[Chantel]

I know I’ve seen a ton of post like this that are saying “Help I’m losing motivation”, but I just really want some feedback.

Sometimes, I honestly feel like this CPA exam isn’t the right path for me. I guess you could say I don’t have motivation, but also, I just don’t feel like devoting allll my time to studying for these exams. I feel like I’m missing out on things, I’m ready to have kids that I’m putting off because of it and etc.

I currently work at a CPA firm as a tax accountant and I love doing taxes, but I’ve always said I’m very open to other fields than public accounting such as in a company accounting office, hospital, or oil/gas (I live in Texas).

Also, this company also has three managers that aren’t even CPAs. Is that normal??

I don’t ever want to be a manager or a partner or anything that requires much less work/life balance. I could honestly be happy the rest of my life with the amount of money I make now.

With all that being said, am I just being lazy and giving up if I decide not to study for the CPA exam anymore? or maybe am I just not right for it?

F - F ('12), 90 (Dec '15)
A - F ('12), 73 (Feb '16), ? (July '16)
R - 87 (May '16)
B -

[Anonymous]

The CPA exam is a mental beast!! It's like going through menopause and I'm only 23 😮

[Anonymous]

you're welcome

[jenuno01]

Maybe have kids first and spend some time with your family. I don't know how old you are, but I think it's never too late to change your mind and decide to sit for the exams at a later point in life. Wants, needs, and wishes are all different animals and we need to prioritize them.

Class of 2012

[Anonymous]

1. @dumguy is right about this exam being a PITA and passing it will definitely open doors.

2. @mla1169 is right about having the money to do things with your kids is going to be much nicer than saying “Sorry no vacation again this year. No money.”

3. When I got on this slow train ride through hell, my son was 10 years old and 5'2″. Now he's 14 years old and 6'2″. I will never get that foot back.

Just my .02 worth.

[jeff]

See what one little title tweak can do? 🙂

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

[Anonymous]

@Kricket.. :o…what is he eating? 6'2 at 14…damnnnn..too much chicken

[Anonymous]

@cpaterminator – Pizza! And a lot of it. If he grows into his feet, I can't imagine how tall he will be. Damn shoes cost $175 a pair and Academy has to order them for him.

[jtcali]

@nearly_there if the CPA was so easy then this forum wouldn't exist. the fact is that the CPA exam is difficult and this forum does exist because people need encouragement, advice, and help along the way.

[Just PlainPA]

I'm not going to lie – I am an Eternal CPA candidate; I last took the exam in 2009, and while I paid for all four parts, I only ended up taking two. I studied fervently for two parts, one of which I didn't even take because frankly, I didn't feel ready and when I finished studying for the section my brain was fried to the point that I didn't even want to take the test. This was my 4th attempt in 8 years in taking the CPA exam (yes, I took it when it was a P&P exam), and I realized that between my mental fatigue and the extensive experience I had in accounting (15+ years, 10 of which was in public), I didn't care about passing the exam any more.

So that was why I became a PA, because it served as a means to confer that I had at least some knowledge in accounting, and as the saying goes, 50% of something beats 100% of nothing. Some employers may still want someone with a CPA, my attitude is that I have a PA, take it or leave it. My personal attitude in dealing with CPAs is this: to earn my respect, you have to show me that you are accomplished in more than just passing a tough test. Put another way, being a CPA isn't the end, it's only the beginning.

What's interesting about being a PA is that others have been asking me about how they can become one, probably because it's virtually unheard of. But I digress. In order to pass the CPA exam, it obviously requires a lot of time invested in study, as well as a lot of patience (and a lot of money, at least relative to when it was administered as a P&P exam). To be quite honest, I don't have any of the above, and if I did, I would rather use that time to help improve the finances of businesses with the knowledge and experience I already have. To me it's gives a much better ROI instead of spending time on an exam that is tailored in such a way that you chances of passing can be at best a toss-up. Just my opinion.

AUD - 79
BEC - ?? 10/1/15 (Tentative)
REG - ?? 11/?/15
FAR - ?? Winter 2016

[mla1169]

Justplain serious question: are you considering the CPA at any point? I'm not clear on why you'd be on a CPA forum if you've never considered it?

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Meant to say not currently considering it. Not being snarky but if you're happy with your career and designation something had to bring you here?

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Just PlainPA]

@Mla,

There are quite a few CPA related nuances, particularly with regards to post-exam certification and licensing that I am privy to that may not be well known to the general CPA populace.

Also, I actually learn (and have learned) new things regarding the ongoing developments surrounding the CPA exam that I find rather interesting.

Hope this helps.

AUD - 79
BEC - ?? 10/1/15 (Tentative)
REG - ?? 11/?/15
FAR - ?? Winter 2016

[jtcali]

[Justinnnn]

What is a PA?? It doesn't come up on google.

REG 80 2/7/11
FAR 91 10/8/11
AUD 97 11/22/11
BEC 96 2/4/12

CPA 3/15/13

[Sandra]

I think it depends… I'm taking all 4 sections in 3 months- I have my second test in a day and feel ok about it- but did reschedule it so I had an extra 3 days. I worked pretty hard for far but had been slacking majorly for REG.

I don't know if I passed FAR or not, but I will say that all of this seems really really doable. I don't mean to offend anyone that has struggled with these tests, but I really really believe that many people fail only because they blow this out of proportion and get themselves all wound up. If you are a slow studier and want to take your time thats fine obviously, but there are many people out there that do what I'm trying to do and wipe them out quickly. Even if you take 6 months to get through all the sections its hardly an amount of time that will really effect you later on down the road. You may look back and say “gosh I wish I had those people puppies 10 years earlier”, but I doubt you'll even look back and say “that 3/6/9 months just really made a difference”. If you really want to start a family find the motivation to get through this crap quickly.

Buy a good review course that suits your studying style and start pounding away at it.

[Author]

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