[Pri93]

Hey so I feel that writing how I feel on here makes me feel so much better because most of ya’ll on here would get how I feel if not everyone. So its been 3 years since I’ve been trying to become a CPA. I passed BEC & FAR but didn’t make it time for the other two and lost my 18 month window. SO now I’m back to trying again. I recently attempted REG & AUD last quarter and didn’t pass those. So now my mind is just all over the place. Initially when I started this journey I knew how amazing this was for me and I was super excited. But now I just don’t want to study or maybe I’m starting to feel like I won’t be a CPA. It sucks but I’m just not feeling anything right now and I’m doubting everything I’m doing (like how I study and if I’m studying right or if I’m wasting time writing notes and wasting days on not so imp topics etc etc) I have to attempt REG & AUD again soon since its fresh in my mind. AT this point, all I can say is I really don’t know what I’m doing, I’m not in the mood to study or do anything yet deep deep down I really feel and know I can do this and I also know I can work harder and right now I’m procrastinating (which will make me fail again) and being lazy for no reason. PS. I don’t work so imagine I have all this time to study yet I am such a waste at this.

Any thoughts or feedback or advice would help. How do I go back to being how excited and enthusiastic I was when I started this journey because that really makes me want to push harder and work harder and succeed. (hope I made sense in my writing lol I might sound lame to a lot of the people)

[Pork Flavored Bacon]

I don't know if I can make you feel any better but I want you to know I felt the same way as you did.
I started my exams super-excited and gung-ho. Failed my first two exams straight away. Tried again and slowly managed to pass sections while consistently failing FAR. All in, I failed FAR four times. Damn, I felt awful. Combine that with the fact I pretty much shut myself out from the outside world for about two years.
It took such a psychological toll on me because I was convinced I had some sort of learning deficiency. I had friends passing FAR on their first try (and completing all the exams within six or eight months) and here I am, about 12 months into my window and I had already failed FAR four times.
If I went out, I felt guilty I wasn't home studying. If I was studying I felt awful not going out with my buddies.
In the end, I just had to consider where I was in my life (beginning of my accounting career) and where I wanted to be. After my fourth FAR failure, I was a stone's throw away from just quitting. I was lucky to have one friend who just finished all his exams and he gave me his FAR materials from Becker and told me to just study one more time for FAR and if I failed, he would never ask me again.
His encouragement really got me fired up and wound up absolutely demolishing FAR on my last take with a neck-breaking score of 75.
Feeling lazy and procrastinating is fine. Take a couple of days and do not think about the exams. You just need to take a step back and really take stock of your goals. Just understand: You already passed two in the past so you are absolutely capable of passing everything.

FAR - 75 | REG - 87 | AUD - 82 | LAW - 81

[cpa1234]

Motivating yourself to study is probably the hardest part. After all that studying in school, the CPA exams feel almost brand new so it's like going back to school again. Whenever I procrastinate in my life, I always stop and just start making a list or calendar to make myself feel better, like I am doing something at least kind of productive. When I was first struggling to motivate myself for my first exam BEC, I went into my computer and I looked at when the day of my test was, how many modules of Becker I had to get through before that day, and how many days do I want for just review time (about 4 days for me, but everyone is different). So I took the days I had and divided the sections by day so I knew I had to get through a certain amount of modules each day before doing other fun things. Even though some days I felt like I was just going through the motions to get to the fun part of my day, seeing the information the first time was still helpful. And later when I was doing review, I felt like I had seen this information not too long ago, so it was sticking in my brain regardless of how intensely I studied that day. I used Becker to study as I mentioned above, so I would listen to the lecture and take my own really in depth notes. Then I would do skills practice (but it wasn't that helpful) and then I would do the MCQ. I saved all the sims until the review period. I would do at least one mock test, but looking back I could have skipped them except before my first exam it was nice to see how the screen looked. I studied for BEC and FAR before starting full time employment. I passed BEC but failed FAR. So I did a FAR retake, Audit, and REG while working full time. So then I had to make sure I was doing at least 1-2 hours a day and a majority of studying on weekends. I made that same calendar with how many modules to get through every day for each section to make sure I have them all done before my review period before the exam. And if I got lazy one day and skipped, I at least made use of my procrastination and did something more productive like re-do the calendar to include that skipped module before exam time. Sometimes getting in the zone planning out my study schedule motivated me to do a module, and then I would be back on track. Do what's best for you, but I know I am a huge planner. So keeping a calendar kept me organized and motivated to get to the end. And writing my own notes helped during review time cause I could close my computer and just read my notes & stay focused. Just remember, you can do it!

[Pri93]

Thank you so much to the both of ya'll for taking out the time to give me some advice & such encouraging words!! Will def keep them in mind & work hard!!

[jules1268]

This is my third go around in 12 years. First try right out of college. I think I passed 2 or 3, couldn't finish them all and lost everything. 6 years later I'm up for promotion at Big 4 and have 3/4 passed. Left Big 4 with time and still couldn't pass REG. Lost credits and never got back on the band wagon. This time I have more appreciation for the worth of a CPA. I see that co-workers are passing and look at job listings that mostly say CPA required. I don't have much of a career path as a Technical Accountant without it so that really pushed me to try again. I'm working it into my schedule with 2 small kids and a full time job. I finally passed REG first, then AUD, then BEC and now on to FAR. Really it's seeing how I'm limited without it, I now have the experience to appreciate it. I just need to keep pushing through the finish.

[Anonymous]

Thinking about the entire process is overwhelming, so instead, think about it one week at a time. Make a schedule, study and stick to it… The 1.5 years (or so) it takes to get through this horrendous process is nothing in the grand scheme of things… It's the most difficult thing I have ever had to do and really wish i wasn't doing it at 38 with two kids and a full time job…Just think about how good it will feel to get that license-and it's yours forever! it's a small price to pay… Just really remember-there are no shortcuts, there are no gimmicks….Studying and discipline is the only thing that works…. You were half way there once, you can certainly do it again!

[Anonymous]

Hey Pri93, I agree with what everyone on here is saying. But I noticed that you are attempting 2 sections in one quarter. I also noticed you said you aren't working right now, so perhaps you do have the time to study for two sections at once, but maybe it would be beneficial for you to slow down a little bit and concentrate on one section at a time. That way the time you do allocate towards studying will not be split between two subjects and you can concentrate on just one. I know some people try to do two sections at once because they want to hurry up and be finished, but for me taking one at a time was the only way I could master the material. Just trying to look at your problem from a different perspective, hope it helps.

[IwannabeaCPA2017]

Hey Pri93, just know if you can pass FAR and other sections that means you're capable of passing. I can go more in depth later tonight when I finish work and share my story. Hopefully, that will give you some hope. 🙂

[Pri93]

Thank you so much guys! This is the only thing thats helping me clear my mind and get back to studying. It really means the world to me that you all are so encouraging and understand what I'm going through cause nobody else does (I guess they had to be preparing for this exam as well to know right?) :)))

@Zach Also I kinda planned to give both the exams but I may not. This time I'm going to study as I go and pick the dates so no hurry or pressure. Planning to finish all the MCQs, leave a week for review and then maybe pick a date.

[1ForAll]

Hey @Pri93, I know I haven't passed any part yet but just thought you should know that you're not alone and trust me I am struggling as well but I am trying even harder now. I wake up 5:30 am wash up and eat and get straight to studying until 11 pm Mon-Sat. (as a matter of fact, I am about to start right now!). I have yet to pass even one test and waiting to see that day happen, but you @Pri93 passed two before which means you know what it takes and can pass all 4!

[Author]

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