CPA caused health problems - Page 7

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    Topic
  • #186390
    floacct
    Member

    So since starting this journey 22 months ago I’ve accumulated an extra 35lbs. I now take perscription strength acid reducer called pantaprozalone. I now need glasses and my therapist says this is all stress related. Oh by the way I scored a 59 on my last exam and have yet to receive any passing score. What’s ur story? Needing motivation.

Viewing 15 replies - 91 through 105 (of 123 total)
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  • #577296
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @JT You don't have a clue.

    #577297
    Mamabear
    Member

    What about taking half of a Xanax before the test to relieve test anxiety? I know several people who do that before pool tournaments to calm their nerves while playing. I don't know the side effects of it, but it may be something to consider for severe test anxiety.

    CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
    BEC (08/10/13) 80
    AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
    FAR (04/12/14) 81
    REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

    #577298
    mla1169
    Participant

    As long as someone knows very well beforehand how Xanax affects them, that's not the time to find out lol! Even 1/2 of one makes me sleepy.

    FAR- 77
    AUD -49, 71, 84
    REG -56,75!
    BEC -75

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #577299
    Study Monk
    Member

    As annoying it is for some people to hear John Tuckers comments, since he has not taken an exam yet, I still find them valid comments. A lot of the light drama on this post is from people saying that certain comments shouldn't be expressed. I think this site could benefit from some people down playing the exam, because the majority of posters are scaring people new to this journey with their own experiences based on piss poor preparation.

    Sure some people have had valid obstacles like Kricket and I have compassion for these people. However should people that find this test very doable be shunned because the majority of posters are having a difficult time? There are 100's of feel good posts on this site for those people who need them. Sadly there are very little “get your sh*t together” posts, which are probably more beneficial to the average candidate who is probably putting less than 100 hours of preparation into each exam.

    As a side comment I recommend people with test anxiety to go in to these exams well prepared. I had test anxiety in my last exam because I was not as prepared as I was on the first two. People who have extreme anxiety, after hundreds of hours of study, should see a therapist for a prescription. There also some herbs that are said to help with test anxiety.

    I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

    "Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

    #577300
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    1. No one is arguing that quality preparation isn't essential to passing the exam. You cannot half-a$$ this test. Period. It is tough. It is tricky. It will destroy your confidence quickly. There are no short cuts, no one has suggested there are. @Bacic – Adderall is illegal without a prescription and you need to be evaluated by a doctor in order to get a prescription. If you don't need it, it will make testing much worse and likely result in a lower score. If you need it, it will level the playing field. It won't give you an advantage. I've been on it for several years and while it helps the ADD, there are other side effects that I could seriously live without. My doctor prescribed it after I puked all the way home from Houston. I didn't even know I was ADD. It made studying easier, but it increased the anxiety during testing. I also had to learn how I learned before I started passing exams. Google “Learning Style Inventory” and you will find free online tests that will help find out what is best for you. I also know that what I did to prepare for one test did not necessarily have the same results for another test. For one exam, I had to work problems and write, write, write (FAR) and for another I had to hear the material over and over and over (REG). For AUD I had to memorize the standard audit report (I can still sing it to the tune of the Gilligan's Island theme). For BEC, I had to make flow charts and “draw pictures” for it to all stick.

    2. The stress of this exam cannot be compared to college. That is like comparing apples to ballistic missiles. College, for the most part, does not prepare you for the CPA exam, whether it's the sheer volume of the material or the grueling testing conditions.

    3. Test anxiety can be debilitating for some candidates. Some people aren't good at taking tests, but they are good accountants. I know I sucked at taking tests but I'm good at what I do. And for the record, my license doesn't say how many times I sat for the exam. No one's license has that on it. @mamabear – I took 1/2 a Valium (legally prescribed) before an exam once and while it helped with the anxiety, it interfered with my focus. The only thing that helped me with anxiety was getting angry before an exam. Getting pissed off worked for me. It may not work for anyone else. I listened to my fight songs and got pumped up like an athlete before a big game.

    4. There will be things happening in Prometric that you cannot foresee. Things can, and will happen, that no one would believe possible until they see it. I have enough Prometric horror stories to fill a novel. Soft foam ear plugs are much better than the Prometric supplied headphones, but neither will help if the screen is jumping around like it's sitting on a washing machine or the guy next to you smells like a landfill and you feel like you are going to hurl.

    5. One person's “whining” is another person's “cry for help”. We are here to support each other through this process and help when we can, whether it's explaining a concept, offering a supportive word or two, or taking the lid off the box and telling them to get back in the books. This is Another71.com not I_am_better_than_you_I_passed_on_the_first_try.com. This is not the place for judgmental comments that only serve to make someone else feel like they aren't good enough.

    6. I've been on this forum since Jeff started it and I've seen too many very well prepared, very smart people, get failing scores to believe that simply knowing all of the concepts is going to get a pass. There are just too many other factors to add to the equation, i.e.smelly guy. I've also seen people say they only studied a few days and end up with a pass. It seems random, but there it is.

