[Anonymous]

So I am a mother to a 3 year old and a 9 month old. I am working full time. I been intending to sit for the CPA for over a year now but with no result. I finally signed up to take BEC on the 24th of this month. I have this voice in the back of my head that keeps telling me “IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO get it done!!!” I just need some inspiration/motivation. Please mommies/daddies with full time jobs let me know how you did it.

[fiona87]

Oh honey.

I have an 8 month old and a 4 1/2 year old and I work in public accounting.

I sat FAR in November (and passed) and AUD last Saturday (and am pretty sure I passed) – if I can do it, so can you!

I look through notes and do flashcards while I pump during the day, and while I rock the 8 month old to sleep in the evenings. I stay up for an hour or two after they're in bed to study, and then wash rinse repeat. When it wasn't busy season, I'd get up at 4, study until 6:30, then get everyone up and ready. Now that it's busy season I'm up at 4 to go to work, so my study times are breaks here and from about 8-10:30pm or so.

It's brutal, but it's doable. Think about all the free time you'll be able to enjoy guilt-free once you get this exam off your back!

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[fiona87]

Oh honey.

I have an 8 month old and a 4 1/2 year old and I work in public accounting.

I sat FAR in November (and passed) and AUD last Saturday (and am pretty sure I passed) – if I can do it, so can you!

I look through notes and do flashcards while I pump during the day, and while I rock the 8 month old to sleep in the evenings. I stay up for an hour or two after they're in bed to study, and then wash rinse repeat. When it wasn't busy season, I'd get up at 4, study until 6:30, then get everyone up and ready. Now that it's busy season I'm up at 4 to go to work, so my study times are breaks here and from about 8-10:30pm or so.

It's brutal, but it's doable. Think about all the free time you'll be able to enjoy guilt-free once you get this exam off your back!

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[Anonymous]

How long did you study for? I just feel i need at least 500 hours to put into each exam and i dont have that kind of time. i did like BEC 1 and BEC 4 for 20th time and not the rest of it. How much time should i commit? Given that i have 3 weeks to go.. You think its doable with a couple of hours on week nights and maybe 10 hours over the weekend?

[Anonymous]

How long did you study for? I just feel i need at least 500 hours to put into each exam and i dont have that kind of time. i did like BEC 1 and BEC 4 for 20th time and not the rest of it. How much time should i commit? Given that i have 3 weeks to go.. You think its doable with a couple of hours on week nights and maybe 10 hours over the weekend?

[san4596]

dif – I have 2 kids, work in public accounting, and have a wonderful wife. Look up Jeff's 20 hour study plan for busy season, and his ELL plan. That is how you make it work. If you do 20 hours a week, then you should be able to knock it out in about 7 weeks for each exam. Good luck.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[san4596]

dif – I have 2 kids, work in public accounting, and have a wonderful wife. Look up Jeff's 20 hour study plan for busy season, and his ELL plan. That is how you make it work. If you do 20 hours a week, then you should be able to knock it out in about 7 weeks for each exam. Good luck.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[fiona87]

I really couldn't tell you how much time to commit, because I don't know your familiarity with the material, but it CAN be done. Whether you can do it in three weeks? I don't know.

I spent probably 10-25 hours a week studying for about two months before I took FAR and probably 5-15 for about two months to study for AUD. I'll be spending 5-10 through tax season and then two weeks of nose-to-the-grindstone to finish REG, and then one month of 10-20 to do BEC. At least that's the plan right now…

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[fiona87]

I really couldn't tell you how much time to commit, because I don't know your familiarity with the material, but it CAN be done. Whether you can do it in three weeks? I don't know.

I spent probably 10-25 hours a week studying for about two months before I took FAR and probably 5-15 for about two months to study for AUD. I'll be spending 5-10 through tax season and then two weeks of nose-to-the-grindstone to finish REG, and then one month of 10-20 to do BEC. At least that's the plan right now…

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[StephAV]

I have a 5.5 year old and an almost 2 year old and a DH that is I'd say semi-supportive. I guess he's supportive, just not as supportive as I'd like him to be. I have been feeling some serious mommy guilt, I planned to help in my son's kindergarten class and now the school year is over half done and I've never helped out. I'm busy with work trying to climb the ladder (although honestly it is a little forced, new boss doesn't know much so I keep taking on more and more) and then needing to study.

I really like the ELL plan. Although most days I don't do lunch. I study from when the kids go to bed until I can't any more, sometime between 10 pm and 1 am then if it was an earlier night I'll wake up from 3 am to 5 am. I try to give myself a little flexibility as somedays I'm just plain exhausted. I have the NINJA Audio and listen on my commute and sometimes when we go on walks or play at the park. The best is long drives… It puts the kids to sleep almost immediately (sorry Jeff) and I can really focus. I also have the NINJA notes which I feel give me a great overview of the material that is much more manageable.

