[Barney]

Hello everyone! I started studying for the CPA exams back in September of 2015 with Becker. At that point I was finishing up college, taking 18 credits and was ready to sit for FAR in January, but had just started in public accounting so I decided to push it back. During busy season I forgot a lot of what I had studied and ended up getting a 69% on FAR in May of 2016. After that I took BEC in October of 2016 and got an 85%. I then took REG in December of 2016, got a 72%, then again in January of 2017 getting a 74% and lastly in May of 2017 when I got a 73%. I also took AUD in July and got a 69%. My coworkers look at me like I’m an idiot for not passing them right away and now most of my family is getting down on my about not passing them. I went to a well regarded business school and am pretty smart, just cannot get into it. If I have to work 18 hours a day at my job I’ll happily do it, but studying for 2 hours seems like torture to me.

After feeling like I got over being depressed about all the failure in my life, I decided to start studying for FAR in September as I already had the NTS. I purchased Wiley Silver with the MCQ bank and have been trying to get through the material as fast as possible, which has resulted in me pushing it back 2 times now. I’m about 62% through the material and know that I need to have a decent amount of time to review the first half since it’s been so long since I started.

My exam is now scheduled for January 3rd and I sit down to study every day and find myself just not getting anything done. I took the week of thanksgiving off and I maybe got through 5-8 assignments purely because I would sit down and couldn’t stand to look at the material. Literally anything sounds more appealing than studying to me and when I don’t study I start feeling super depressed and guilty about it. I guess I don’t know what to do anymore. How do I get my head back into it so I can get these stupid exams done? I was originally hoping to get FAR, REG and AUD done by mid March but with busy season ramping up it’s seeming like I’m setting myself up for failure. What do you think? Any recommendations or words of encouragement to get through this? Thanks!

[lam2848]

This may sound silly, but I would encourage you to slow down. Give yourself time to really understand the material you're learning. It seems like you're rushing. But based on your scores, you're so close to passing! You're only a few points away from passing. Try to practice as much as possible. Become a master of at least the major topics. You got this!

[Barney]

@Iam2848 Thanks for the reply! I am definitely close. I'd say prior to the score release for AUD I actually had some motivation to study, but would procrastinate horribly. Now it's like from all the failures I can't get started back up. I put my phone in my car, shut off all distractions and I just can't mentally get into it.

[Right Brained Accountant]

Hey @Barney!
Don't doubt yourself if the license is something you really want! Failure sucks (I know it from personal experience on this journey, too), but it's always about getting back up and gritting your teeth until it looks like a smile. It's highly likely your family isn't disappointed in you – I'm sure they know how smart and hard working you are and just want you to not beat yourself up! As far as the work crowd – you are paid to hang out with them every day, so consider the opinions of those who care for you instead.
I used Wiley for REG and BEC but switched to Becker for FAR and AUD on advice of some coworkers. It helped me personally due to my learning style, so I recommend finding out what serves you best and how you retain information easiest so you can get through the material more efficiently.
You can do it! The biggest hurdle we have sometimes is just convincing ourselves that the struggle is conquerable.

[Recked]

Time to have a heart to heart with yourself. Either you want this or your don't.
September until Dec and only being 62% of the way through the material tells me you don't want it.
Try adjusting your schedule. Wake up early before work and get your 2 hours a day in before you even start anything else.
You have to find out what works best for you. Maybe skip the videos/lectures since you have been through FAR already before. Go straight to reading the book and then hammer the MCQ's. It's never going to get any easier than it is right now, so just make it happen.

[jenpen]

Like the two above me, it sounds like your study practice may need some work. It took me 2 years and plenty of failures to finally figure out that my method of study wasn't working for me. I was exactly like you – I couldn't bring myself to sit down and read the books and I didn't get anything out of watching the videos. I discovered that I work better by just hammering questions. Once you get in your groove and figure out what works for you to best learn the material, then you won't dread studying as much. It's still not fun, but you'll be able to suffer through the temporary pain knowing that you will be done forever if you just keep pushing.

And remember – the exam is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time to learn the materials and don't rush by taking 3-4 tests in one window while working full time. That's likely not going to work.

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[Barney]

Thank you all for the responses! As I said earlier I'm studying for FAR and would also like to get AUD and REG done before the end of busy season as I lose BEC at the end of April. At this point given my struggles is it even worth pushing myself or do I just take a break until after busy season and deal with losing BEC and have a fresh start? I only got through 3 assignments this weekend and have just been thinking. Once again I'm feeling guilty about it. Gosh this sucks.

[ineedthiscpa45]

@Barney I'm going through the same struggle currently, received a 74 on my first exam BEC retook it 10/19 and I'm currently studying for Audit. My confidence with the CPA changes day by day. One day I'll complete and understand a chapter and three days after I'll have no desire to touch or open a book. Coworkers tell me that I'm young and should slow down but they aren't CPA's so i don't think they understand. For me personally i believe the biggest dilemma i run into with the CPA is the fact that you can't control when your done unlike schoolwork where i'd want to be done with something ahead of time and finish it in a night, that's not possible with the CPA exam. Ultimately I think the solution is having a calm mind, not getting to high when you have a good day of studying and not getting to down on yourself when you decide to take a day off. Best of Luck!

[Missy]

This is the root of your problem:

If I have to work 18 hours a day at my job I'll happily do it, but studying for 2 hours seems like torture to me.

You're treating your job like its mandatory (it is) and studying like it's optional (it isn't). Probably “happily” work those 18 hour days because of the job security and paycheck THIS WEEK. When you can “happily” study because of the job security and paycheck down the road, I predict given your previous scores you'll have scores in the high 80's/low 90's.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Tncincy]

@Barney, we understand 101%. We have been trying for a few years with no passing results. No I am not proud of the results, but I have learned more and accepted somethings about myself during this journey.

A. Passing won't be a reality if I don't study. I have changed review courses only to find that I have been wasting money and time on expiring study materials and habits that do not fit me. Yes I have read many reviews from others and tried to do what others did at their pace with the same failing results. This does not mean what the others are saying is wrong, learn what is best for you. Someone said slow down.

B. I was scheduling and changing test dates without considering my life circumstances. So proper scheduling in conjunction with study hours is a must. So I stopped scheduling test dates until I know I have studied.

C. Stop making excuses. I let everybody and everything come before or interfere with studying. Life happens to us all, but we do find the time to do what we really want to do.
Since I really want to be a CPA, I will get back to everything and everybody else instead of getting back to the cpa exam until it is passed. 🙂
Keep going you can do this.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Author]

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