[Rocky123]

I need some encouragment. I want to give up. I’m one test away from being done.

I’m overwhelmed (FAR) and feel stupid. I’m tired of being stressed and not sleeping. I’m tired of basing my life around this exam. I’m scared that I’m not good enough. If I fail, I lose credit for the first section I passed. The pressue is on.

I feel sick.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[NoraU]

Rocky, Ninja Audio material is almost identical to Ninja notes but somehow listening to it makes a difference for me.

BEC 05/12/14 77
REG 08/25/14 82
FAR 11/25/14 80
AUD 02/25/15 72, 05/15/15 98! DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[David]

Rocky,

DON'T. I was in the same position ~ 3 tests passed and FAR ruining my life. It took me 3 tries, but I finally pulled a passing grade in FAR and my life changed. Now I relax after work, play with my kids, and have the admiration of my friends and family. You would've thought that I won a medal in the Olympics with all the adulation I received for a few weeks afterwards. And I sit there some times and night and think to myself, “How stupid and s**$^y would I feel sitting here if I gave in and quit?”

AUD-74,75(8/13)
REG-76(5/13)
BEC-77(12/13)
FAR-69(didn't study),73,84(9/14)

[Rocky123]

@David

I see your score went from a 69 to a 73 to an 84. You mentioned that you got the 69 from not studying (which is acually impressive, by the way. LOL.), how did you get to a 73 and then ultimately an 84? Did you just study a little for the 73 and go all out for an 84? Or was the 73 from an extremely difficult version of FAR?

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[Sir Study Alot]

Your name is Rocky…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tWLqFmaNdQ

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[Rocky123]

@Sir

Good one!! I actually have that quote about sunshine and rainbows hanging on my cubicle wall.

I chose the name Rocky because his character is inspirational to me.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[mla1169]

My favorite quote (I believe credit goes to Eleanor Roosevelt) is “A woman is like a teabag. You'll never know how strong she is until you put her in hot water!”

Many times as we approach a finish line (whether a race, childbirth, buying a home) we reach a point where we declare we CAN'T go on. (in my case it was during childbirth and everyone in 3 cities knew how I felt about not continuing for one more second.) Somehow we draw the strength to just get through that last gasp and how rewarding it is to dig deep and get through it!

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[shikari1985]

@ Rocky 123….!! I know how you are feeling…and I thought may be I could share my story which I had posted in a different section but now I am bringing my story to your wall…I hope it motivates you as well. I gave FAR at last myself…but then I had an inner strength to keep going because I know I was so close to becoming a CPA. Here is my story…I hope it helps…

I am DONE and all those who passed the CPA examinations know how it feels. I don't know how meaningful my story might be to others but I definitely want to write it down to someone who need motivation to get the CPA done..! My journey for the CPA started in 2007- Principle of Accounting class in the US college. Having come from a developing country in Jan. 2007 for Bachelor's degree in Accounting, I barely knew the meaning of CPA (the title my professor wrote next to his name on the syllabus handed to me). I did a research as soon as the class ended and figured it was “Certified Public Accountant.” Unlike Chartered Accountant (CA-the title I am familiar with), the CPA was US version of CA. At the very first class of accounting, I was determined for what I will become in future – a CPA. I tell people never stop dreaming because that is what keeps you going and motivating to chase the dream that you once dreamt. Since then, I did what needs to be done- completed my bachelor's and master's degree in accountancy. Next thing, I started my CPA examination with the section that I am very strong at (Auditing). Many people have different opinion on that (start with the toughest first or the weakest first) but I call tell you one thing, if I had started with the weakest first then I may not have completed my journey and perhaps could have stopped even before getting started (so, you know yourself better and don't take other's opinion instead make your own decision where to start). Like I said, I was good in Auditing so I PASSED in my first attempted (I was also doing Master's then so time was the biggest constraint). I gave Auditing in August 2013, and I had to put a stop until December, 2013 (Last semester of master's I took 15 credits so there wasn't much choice left, and finally I graduated with master's degree in December). I took a break until March end and started my CPA journey again from April 1st. It took me another 5 months to finish up with other three sections. I gave the FAR last because I knew if I get done with three sections then I will definitely get the last one done since I can measure how close I am to becoming a CPA. Indeed, the plan worked perfectly for me. I PASSED the last and the toughest section in a single attempt because I was highly motivated and enthusiastic ( I sat twice for BEC as I got 73 on my first attempt). My point is: what if I had started with FAR first? I could have failed in my first attempt and then I could have put a STOP sign and procrastinate and never get going. Had I not started with AUDITING at first, I can assure you that I couldn't have been where I am today- a CPA. Given the tough time I am going through right now, I would have never opened my book in April. But since I was done with one, I had the compulsion and inner strength to get done with the other sections of the CPA Examinations. I know its a long story but I hope it will be meaningful for some and hope that I will get one inspired to do what I did. If I could do just a little change in someone's life, I will think that I did my part to encourage at least one to fulfill his/her dream. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK and MAY YOU also CONQUER THE CPA EXAMINATIONS>>>> GOOD LUCK.

