[Anonymous]

Recent college graduate — not employed so I “technically” have all the time in the world to study. I have my shiny new review course with all 4 sections as well as the NINJA 10 point combo with Wiley Test Bank.

But guess what? I can not get motivated!

I plan to go through it following the NINJA study method by watching videos first. I started off trying to take notes during the videos but found it too hard to try to keep up and decided I’d just focus on watching the videos and go back through the book after I watch all the videos and re-write the NINJA notes and just write down any other points I think seem important.

FAR is just so damn overwhelming and Roger CPA has it split in 33 sections. My initial goal was 3 sections a day of video watching, every single day but here lately I’m lucky if I make it through 1 whole section. I find myself thinking about anything else other than “Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions” and before I realize it I’m on another planet while Roger is still yapping away about spot rate, forward rate, yadda yadda yadda.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get motivated and stay focused? I’m having second thoughts about all of it here lately because my FAR book just has so much information I just know in my mind that there is no way I will be able to do this. Sometimes I feel like people that are prescribed Adderall are taking the educational equivalent of steroids for sports.

[ignoreit]

Think about why you wanted to obtain the CPA designation in the first place. Personally, I think about things such as future career opportunities, higher salary, three letters after my name, a sense of accomplishment, not falling behind my friends who are also taking the CPA exam. If you are a competitive person, think of it as a competition between you and the naysayers, friends, or even somebody you dislike who is also going for the designation. Find something that'll motivate you in that instant moment and just dive into the book without hesitation. If you get bored, break up your studying blocks to 1 hour of studying, then 15-30 minutes of something fun, and repeat. Best of luck!

[ignoreit]

Think about why you wanted to obtain the CPA designation in the first place. Personally, I think about things such as future career opportunities, higher salary, three letters after my name, a sense of accomplishment, not falling behind my friends who are also taking the CPA exam. If you are a competitive person, think of it as a competition between you and the naysayers, friends, or even somebody you dislike who is also going for the designation. Find something that'll motivate you in that instant moment and just dive into the book without hesitation. If you get bored, break up your studying blocks to 1 hour of studying, then 15-30 minutes of something fun, and repeat. Best of luck!

[Travis]

If you want it bad enough, you can motivate yourself. Don't cut yourself short and don't sweat the small stuff. I learned many years ago to just take everything a day at a time and not fret over things. It changed my perspective immensely and will on this journey!

If you're not working, think of studying as your new 9-5 ‘job'. Your ‘compensation' is the benefits of passing and opening up opportunities not afforded to you otherwise. Go to a library or coffee shop somewhere if you need an ‘office' outside of home. I know going to a coffee shop I enjoyed helps me immensely to focus (and I'm not a coffee drinker!) If you want to work, incorporate job hunting into your new 9-5 routine and adjust your study schedule when you find something that suits your needs.

You'll look back after passing, get the job you want, and already be used to the 9-5 grind. 🙂

I did something like this while obtaining my 2 year degree in accounting. I worked on school 9-5 and finished a 4 semester program in 3. I treated it like a job. It paid off in good grades and job recommendations! This while working overnights at a casino and early mornings (before sunrise) at a meat market. I did my 4 year while working a 9-5.

Now I fit studying in before I start work at 8am or earlier or later in the evening.

Good luck!

[Travis]

If you want it bad enough, you can motivate yourself. Don't cut yourself short and don't sweat the small stuff. I learned many years ago to just take everything a day at a time and not fret over things. It changed my perspective immensely and will on this journey!

If you're not working, think of studying as your new 9-5 ‘job'. Your ‘compensation' is the benefits of passing and opening up opportunities not afforded to you otherwise. Go to a library or coffee shop somewhere if you need an ‘office' outside of home. I know going to a coffee shop I enjoyed helps me immensely to focus (and I'm not a coffee drinker!) If you want to work, incorporate job hunting into your new 9-5 routine and adjust your study schedule when you find something that suits your needs.

