[LB23]

So, I just got back from taking my Reg exam and I feel moderatly ok, but still pretty terrible. I didn’t study business law enough and if anything that is totally gonna screw me. I actually study everyday after work for a good 3+ hours daily too which just makes me feel like crap.

I passed my first exam (AUD) a year ago and have not passed an exam since. I recently got a 71 on BEC and a 65 on FAR. I’m feeling pretty defeated.

OH not to mention that with exception of one other person at my firm, I am the only one who has not passed the exam…..

Anyone have any suggestions? motivational words of wisdom?

FAR - 56,65
Audit - 73,86
Reg -
BEC - 67,68,71

[rmm91909]

LB23 I know how you feel. I work at a firm of about 50 people and there about 6 of us taking the exam and I feel like the black sheep. I am constantly embarrassed when I see a failing score and a shareholder asks me how I did. I feel defeated and I am starting to think this isn't what was planned for me in life. However then I look at it and I can't let a stupid exam defeat me. If I give up then that just shows I am weak but I feel like I am becoming weaker with each failing score. This website has helped me with my motivation. People on here are in the same place as us and we work together to push each other. Don't let this silly exam beat you up just keep going! I know its easier said then done because I am writing this and asking myself who am I to talk when I feel the same way as you. Maybe if we keep telling ourselves we can do it we really will do it. I felt the same way walking out of REG and I passed so you never know! Chin up 🙂

[pacific1]

LB23, rmm91909 – We can do this!! We see people passing every quarter so this is something that we can achieve. I know for me I had to really look at reasons I was maybe not passing, after reading on this website for awhile it seems the key to success really is to focus mainly on just the exam, a lot of other life has to just be let go for a time period. I can honestly say I did not pass my tests before because I wasn't trying hard enough, I was putting in the time that was required of this exam. And I totally get becoming weaker with every failing score, I have a good handful of failing test scores and 2 years at this because of the loss of hope with each one. But I know we can do it…and for me I know HAVE to do this, it has been 2 years, a lot of money, many times disappointing people saying I didn't pass…again and some very important parts in my life on hold until this is done!! I am trying to just change way of thinking, my main goal for 5 months is study! I do still work and have some basic chores that need to be done around the house daily but when I am not doing those things I need to study….I even disconnected the DVR for the most part, I figure I can catch up on my shows after this is all said and done.

Just keep your heads up and together we can do this, I know we can. 🙂

[LB23]

Thanks for replying! I feel this blog is the only place where other people feel the way I do.

It's true, if you put the time into the exam and not into everything else, it'll happen.

I know the reasons I hadn't passed was because of the way I was studying, but I've been putting in a lot more effort now and I know I am going to pass, it's just so frustrating! Everyone always keeps asking every exam I take if I passed or not.

My goal is to be done by April 2012 bc that's when my audit credit expires.

BEC scheduled 11/28

FAR to be scheduled January 2012

REG – TBD – depends if I passed this time around.

I'll be back at the library after work tomorrow night. I am taking the rest of the day off today bc I just took reg today and that wiped me out.

FAR - 56,65
Audit - 73,86
Reg -
BEC - 67,68,71

[yankeeaccountant]

@LB23

Good luck with REG, and enjoy taking the rest of the day off.

I am not going to go on and on here, Rmm91909 and Pacific said it well. They are both so right, we can all relate. Remember it is not a horse race—it is a marathon. (Ok, I took those words from michael franti !!) But those words ring true. Here's another, I am from Chicago originally, and even though I am not a baseball fan, there is a mantra that the Chicago White Sox have that I feel like they wrote for me………”winning ugly”. It doesn't matter how you get there, as long as you follow through and get there. I am not passing everything on the first time (would be nice though!), but I have passed some and I know I can do it again. How will I do it? It won't be pretty, heck, I am pretty sure I will have scabbed knees. But I will get there.

Keep going, have faith in yourself. You have to strengthen your confidence in YOU! You can do it!!!

Best of luck to you.

[rmm91909]

Pacific sounds like we lead the same life 🙂 I am married and that next “big step” is on hold due to this exam and I think the hubby is getting a little impatient so I try to use that as my motivation! O yankee how you always make me feel better I swear!

[pacific1]

Yes, for me the baby thing is on hold and my hubby isn't too happy either. The other day I thought that if I could have just put my all into this blasted test 2 years ago and be done with it by now I could happily enjoying a baby right now on a Sunday afternoon rather than memorizing the Statement of Cash Flows. 🙂

[rmm91909]

Isn't that the truth! We will get there and have little bundles of joy soon enough 🙂

[yankeeaccountant]

@rmm91909

Thanks! You are sweet!

