[Brittney]

So unfortunately, I just took FAR for the third time, and yet again came so close to passing but not quite.

First off, one thing you must know about me that I don’t like letting other people down, but most of all I don’t like letting myself down. And right now it has been almost a year and a half testing and taking so many exams that I don’t even want to count how many. Every time I take a new exam, my family is supportive and encouraging, but they always say things along these lines “well you have studied for this one for so long” “you must have it down by now so you will pass” “you will definitely pass this time” and so it just makes me feel so horrible having to say that I didn’t pass, yet again. And it is incredibly frustrating and I feel like my family doesn’t understand (oh and it definitely doesn’t help that my father is a managing partner at another firm, so he is in the CPA business).

FAR is my last exam to get done. I took it last December 2012 and January 2013 (as a bad attempt of a quick turnaround to try to pass again real quickly). So I took busy season off from studying (which is January through July for me) and started to study again and took it this window. Unfortunately, I just got my score back and was so close but it was as we would say “another 71”.

I need help deciding, at this point, do I just tell my family I passed and go on with it and try at it again in January? I am just not sure if I can deal with their reactions of not passing again. Any advice would be helpful, thank you.

BEC - DONE! - 10/12/12
AUD - DONE! - 10/31/12
FAR - Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope... 5th times the charm? 4/6/2014...
REG - DONE! - 8/25/13

[Tncincy]

Failing is not the ideal conversation for anyone, but it gives an incentive to study a little harder. Becoming a CPA is just as prestigious as becoming a doctor, lawyer or any other professional, but if you fail apart or two or three or even four and have to retake as many times to pass it is well worth it if you deem it so. Tell them the truth and go study. In the end it's your life, even when we want our family to be proud of us. Pass (all parts) and then celebrate. It's a long hard journey, don't expect your family to keep up with the details.

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

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

[Brittney]

Thank you everyone for the awesome advice.

I definitely don't want to lie to my family, because I would feel guilty and it would no doubt lead to such a huge mess. At this point, I am just not sure how to handle them. I know that they understand it is difficult, and my dad even admits he doesn't even think he could pass now a days, but they still continue to put that pressure on me that I don't know how to deal with. And I think that part of that stems from the fact that I have always done so well in school with a 4.0 and top accounting student in my class and I am not used to this feeling and it is starting to get to me.

I have talked to them multiple times about how it makes me feel, and that I don't want them asking about it and I don't want to tell them when I was taking it and I would let them know when it is over with, but that wasn't good enough for them, they still asked over and over until I felt bad enough about keeping it all to myself I had to cave and tell them when I was taking it. After the last time, I made it clear that I didn't want to talk about it anymore and they respected it for about two weeks before coming back at me with questions again. And I know they are trying to be supportive, but talking to them to back off didn't help and I haven't figured out another way to go about it.

BEC - DONE! - 10/12/12
AUD - DONE! - 10/31/12
FAR - Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope... 5th times the charm? 4/6/2014...
REG - DONE! - 8/25/13

[Brittney]

Thank you everyone for the awesome advice.

I definitely don't want to lie to my family, because I would feel guilty and it would no doubt lead to such a huge mess. At this point, I am just not sure how to handle them. I know that they understand it is difficult, and my dad even admits he doesn't even think he could pass now a days, but they still continue to put that pressure on me that I don't know how to deal with. And I think that part of that stems from the fact that I have always done so well in school with a 4.0 and top accounting student in my class and I am not used to this feeling and it is starting to get to me.

I have talked to them multiple times about how it makes me feel, and that I don't want them asking about it and I don't want to tell them when I was taking it and I would let them know when it is over with, but that wasn't good enough for them, they still asked over and over until I felt bad enough about keeping it all to myself I had to cave and tell them when I was taking it. After the last time, I made it clear that I didn't want to talk about it anymore and they respected it for about two weeks before coming back at me with questions again. And I know they are trying to be supportive, but talking to them to back off didn't help and I haven't figured out another way to go about it.

