC: 72,72, 77
AUD: 47, 63

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