I know how you and Pacific feel, this exam is tearing at my marriage. My kids are older (One college, one high school) but it has been such a thorn in my side. It is funny how many “side effects” of this process there are! I am hoping that you will both be finished soon and have little rugrats running around with those little green accounting visors (ok, now that is showing my age!!)….keep going guys, I have faith in you both 🙂

[jomarie]

That's one thing I've done this past year, which I haven't before. I put everything on hold. DVR is recording like crazy and filling up, when I need a day off a watch a few things but it's getting fuller faster than I'm watching them. My husband and I bearly see eachother these days. When he's home, I'm lock in my room studying (like now). Last night I took a long planned night off to spend sometime with my family. They were even making comments like, all you do is study, don't you take time out to relax? I came back with, I'll relax when I'm a CPA. They were extremely impressed with my determination. They are cousins I bearly see and they said all they read on facebook is that I'm hitting the books again. I guess right now I've made this exam my life. My #1 besides my girls, of course.

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[Anonymous]

Oh my, it's amazing how we all can relate. I have a great admiration for people who work and try to study and also have kids. My hat goes down to you (not sure if i said it right)

I have been on this journey for 2 years. I have passed 3 parts, but it was not easy. I took AUD 2 times, BEC 4 times, REG 3 times and going for FAR 3rd time. It is so true if you input the time in it, it is passable. It does take away a lot of times from our families, friends and activities. I have not been working since studying for CPA and it is still hard to pass. I don't know if it is because English is my second language or the fact I am hard of hearing. People who are hard of hearing, get tired very easily, because of the effort they have to put into listening. I don't want to look for excuses, I won't let this test defeat me. This is what I want and i will get it!! Having baby is also on hold here. I long for it so bad, but I know first I have to pass CPA test.

It is doable and most important thing is not to give up. Giving up means this test defeated us and this feeling will stay forever.

[katiekanton]

I was getting frustrated this past week because I feel like I'm paralyzed with indecision. I really think I made the wrong decision to keep going with AUD instead of switching to FAR first, but it's too late to change now. Meanwhile, I keep thinking I haven't reviewed enough. I'm taking quizzes I've already taken and scored 99 on because I'm afraid I'll forget the information. I bought the Wiley software and am working through it now “in case” I've not actually learned the material but have just memorized it. Anyway, I started to get disgusted with myself and this process, because I'm overwhelmed and I'm not even 25% through it yet. It just seems like such an insurmountable mountain, and I can't imagine joining the “alumni lounge” anytime in the near future.

But I drove to my old college town the other day to pick up a piece of furniture I'd bought on Craigslist. It was so weird to be back there, even though I finished my courses just two years ago. I remembered my first day going back to school (I'm an “older” student who already had a degree so I just went back to get the accounting and business courses necessary to sit). I remembered looking at all the hipsters with their backpacks and bikes and thought, “What is WRONG with me? Have I lost my mind? I can't possibly do this for four semesters.” It was an insurmountable mountain.

And then suddenly, I was done. I had all my classes completed. Of course, in reality it took four semesters. Four semesters of making that drive every day, studying every night, hanging out at the faux-Starbucks between classes, trying to find a parking space that was close enough I'd make it to class on time, jumping through stupid hoops that I knew had absolutely no bearing on my future career other than just to give me the “admission ticket” to learn what I actually needed to know on the job. I remember what that was like THEN–I felt like it would never end. But now I don't even think about that time period.

I'm trying to remind myself that that's the way it is with this exam. A short period of sacrifice (a year and a half is nothing after you're done with it) for a very long term reward. So much of my life is on hold, and it seems like the more I study, the more I think of things I want to do but can't right now. I'm the definition of “anal retentive” so I actually started an Excel spreadsheet called “priorities” in which I have listed all the things I want to do. It's got things on it like, “get a job”, “start swimming again”, “remodel the house and sell it”, “pay off all debt”, “buy a farm”. At the top of that list is “Pass the CPA exam” and it's the key to everything else.

I have a post it note on my computer monitor. It says “Don't look at anything but the next step. But focus on it with all your heart.” Sometimes it keeps me from being overwhelmed. Other times I have to look at the big picture and see the end goal.

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[yankeeaccountant]

@katie

Great post! It is always good to hear what mountain(s) someone else has had to climb. It helps putting our own perspectives in focus.

I think you need to channel a bit of Minimorty–grab some of his confidence, bravado. You have done the work, in fact, methodical in your approach. Go get 'em Katie! I love the quote on your computer–I am going to write that one down.

Ok, back to Aud (grrrrrr!) bye!

[jomarie]

@katie – I love that quote as well. I had a complete meltdown tonight from everything. It all hit me at once, from me being “single mom”, hubby hasn't been home during the week because of the travel distance, my older daughter is having sleep, swimming lessons issues, my youngest is getting teeth in so she hasn't been sleeping, therefore I haven't been sleeping, and how for us to get out of the situation we are in I have to pass this exam. I can go on and on, but I won't bore you with the details. Everyone has something they are going through at the same time as this exam. I just feel everything has been on me.

I'm going to write that quote down, near my laptop and add “Therefore, DO NOT GO ON FACEBOOK TO PLAY GAMES!!!!” LOL

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[Author]

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