[jeff]

I was getting requests for a thread like this – so here it is!

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

[tomq04]

I had something clever and funny to say to respond to skynet…but i forgot. 🙁

Try not to take this test if you or your spouse is pregnant, makes it extra hard…

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Mamabear]

@kpb–Yes! Wait to have kids. Enjoy married life since you guys had such a whirlwind. We were together for 9 years before we had kids and it was fabulous! I'm really glad we waited. Thanks for the congrats, but my babies aren't technically babies anymore–5, 3, and 18 months. Can't say I'm all that sad about being done with the baby stage (for now–still may want to work on having a boy). I agree with tomq04–finish this before you have kids. I had two kids while I was taking classes to get the accounting credits I needed to sit for the exam and it was not fun. Exhaustion in the first trimesters had me falling asleep during class because I went right after working all day. Pain in the 3rd trimesters from sitting in those wooden chairs at school was no picnic. I took my b-law exam standing up with a clipboard because I was so far along that I couldn't sit for the two hours to take the exam with tiny feet in my ribs and a head pushing on my tailbone. 🙂 Get this done first definitely!!

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]

Awww I wanna share my lil love story too : )

My husband and I met freshman year in college. He's Canadian and had a full ride baseball scholarship to our university and I had decided to move across the country to Boston for college. We dated all throughout college even though it was hard when he travelled for baseball. We did not technically wait until marriage, but we made a commitment to hold off until marriage about 2 years before we actually got engaged (very difficult 2 years…lemme tell ya). But I'm glad we did it. He was the first boyfriend I had ever had, the first person I'd kissed and now is my forever boo 🙂

He was super supportive during my studying…except when he studied for and passed his CFE…he tried to compare the two…no…just no. He never complained about neglect but it helped that he's really into sports and also loves video games.

This is the timeline of events in relation to the CPA exam:

Jan 2012: started full time tax job in public and started studying for CPA exams

Feb 2012: engaged

May 2012: undergraduate graduation

November 2012: wedding

August 2013: move back to Cali and start new job

November 2013: move into first home (took last CPA exam section!)

[kpb]

mamabear – thank you… wow you are amazing!! PROPS! This is hard enough. I can't imagine having kids in the picture ha.

taxman89, that's awesome and thank you for sharing.

I just wanted to get these exams over with before working full time at a big4 (i've heard about those hours) I am so sad that I failed AUD but hopefully after I do FAR and REG, I can retake it (while working). I figure that would be easier than working and reading a brand new book.. I am on F5 and it's so much information my brain literally hurts. I am scared to schedule my FAR exam now because I don't want to have to retake it but not sure i'll ever be fully prepared to take this!!

CPA4birthdaypresent – Thanks for sharing… That is so cute he was your first everything. I am happy for you. Props for working and doing a wedding/cpa exams… I remember planning my wedding, that was so stressful ha especially with my mother if you now what imean.

It must be nice to have your spouse know what its like to study, mine barely did 2 years of college and dropped out (hates studying/school) but i'm not complaining because he's got a natural business mind for sure. At 25 years old (two months before our wedding), he was already a home owner here in Hawaii and temporarily supporting us two while I study…that will tell you something ha.

BEC - 81 4/08/14
FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

[How many letters do you need]

Hahaha mamabear that's a great answer, as a man I couldn't agree more. As the person studying but dating a person who works a lot I guess I'll speak as a man rather than as a CPA candidate….loneliness isn't so lonely if you aren't horny….

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Mamabear]

And speaking as a candidate, that method doesn't hurt when you are pissed off about getting your MCQ wrong and need to take a study break and take your anger out somewhere else. It really can solve a lot of problems or at least put a bandaid on them until you can come up with a more permanent solution. 😉 I know…shocking coming from Mamabear, isn't it? Hahaha

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!!

[Tarheelgirl]

haha mamabear! My pre study break last night sure helped me stay more focused and relaxed and I was actually doing pretty well on my MCQs.

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Anonymous]

Congrats to all the newlyweds and everyone that waited!

As for me, here is my story. My husband and I met my freshman year in college. We did not wait, and had our first son 3 days before I turned 20. We got married when I was 22, 5 months after I finished my undergrad degrees. We had our second son when I was 23. He just turned 4, our oldest is almost 8 and they are both as cute as can be! We decided in Fall 2010 that I would go back to school for an MBA. I went part time for a few semesters while I was working full time in sales. In Fall 2012 we decided that I would quit working and concentrate on school full time where I would pursue both my MBA and my MACCT degrees. Somewhere along the way I picked up an almost full time internship. I graduated December 14th last year and started my awesome shiny new tax job on Monday Dec 16th! I was trying to take FAR in Feb but postponed the exam until May when I realized I was not ready. Then came my first tax season and months of not seeing much of my boys and husband.

I took FAR May 2nd (my NTS was going to expire) and AUD May 28th. I found out 5 days before AUD that I had missed FAR by 2 points! Simms are what got me and unfortunately my nerves didn't recover fast enough.

My husband is an amazing guy. To put up with me for almost a decade, most of that while in school nights and not able to help out, he is a saint. Having said that, he is more than ready to have a life where he isn't having to pull the lions share of responsibility with our boys and to have time for us to hang out without me feeling guilty for not studying (from grad school to CPA exams).

It is also hard because I can see the disappointment in my husband and kids faces when I have to tell them that I didn't pass an exam. It is not that they are disappointed in me, but they know what it means for us as a family. Mom will have to spend more time away from the family. In the end I know it will all be worth it and in the mean time we squeeze time in whenever we can even if it is just for a few moments.

And I agree, “study breaks” are a MUST.

Good luck to everyone!

[Author]

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