You'll look back after passing, get the job you want, and already be used to the 9-5 grind. 🙂

I did something like this while obtaining my 2 year degree in accounting. I worked on school 9-5 and finished a 4 semester program in 3. I treated it like a job. It paid off in good grades and job recommendations! This while working overnights at a casino and early mornings (before sunrise) at a meat market. I did my 4 year while working a 9-5.

Now I fit studying in before I start work at 8am or earlier or later in the evening.

Good luck!

[rogersj4]

Go ahead and take the easiest one and pass it. The thought of losing credit for those you've passed is all the motivation you'll need. I never would have made it through FAR if I didn't already have two under my belt. I think of these exams as being pierced by an arrow. You either have to push it forward or pull it backward to get it out. Pushing forward hurts a hell of lot less.

AUD 5/31/13 - 91
BEC 8/15/13 - 85 (Wife had a baby girl 6 days later)
FAR 12/05/13- 83 I can almost taste it!
REG 02/21/14- 95 Holy $hit a 95!

[rogersj4]

Go ahead and take the easiest one and pass it. The thought of losing credit for those you've passed is all the motivation you'll need. I never would have made it through FAR if I didn't already have two under my belt. I think of these exams as being pierced by an arrow. You either have to push it forward or pull it backward to get it out. Pushing forward hurts a hell of lot less.

AUD 5/31/13 - 91
BEC 8/15/13 - 85 (Wife had a baby girl 6 days later)
FAR 12/05/13- 83 I can almost taste it!
REG 02/21/14- 95 Holy $hit a 95!

[koz124]

I wish thinking about my future helped…but it isn't enough motivation for me. Maybe it'll work for you. If not, while I'm not exactly in the same boat as I am employed full time, I do share some of the same woes. I have limited motivation, and my studying habits have always been pitiful (despite the never ending education). I have found that skipping the videos and just reading the books has helped some, since my mind would also begin to wander after only minutes. Also, since I'm a “do-er”, after reading the modules, I test on that module first with 10 questions and 1 SIM. Then I test on that plus all of the previously studied material on Wiley Test Bank with 15 questions and 2 SIMS. I have no clue if it will be enough, but so far I'm fairing well on the Wiley Test Bank. Make sure you understand the answers and review problems with which you struggle. Good luck!

Studying with Wiley Review, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Audio.
Retakes with Ninja MCQ only...awesome!
Far - 1/28 72, 7/22 79
Aud - 2/28 70, 8/14 83
Bec - 4/10 80
Reg - 5/30 64, 7/2 82

[koz124]

I wish thinking about my future helped…but it isn't enough motivation for me. Maybe it'll work for you. If not, while I'm not exactly in the same boat as I am employed full time, I do share some of the same woes. I have limited motivation, and my studying habits have always been pitiful (despite the never ending education). I have found that skipping the videos and just reading the books has helped some, since my mind would also begin to wander after only minutes. Also, since I'm a “do-er”, after reading the modules, I test on that module first with 10 questions and 1 SIM. Then I test on that plus all of the previously studied material on Wiley Test Bank with 15 questions and 2 SIMS. I have no clue if it will be enough, but so far I'm fairing well on the Wiley Test Bank. Make sure you understand the answers and review problems with which you struggle. Good luck!

Studying with Wiley Review, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Audio.
Retakes with Ninja MCQ only...awesome!
Far - 1/28 72, 7/22 79
Aud - 2/28 70, 8/14 83
Bec - 4/10 80
Reg - 5/30 64, 7/2 82

[Study Monk]

Honestly just get started. I imagine you are relying on your parents for financial support, so starting to study for the CPA exam is the only way you can enjoy the luxury of unemployment without being a bum. I am also unemployed and spent the last two hours playing video games and now I am go to study for 8 hours. There is enough hours in the day so get your shit together.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

Honestly just get started. I imagine you are relying on your parents for financial support, so starting to study for the CPA exam is the only way you can enjoy the luxury of unemployment without being a bum. I am also unemployed and spent the last two hours playing video games and now I am go to study for 8 hours. There is enough hours in the day so get your shit together.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all of the replies, I especially like Study Monk's strategy of “get your shit together”

Another thing that makes it difficult is being a newlywed, so the wife always wants to spend time together and such. Which explains who I am relying on right now for financial support, not my parents Study Monk.