I just passed my first part after starting this journey in May… It is taking a lot longer than expected. But when I found I passed the first part this morning I CRIED, tears of joy and releif and victory. It is worth the sacrifice to me to have this amazing acheivement that will help my family even if they don't quite get it. Good luck!

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.

[StephAV]

I have a 5.5 year old and an almost 2 year old and a DH that is I'd say semi-supportive. I guess he's supportive, just not as supportive as I'd like him to be. I have been feeling some serious mommy guilt, I planned to help in my son's kindergarten class and now the school year is over half done and I've never helped out. I'm busy with work trying to climb the ladder (although honestly it is a little forced, new boss doesn't know much so I keep taking on more and more) and then needing to study.

I really like the ELL plan. Although most days I don't do lunch. I study from when the kids go to bed until I can't any more, sometime between 10 pm and 1 am then if it was an earlier night I'll wake up from 3 am to 5 am. I try to give myself a little flexibility as somedays I'm just plain exhausted. I have the NINJA Audio and listen on my commute and sometimes when we go on walks or play at the park. The best is long drives… It puts the kids to sleep almost immediately (sorry Jeff) and I can really focus. I also have the NINJA notes which I feel give me a great overview of the material that is much more manageable.

I just passed my first part after starting this journey in May… It is taking a lot longer than expected. But when I found I passed the first part this morning I CRIED, tears of joy and releif and victory. It is worth the sacrifice to me to have this amazing acheivement that will help my family even if they don't quite get it. Good luck!

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.

[megasaurus]

I have 2 kids (under 5) and I work in public accounting at a big 4. I just found out this morning I passed my 3rd exam. If I can do this, you can too. I too, recommend Jeff's ELL plan. I have a hard time studying at lunch (I usually work through lunch) but I wake up early and stay up until at least midnight every night to study. Does it suck? Yes, it sucks so much. This is truly the hardest task I've ever undertaken, but know the sacrifice will be worth it in the end.

Is your husband supportive? Thankfully mine is. So he doesn't complain or make me feel guilty at all that he takes the kids basically all day 1 day of each weekend or gets them settled for bed to I can stay late and study at work. He also helps with cooking and shopping. When I first started this exam I tried to do it all, meaning still be the wife, friend, mother, etc that I was pre-test. It isn't possible. Things have to give and that is OK. I'm not a bad mother, my kids aren't doing without, things are just slightly different than they were before. And they are young enough now that they won't remember the 2 yrs mommy spent every free moment studying.

You absolutely CAN do this! Good luck!!!

PS – I also love the Ninja audio and Notes. I listen in the car to and from work, and while I sleep.

[megasaurus]

I have 2 kids (under 5) and I work in public accounting at a big 4. I just found out this morning I passed my 3rd exam. If I can do this, you can too. I too, recommend Jeff's ELL plan. I have a hard time studying at lunch (I usually work through lunch) but I wake up early and stay up until at least midnight every night to study. Does it suck? Yes, it sucks so much. This is truly the hardest task I've ever undertaken, but know the sacrifice will be worth it in the end.

Is your husband supportive? Thankfully mine is. So he doesn't complain or make me feel guilty at all that he takes the kids basically all day 1 day of each weekend or gets them settled for bed to I can stay late and study at work. He also helps with cooking and shopping. When I first started this exam I tried to do it all, meaning still be the wife, friend, mother, etc that I was pre-test. It isn't possible. Things have to give and that is OK. I'm not a bad mother, my kids aren't doing without, things are just slightly different than they were before. And they are young enough now that they won't remember the 2 yrs mommy spent every free moment studying.

You absolutely CAN do this! Good luck!!!

PS – I also love the Ninja audio and Notes. I listen in the car to and from work, and while I sleep.

[sbarkerACPA]

This is definitely possible….three girls 12, 7, & 4; husband and full-time job!! Not easy but definitely do-able.

BEC: 74;81
AUD: 77
REG: 71; 80
FAR: 78
License for CPA----APPROVED
CPA Class of 2013

[sbarkerACPA]

This is definitely possible….three girls 12, 7, & 4; husband and full-time job!! Not easy but definitely do-able.

BEC: 74;81
AUD: 77
REG: 71; 80
FAR: 78
License for CPA----APPROVED
CPA Class of 2013

[Mathgirl7]

It is tough but you can do it!! I have a 7, 5, and 17 month old and I am pregnant with our 4th (due in April). I also work full time and am taking 4 classes online. I don't get a lot of sleep but I know it will be worth it in the end. I generally study after the kids go to bed and at lunch. Just find whatever time you can and use it. You only truly fail if you give up before you succeed!

AUD - 2/1/2014 - 92
BEC - 2/8/2014 - 79
REG - 5/17/2014
FAR - 5/21/2014

CA Ethics Exam - Passed

[Author]

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