[FabCPA]

I live in a small apartment with my two sisters and my dad. There’s always someone watching tv or doing something really loudly and when the public library is closed I have no other choice than to study at home.

I’ve asked them to be considerate of my situation as this is very important to me but they only do so for a couple days and then they go back to their old ways.

Are there any other places to study besides the library? I don’t like to go to Starbucks because it can get loud there too and I need the least amount of distraction to focus.

Help! 🙁

[Anonymous]

Invest in some really good earmuffs?

E.g. https://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-X-Series-Earmuffs-X5A/dp/B00CPCHBCQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1413582306&sr=1-1&keywords=earmuff#product-description-iframe

[JMOR]

I study at the kitchen table while my wife watches tv and does other various loud things. I bought a pair of noise cancelling headphones and use them in conjunction with ear plugs and I can't hear a thing. If you just use ear plugs that would probably work, and they are cheap!

REG - 86
FAR - 74,
BEC - 72,
AUD -73,

[Juliemiddle]

I use a White Noise app on my phone to drown out the noise at home. Helps me a ton!

AUD: 84 - Oct. 2013
BEC: 83 - Feb. 2014
REG: 91 - May, 2014
FAR: 68, 96 - Oct. 2014...DONE

CPAExcel, Ninja Audio (all sections)

[StephAV]

What about book stores like Barnes and Noble. I've studied at Panera, that is a pretty good place to study… The McDonald's play area on the other hand, not so great! 🙂 I like the noise canceling headphones idea.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[FabCPA]

Doh! I hadn't thought of getting noise cancelling headphones! Definitely looking into it right now! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

How about buy Lorazepam 10mg for your sisters and Dad?

I am just kidding.

White noise on the phone is a good idea. I've been using it even when I was studying at Starbucks or when my husband is on the phone on the other room.

Churches have study places too. You might want to check within your area.

Happy studying to all of us!

[Anonymous]

Anyone know what you would you call something you put on a desk to create a little mini cubicle for yourself?

I like how a lot of desks in libraries have desks that cover your sides so your peripheral vision is limited. I feel like it increases your focus.

[Kimboroni]

a cone of silence?

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[thechapman]

Is there a university nearby? A lot of times the libraries are open pretty late. Not sure about others, but at the school I went to you could just walk in without an ID or anything. If that's the case then the people there would be none the wiser.

Passed - 2014

[M.O.D.]

Soft foam earplugs

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[ijustwant76]

These noise cancelling headphones are simply AMAZING. I cant hear anything with these on.

Bose QuietComfort 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones

[Mamabear]

Wearing headphones bothers me because of my glasses so if I couldn't study at home I would go to a 24 hour place, like Denny's or IHOP, and ask to be seated in the closed section and tell them you will be there for a while studying and no one needs to check on you. Just order a drink or something so you're actually a paying customer and tell them you'll bring your drink to them if you need a refill so they don't need to check on you. It's actually one of the best places to study if you're in a far off section. Bathroom, food, drinks…all right there.

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!!

[Anonymous]

Mamabear, that's a very good suggestion.

It's more conducive to study at the 24-hour Mcdo close to my workplace than Starbucks nearby. I realized it only 2 weeks ago when I walked in that Mcdo (across the big university) after I got off work one day. There were literally 2 customers inside and the whole store was just quiet. It was the opposite of what I usually see at Starbucks, always full house with overly loud music all over the roof and ceiling of the store, with many customers talking aloud, a few making rounds to ask/beg for money from other customers, service crews shouting at the counter, etc. I even saw a couple holding hands together with closed eyes and praying in the crowd. It's crazy, lots of distractions out there at Starbucks!

The university library here is a great place to study too, except that the parking lot is about 500 feet away. Although I have the best study room at home, I plan to study at that Mcdo after I get off of work this coming week. There's an ongoing huge construction at the interstate on my way to home from work that makes my commute time longer than 1.5 hours during busy hours.

[Zuly]

Agree with everyone here. Probably have tried a bunch of things to drive out noise…white noise app on iPhone, youtube videos that have white noise/rain, public university definitely should let you in without an ID…have done this in both Miami where I'm from and now in Charlotte where I now live and they both are open much later (even 24 hours) than a public library. I am currently now studying at work. Great if you have access to your office over the weekend and can stand not having AC the whole time, especially Sundays. I agree with Starbucks or any other coffee shop…way too noisy BUT again you can invest in noise cancelling headphones. Hope you can find that quiet space to study…I know it can be challenging. Good luck!

FAR - (11/01/14) 71 (02/07/15) 79
AUD - (04/30/15) 86
BEC - (07/21/15) 73 (10/01/15) 75
REG - (11/30/15) 55 (05/19/16) 74

[Anonymous]

It's getting a bit late in the year for this suggestion, but another thing I've done successfully is study in a quiet outdoor place. I assume the OP's apartment complex probably doesn't have quiet space outdoors, but a rarely-used park can work well and for those with quiet neighborhoods something as simple as sitting on the porch can be good. I did a lot of my studying sitting on the back porch, but most of my studying was over the summer.

[Author]

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