[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]

Sandra, good for you that you can wipe them out in 3 months. But most people are studying at a much slower pace, 2 h/day, cause they're pounding away at a job for 8-9 h. I suppose you understand.

[Chantel]

@ plainPA, thanks for your input. It's really helpful and a different point of view than most here.

@Sandra. Yea, doing all 4 exams in 3 months is definitely out of the question by all means. Thanks for your input but I do not think we see the exam at all the same way because you're lucky to be on of those people that could accomplish this so quickly but there is noooo way I could ever do that. and even the 3/6/9 months doesn't count for me because I've already been studying for longer than that.

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

[jenuno01]

@Sandra I like your overall attitude towards the CPA exam… but maybe you're being a little condescending. Most of us have full-time highly demanding jobs and families and getting through these exams in such a short time frame is out of question. It's great that you plan on finishing all the exams in 3 months… that is quite impressive. Also, maybe you're getting a little ahead of yourself here, you haven't even passed a section yet.

Class of 2012

[mla1169]

I have to strongly disagree with the notion that many people fail these tests because they blow it out of proportion. As Jenuno01 said, everybody's circumstance is different, and until you've walked a mile in someone elses shoes, know what I mean.

Personally I was working more than full time, raising 2 kids and in school for my masters. Girl Scout leader, cheer mom, the whole shebang. And I am not unusual here, many parents doing the same things and trying to study too.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Sandra is totally right…

I have 2 wives, 3 kids, 2 dogs, 3 cats, and a few gfs. I started this process on Memorial Day and I'm about to be done with it. Such an easy exam…

[Anonymous]

CPATerminator, which Memorial Day? 😛 😀

@jenuno01

I was going to tell Sandra that results in the mid 60s are usually easy to achieve.

[Anonymous]

@75 are there a lot of Memorial Days? Memorial Day of 2012..lol….jk…Sandra would probably consider me the biggest CPA loser because I study like a mad man, but I actually have a 40hr/wk job.. Sandra, don't hate…We're all buddies here!!!You should consider getting a dog or sumthing.. =D

[jenuno01]

Lol I'm not doubting Sandra will pass all her exams in 3 months… I think under the right circumstances and with the proper motivation, it can definitely be done. I started this process almost 1 year ago, I am almost done, but it has been the worst year of my life… The most valuable life lesson I've learned during this past year is to be humble, it doesn't matter how smart you think you are, or how easy you got As in college, or how fancy your current job is… receiving a score that is less than a 75 on these exams is ALWAYS a possibility; obviously you can strive to do your best, study efficiently etc, etc,… but you just never know.

Class of 2012

[Anonymous]

@Sandra…are you a Manueloliever? Don't forget your napuela in between testlets…

[jenuno01]

LOL – I think deep down she's a Manuelolieber.. I mean, who isn't?

Class of 2012

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure she is…She called Sir Manuelo “DUMB” for doing that, laughed, and thought it was funny.. ;(

[Sandra]

Well like I said- I wasn't trying to offend anyone, nor was I being condescending. If anything its the other way around.

I have met some SUPER GREAT people on this board and a few of them have been at this for a really long time. The same thing for my CMA buddies- some just don't pass the tests first time around. I am no smarter than any of them. Some of them are less busy than I am, some are more busy than I am. I was suppose to be PT for 3 months and it hasn't really worked out. I still have some schedule flexibility but I am working FT. I don't have kids. So what? there will always be someone busier.

This forum is really great in some ways, but a curse in others. Before I got my review material and started studying, some people on here had me pretty convinced that this was the worst exam ever and impossible to pass. The reality is that MANY people pass it within a few months and I don't happen to believe that they are all smarter and “better” than some of the people here.

I teach a weekly CMA review and I see it with my students there. People that are chill about tests usually pass the first time around. Those that panic and overthink it often don't. Thats all I was saying. There is tremendous power in being CALM.

When I get my results I will certainly share them if anyone cares. If I fail a section (or two or three), it won't really change my attitude. These tests are just as much about what you know as your test taking ability (which comes from your attitude IMO).

[Sandra]

hahahhaha. Even I am not calm enough to take a nap during the test. Also I didn't call the dude dumb I said it was a dumb thing to do. And again stand by that statement.

[Mr. Mini]

Mini is on Team Sandra.

[Time is Key]

@ Sandra

You should have waited to receive your grades before you start judging other people's ability to pass the exam within 3 months and calling them slow… You need to watch your mouth before I call the “bad mouth police” on you. People like you might think they are book smart but when they get to a workplace they cannot adapt because they think they are better than everyone else and are entitled to everything.

I might sound conceited with what I' m about to say but it's just to show you that there are different kinds of “smart” and it's more complex than how you define it. In fact, I work for one of the Big4 firms and was rated outstanding worker for 3 consecutive years. I received 4 times a financial applause award and I'm about to join a small group of people who were selected to go through a strict and intensive training to become worldwide leaders of the firm. Yet, I still have to complete my last part of CPA exam. For the record, I failed 5 times and passed 4 times and I'm still not done yet. If you succeed in passing the exam within 3 months, does that really makes you better than me? Smarter than me? I don't think so. Sandra, what you truly need is not CPA, it’s called MATURITY.

[Author]

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