FINALLY ITS ALL DONE.......!! GLAD TO BE A CPA...!!
AUD: PASSED
BEC: PASSED
REG: PASSED
FAR: PASSED

ETHICS: PASSED

[Rocky123]

@shikari1985

I took the same path. I started with AUD first, my easiest section. If I had taken one look at FAR I would not have even attempted. I have been out of school for a while and hadn't looked at any of this in a long time.

Passing AUD increased my confidance exponentially and spurred me on to pass BEC and REG. Now FAR remains. I took it last testing window and failed because I got lazy and lacked motivation. I didn't study enough. My fault.

The biggest problem for me with FAR is the amount of material that can be tested. It's insane!! It's extremely frustrating to understand something and then come back to it a week later and forget how to do it.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[shikari1985]

@..Rocky 123..

I know what you are going through…! I had the same problem. I studied for 40 days out of 45 days I set apart for the FAR (leaving some days off in between to relax). The materials are overwhelming…No matter how much I tried I could not cover it all. My best bet was to be 80% confident when I sit for the exam and leave 20% for the luck. Even then, I made sure that I know everything out of Governmental and Non-profit Accounting, including some of the main topics from Intermediate Accounting such as bond calculation, leases, preparing financial statements (all), marketable securities (which is pretty basic), equity method of accounting, and mostly everything from shareholder's equity (Treasury stock, S.A.R, other bonus options). I just looked at in surface for consolidation and all other topics, which means I knew how to deal with these types of questions if I had to.

In a week (I studied for 6 days a week mostly), my method was to continue reading for 4 straight days (all new topics) and revise everything on the remaining 2 days (and not study any new topics in those 2 days). As I progressed toward my exam date, I continued the same pattern but here I added one more days of the week to revise everything I studied until that point (studied 7 days a week in the last two week before exam). I know it was tough but then the feeling that I will pass the exam and never have to open my books again kept me going…! Eventually, I did pass. I don't know how many days you have before the exam but I can tell you one thing that never worked for me, practicing simulation and multiple choice again and again…! I just tried simulation few times to get familiar with the question pattern. I basically tried nailing the concept which helped me identify why the question was wrong (in a real exam) and what I have learned to make it right….

I hope this helps….Just be confident and give the exam..I am sure you will make it through…but then…being confident is very very important….!!!

FINALLY ITS ALL DONE.......!! GLAD TO BE A CPA...!!
AUD: PASSED
BEC: PASSED
REG: PASSED
FAR: PASSED

ETHICS: PASSED

[Rocky123]

Really? Working a lot of multiple choice didn't help you?

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[shikari1985]

@ Rocky 123…

Not really….! But I did try an adequate MCQ's randomly about all topics to check if I am understanding what I am reading…! But then, I might have attempted not more than 500 MCQ's (in total) on days when I was supposed to relax…! LOL….!! Like I said, I kept reading the materials and making notes. I wrote a lot to insert what the topics meant…!!

However, I would recommend you to try leases and bonds MCQ's the most…those might be tricky and time consuming so you would want sure that you don't waste precious time of your exams thinking how to solve it and what concept to use (so many things to remember under lease for solving one MCQ's so trying some beforehand will boost your confidence)…..!!

But then, it is truly my opinion..and you might have a different way of learning so you know what suits you the best..!!

GOOD LUCK..!!

FINALLY ITS ALL DONE.......!! GLAD TO BE A CPA...!!
AUD: PASSED
BEC: PASSED
REG: PASSED
FAR: PASSED

ETHICS: PASSED

[Author]

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