BEC - DONE! - 10/12/12
AUD - DONE! - 10/31/12
FAR - Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope... 5th times the charm? 4/6/2014...
REG - DONE! - 8/25/13

[Anonymous]

@john2173 – When do your other scores expire?

[Anonymous]

@john2173 – When do your other scores expire?

[Brittney]

@CPA1FRESH I have until beginning of April until both REG and AUD expire, I took them a few weeks apart in October 2012. I am basically having a hard time passing since I started working after I finished school

BEC - DONE! - 10/12/12
AUD - DONE! - 10/31/12
FAR - Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope... 5th times the charm? 4/6/2014...
REG - DONE! - 8/25/13

[Brittney]

@CPA1FRESH I have until beginning of April until both REG and AUD expire, I took them a few weeks apart in October 2012. I am basically having a hard time passing since I started working after I finished school

BEC - DONE! - 10/12/12
AUD - DONE! - 10/31/12
FAR - Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope... 5th times the charm? 4/6/2014...
REG - DONE! - 8/25/13

[Tncincy]

@John,

We know families can be annoying, especially when you want to pass really bad, Don't let you pride make you stressed out. If you didn't pass you didn't pass. You stop talking about it ( until you pass all parts) and eventually they will stop talking. If they casually ask you then tell them it's a work in process or still working on it. How long will it take? Don't know, but hopefully soon. There are too many ways to answer or are you embarrassed about not passing. Other than that, you will stress yourself trying to live for approval and acceptance. You know that this test is NOT equivalent to college. But we can do enough to pass. With that said , You can do this, work hard and pass.

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

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

[Tncincy]

@John,

We know families can be annoying, especially when you want to pass really bad, Don't let you pride make you stressed out. If you didn't pass you didn't pass. You stop talking about it ( until you pass all parts) and eventually they will stop talking. If they casually ask you then tell them it's a work in process or still working on it. How long will it take? Don't know, but hopefully soon. There are too many ways to answer or are you embarrassed about not passing. Other than that, you will stress yourself trying to live for approval and acceptance. You know that this test is NOT equivalent to college. But we can do enough to pass. With that said , You can do this, work hard and pass.

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

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

[Anonymous]

You have to get FAR out of the way bro. You don't want your exams to expire. Use that as your motivation bro.

[Anonymous]

You have to get FAR out of the way bro. You don't want your exams to expire. Use that as your motivation bro.

[RedRaiderCourtney]

My family sounds similar to yours and says the same things – only for me, it's about audit, and my dad is a CFA. If your family is anything like mine, they say those things to encourage you and keep you from stressing out, not to make you feel stupid if you don't pass. If you're really worried about telling them, I'd keep my mouth shut until one of them asks. But don't lie. That is a lie that could follow you around forever.

Courtney

BEC - 79, 75 DONE!!!
AUD - 70,70, 74, 74, 78
REG - 83
FAR - 79

[RedRaiderCourtney]

My family sounds similar to yours and says the same things – only for me, it's about audit, and my dad is a CFA. If your family is anything like mine, they say those things to encourage you and keep you from stressing out, not to make you feel stupid if you don't pass. If you're really worried about telling them, I'd keep my mouth shut until one of them asks. But don't lie. That is a lie that could follow you around forever.

Courtney

BEC - 79, 75 DONE!!!
AUD - 70,70, 74, 74, 78
REG - 83
FAR - 79

[TXgurl]

Hi, John, Can you make a joke when they ask? Even a lame joke can cut the tension/pressure. As a parent of former (sulky) teenagers, I found that a little humor in those situations that are fraught with tension can really help.

REG 75
FAR 88
AUDIT 82
BEC 74, 12/4/2013 84 Thank You Lord Jesus !!!

[TXgurl]

Hi, John, Can you make a joke when they ask? Even a lame joke can cut the tension/pressure. As a parent of former (sulky) teenagers, I found that a little humor in those situations that are fraught with tension can really help.

REG 75
FAR 88
AUDIT 82
BEC 74, 12/4/2013 84 Thank You Lord Jesus !!!

[Author]

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