I understand I really have no excuses compared to 3/4+ of the people on this forum that are working full time, married, and possibly have 2-3 babies. It doesn't really come down to not having the time, but just a lack of motivation to begin studying and CONTINUE studying. I feel that I have always had issues with ADD/ADHD but have never truly been diagnosed and somehow managed to scrape by in undergrad. I will tell you this though, I have taken Adderall once or twice to study for a test and damn do I wish I could get a prescription for it because the ONLY thing I want to do for 6+ hours is study, you better not bother me. lol

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all of the replies, I especially like Study Monk's strategy of “get your shit together”

Another thing that makes it difficult is being a newlywed, so the wife always wants to spend time together and such. Which explains who I am relying on right now for financial support, not my parents Study Monk.

I understand I really have no excuses compared to 3/4+ of the people on this forum that are working full time, married, and possibly have 2-3 babies. It doesn't really come down to not having the time, but just a lack of motivation to begin studying and CONTINUE studying. I feel that I have always had issues with ADD/ADHD but have never truly been diagnosed and somehow managed to scrape by in undergrad. I will tell you this though, I have taken Adderall once or twice to study for a test and damn do I wish I could get a prescription for it because the ONLY thing I want to do for 6+ hours is study, you better not bother me. lol

[kmm1216]

Starting to study is really the key; once you get into a groove, you don't want to stop or slow yourself down. It can definitely be a drag, but you just have to get yourself in the right state of mind and build up the work ethic to get going.

I don't know how you did in undergrad to just scrap by, but I can relate. I literally NEVER studied during undergrad because I hated school, and got through my accounting program with a GPA under 3.0 because I literally didn't put in any effort. I decided that I needed to change that for the CPA though, which I did. As you can see from my scores below, (which I studied about 325 hours for combined) it shows that it's possible to give the effort, even if you weren't accustomed to doing so previously.

Just think of it this way – would you rather get the exams over with right away, and never have to worry about them again? It's a small sacrifice to make now in order to have more time in your future for your family, work, etc. If you don't finish now but still try, you're wasting your time now and you'll still have to put in a full effort of studying when you could have been done months or years prior.

Of course I'm not married, but I'm also going to school full-time for my MAcc and work part-time, so there's always a time management juggling act. Time management is really important though if you have a lot on your plate – once you figure out how to manage your time, it all becomes a ton easier.

BEC: 88 (8/27/13)
FAR: 93 (12/3/13)
REG: 92 (2/27/14)
AUD: 95 (4/22/14)

Roger CPA, Wiley Test Banks, NINJA Notes & Audio

[kmm1216]

Starting to study is really the key; once you get into a groove, you don't want to stop or slow yourself down. It can definitely be a drag, but you just have to get yourself in the right state of mind and build up the work ethic to get going.

I don't know how you did in undergrad to just scrap by, but I can relate. I literally NEVER studied during undergrad because I hated school, and got through my accounting program with a GPA under 3.0 because I literally didn't put in any effort. I decided that I needed to change that for the CPA though, which I did. As you can see from my scores below, (which I studied about 325 hours for combined) it shows that it's possible to give the effort, even if you weren't accustomed to doing so previously.

Just think of it this way – would you rather get the exams over with right away, and never have to worry about them again? It's a small sacrifice to make now in order to have more time in your future for your family, work, etc. If you don't finish now but still try, you're wasting your time now and you'll still have to put in a full effort of studying when you could have been done months or years prior.

Of course I'm not married, but I'm also going to school full-time for my MAcc and work part-time, so there's always a time management juggling act. Time management is really important though if you have a lot on your plate – once you figure out how to manage your time, it all becomes a ton easier.

BEC: 88 (8/27/13)
FAR: 93 (12/3/13)
REG: 92 (2/27/14)
AUD: 95 (4/22/14)

Roger CPA, Wiley Test Banks, NINJA Notes & Audio

[Anonymous]

kmm1216 – It is nice to see that you basically have all the same materials as I do and managed to do so well (especially on FAR) Can I ask how you study? Do you follow the NINJA study technique at all?

[Author]

Replies