[hili783]

I work for PwC and it is my first week working for them. I work from 8 am till 6 pm Monday to Friday.it takes about an 45 mins to drive from home to work and the same time going back home, so in total around 12 hours are out of my control. I talked to my boss about releasing me early like around 3 or 4 pm so I could have enough time to study, but he refused, so I asked him if I can study, but he also refused because I will have so much work and I won’t be able to study.

PLEASE EVERYONE, I need you advise, I am going to have my FAR exam in May and I am wondering if I should leave PwC and just get all my free time for studying, or I should keep working and give a try if I can handle both CPA and work.

FAR -
BEC -
REG -
AUD -

[mla1169]

Ok I think what some of the people are missing is that there is a huge difference between “being worth MORE merit” and “deserving of respect”.

Lets take an example. I don't think a nurse is any more merit worthy than I am, nor is a teacher. I work as hard as either of them do. But if someone gives a shoutout and props to all the nurses out there for the good hard work they do, I am all on board singing their praises. I am not petty enough to lament that I deserve as much respect as they do.

What exactly is so tortuous of admitting that people with families work very hard? And guess what….if someone gives a shoutout to the singles who feel lonely, I can support them too. Why not?

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Regarding the process, it's the same. It takes the same amount of time to study in order to receive a passing grade, the same dedication, the same lost sleep, the same lost social life, etc. I'm not debating that fact.

However, what is much different is that for a single person (or someone with just a wife), you can go home and lock yourself in a room and study.

For people with kids, you have interruptions. You have time demands from kids who do their best to understand but don't always abide by your desire to study. You have to study with headphones to block out the noise. You have times where your spouse is unavailable and you have to take kids to school/social functions/etc. You have distractions that simply aren't there for single people or people without kids.

I've done it both ways. However, in all fairness, what I lack in freedom to study and uninterrupted time, I make up for somewhat in experience and maturity.

But having said all of that, you all can believe what you want to believe. It's much harder with kids and a family…kind of like trying to study with your work blackberry attached to your hip. For those single people with no kids, try going to the nearest public park on a Saturday and try to study…you simply lack the frame of reference to know what you are speaking of. Kind of like me telling a woman how it is to give birth to a child.

[nextstopCPA]

Married 9 years this year…giving myself a decade a lil too early.

FAR Passed
REG Passed
AUD Passed
BEC Passed

All aboard, this train's leaving. Next stop, TBD!

[jeff]

I think the difference between studying with a family and not is when you get home from work you can't just say “sorry everyone…gotta study”.

On the flip side, when you're single, there is no one to keep you accountable so tossing the keys on the table and firing up the DVR would be a real temptation.

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

[Minimorty]

@jeff – I know you are the “nice guy” and have to play both sides, but that argument for single people is pretty weak. lol.

Also, as a parent of two kids under 3, you cant EVER (slight exaggeration, but only slight) just toss the keys on the table and fire up the DVD player. I'd have my 2.5 year old wanting to throw balls or play games or give me hugs. I'd also have my 9 month old needing food, diaper change, attention, etc. I know you have your own little basketball team, so I am sure you understand. As soon as you wake up until the second your head hits the pillow its GO GO GO!!! It would be a luxury to have time to fire up the DVD player.

[Anonymous]

Bottom line….a single person telling those with spouses and children that it is no harder for them to pass is like me telling a woman that childbirth is no big deal (I'm a dude). I'm in no way saying that anyone has it easy….but having kids adds a layer of difficulty to the process that people without kids just don't understand.

Time away, ruined mood, distractions, dogs running off, fights, distractions, last minute runs to the store for ‘forgotten items', etc.

When I didn't have kids, the only thing which determined whether I studied was myself and my drive. Now that I have kids, the least determinant of whether I study is myself (and I have a great spouse that takes on the responsibility).

[jeff]

Well, I know this: when my wife and kids would leave town to go to some family reunion or something so I could study…it was tempting to just do nothing.

Just because you have the extra hours at night to study doesn't mean you will.

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

[nebraska]

@mini you probably spend as much time on this website as you could with the DVR 😉

i'd just imagine anything would be harder with kids, let alone a cpa exam. i'm young and single with no kids. driving my car is my peaceful time…definitely would not be if i had a couple screaming kids in my backseat. i feel like it would be stressful to even take a shower cause i'd probably be worried that they would be burning down the house or choking on something. it's kind of like when you're in high school and you think your classes are hard, until you get to college and realize high school was a total joke…and then you graduate and get into the real world and realize college was not stressful at all. i have at least five years before i settle down and i plan on not taking any second of it for granted haha.

REG (08/2011) - 73 (2/2012) - 72
AUD (08/2011) - 73 (1/2012) - 86
FAR (11/2011) - 79
BEC (11/2011) - 79

[Minimorty]

@jeff – Yeah, but that is a completely different situation. You have five kids! You saw that time as a RARE opportunity to just be a blob. A single dude has that same opportunity EVERY night.

[Minimorty]

@nebraska – lol. duly noted. Fortunately, I am not studying for anything right now. I am pretty slammed at work. I agree I spend more time on here than I should. I just keep coming back because I cant believe some of the stuff people say on here. I'm just constantly shaking my head and doing face palms. And I've come to like a lot of my “cyber friends.” You know who you all are. 😉

[jeff]

Blob. lol

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

[mla1169]

I think we all need to come to a consensus that 200 hours studying for AUD is so much better than 5 minutes of “Yo Gabba Gabba” (yes I had my little nephew last week).

I don't know how parents of little ones do it. Thank GAWD I did this when my kids were past Nick Jr. I would have lost my mind.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Bose quiet comfort headphones are your friend! 😀

[tmw0918]

I'm single…..planning a wedding……taking care of a 6 week old puppy(PUG), Finishing my Masters, and Taking the CPA exam. I take REG tomorrow. Based off what I've learned you guys get exemptions and credits for having these children!

This message by the way is totally out of fun…..and I'm hardcore procrastinating right now. My fiance asked me how studying for REG was going and I said “Imagine having to memorize a 300 page book full of random sets numbers, and on top of that, memorizing what each set of numbers applied to.”

[Anonymous]

I would say the CPA exam is just plain hard, although I have just started this journey, it looks and sounds like it is. I would agree that having children would be way harder! I am single with no children, but I have been a nanny and I still babysit a lot! There is no such thing as alone time… even when I go to the bathroom for 2 minutes I have the kids trying to talk to me threw the door. It's a constant go, go, go with them! Then I can leave when I am done and get my peace and quiet at my home. Kids are great, but I am so glad I don't have any!

[Author]

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