    7. There are certain medical conditions that will make passing extremely difficult. I've sat and stared at the screen reading a question, thinking to myself “I know all of these words and what they mean, but what do they want me to do with them?” All of my medical problems just happened at the same time as the exam. The exam didn't cause them but it added to them.

    @StudyMonk – I have taken the lid off the box on several people whether they asked for it or not. Life's not all rainbows and glitter, I get that, and sometimes people need a dose of reality. I'm happy to give it when necessary. I'm not trying to scare anyone. I've been down this road. I know where the potholes are. I'm just trying to help others avoid the biggest ones.

    @JohnTucker – I seriously, honestly and sincerely, hope you pass all of them on the first try. I love to see people pass. I also love it when NASBA doesn't get a penny more than they should. I just have a problem with judgmental comments that serve no purpose other than to make others feel like they aren't good enough. I've been on the receiving end of some of those comments and this is not the place for them. We don't know the demons that everyone else is fighting. My demon was cancer. I was told that I shouldn't have been allowed to sit for the exam any longer since I didn't pass them as fast as someone else. I didn't know I had cancer until I was done. Hopefully, you can understand where I'm coming from here. I've seen people, with the same mentality and attitude that you have, fail exams. It's brutal for them. That's the only reason I made the “ivory tower” comment. I wasn't trying to be a bitch. I was trying to warn you. I've seen it happen too many times. I pray it doesn't happen to you. But if it does, I'll be here to help you get back up. If you need me to take the lid off the box, I will. If you need a kind word, you'll get it. If it doesn't happen, then I'll be here toasting your success right along with you.

    #577301
    KateL1839
    Member

    @John Tucker

    “Apparently, I'm “missing the point” that people have test anxiety and get very nervous during the exam. So a person that had excellent preparation is going to FAIL the exam in total and have to retake it 13 times because they are so stressed and nervous during the exam they can't concentrate? How did you handle your test anxiety for the previous 3 – 6 years of college?”

    It is easy for someone so doesn't suffer from test anxiety to write it off as some kind of joke or like it isn't real. It goes beyond butterflies in your stomache and just being under stress. I can handle stress. And the butterflies. But there isn't anything you can do when you experience what I experience. How did I handle it in University? Same way I handled it in high school and middle school. I got Ds and was elated for tests that I scored a C or B on. An A was a miracle for me. However I aced all my homework, participated in class discussion, did well in group projects and simulations. Every opportunity of extra credit, I took. And some teachers were understanding and offered alternative methods of testing. I managed to pass my classes well enough to be in national honor society. I wish I was normal and didn't have this. But it isn't just an excuse for everyone. For some people it is a reality.

    REG - 8/30/14
    BEC - TBD
    FAR - TBD
    AUD - TBD

    Using: Becker live courses & Ninja 10 point Combo

    #577303
    jeff
    Keymaster

    There's some pretty heavy-handed advice being laid down here.

    Some people work full time, have kids.

    Some people quit their job and study full time.

    Some people have health problems and chaos in their personal lives.

    Some people have a full CPA Review course handed to them.

    Some people have to buy their own materials.

    Everyone is different.

    Anonymous “tough love” isn't needed.

    If you have a helpful tip – please post it.

    Thanks.

    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

    #577304
    Study Monk
    Member

    Test anxiety appears to be a very real medical problem for a small minority and a great excuse for not passing a test for some others. I wish the people with clinical anxiety problems luck in finding a solution. I think the average test taker needs to pair positive thinking with a solid study plan and go into these exams with great confidence and understanding of the material.

    I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

    "Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

    #577305
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    The human race has become too weak.

    #577306
    Study Monk
    Member

    Helpful tips are in the eye of the beholder….

    What is kind of funny is the controversial posts have ten time more views and create a lot of traffic to this site. Some of us should be on retainer 😉

    I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

    "Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

    #577307
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I don't think helpful tips and tough love are really the same thing. I get the feeling that some people come looking for posts like this specifically to cause drama or an argument out of sheer boredom. It's really lame. Take that energy and put it towards passing the exam, not being a jerk to someone who's asking for advice.

    #577308
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    What did people do before there was a medical reason for everything that could be wrong for a person? People are way too quick to look externally for an excuse as to a reason why they cant do something or didn't do something. Where i come from the only excuse there is for why you cannot achieve something is yourself. There are people with no legs winning D1 championships in wrestling, people with no legs who are faster then 99% of everybody. Stephen hawking has a severe disability, has that held him back? He's one of the smartest people on the earth. Stevie wonder is blind and he makes incredible music. These people achieved incredible things and they didn't let anything hold them back YET they could have said “i just wanna be average so i'm gonna blame me being blind for not playing music”. Anyone is capable of anything.

    #577309
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @eliasm so what you're saying is that medical reasons are in a person's head and are an excuse for being able to do something? That's kind of what I'm getting from your post. You're ridiculous.

    #577310
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    The only thing that can stop anybody from achieving greatness is themselves.

    #577312
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I'm sure that someone going through chemotherapy or a chronic debilitating illness loves to hear things like that from someone who can only say that because they don't have any health problems.

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