[jvcpa]

Hey folks, I would really appreciate any advice you could give on my situation. I currently work as a staff accountant in a corporate setting. I graduated in 2007 with a BA in business and then worked in A/P, and Purchasing roles for a few years. I decided in 2009 to pursue a CPA license so I took a year of online accounting courses to meet the additional educational requirements for my state.

Exam results in sequence: (barely) passed BEC (76) on my first try, then failed REG (63), failed AUD (68), passed REG (77), failed FAR (60), then failed AUD (56).

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I’m starting to question if I have what it takes to pass this exam. My BEC credit expires October 22nd. I have doubts as to if I even want or need the CPA. I have an OK job that pays pretty well for the work. I can’t meet the work experience requirements through my current job. I would need to compete for and land a public accounting job, as a 30-year-old, and take a pay cut and work load increase for at least a year or two. My inspiration has been the thought that it would be temporary pain for long-term gain.

Why I failed the exams.

I have patterns of behavior that a detrimental to my success but I cannot seem to escape. I cannot keep my attention on MCQ or lectures for more than a few minutes. I persistently alt+tab to a browser to check reddit, sports pages, news pages, email, facebook, whatever. I keep telling myself that it’s time to grow up and focus, but I just keep flailing, trapped by my mind’s need for distraction. I’ve never been diagnosed with ADD but I feel like I’ve developed a set of behaviors that are just as problematic for learning.

I’ve considered buying different study materials because I really can’t keep focused on their lectures. I don’t know if spending another $3,000 really going to help. I can’t stand the Yaeger plan but that seems to really be my fault and not Yaegers. Who’s to say that I wouldn’t treat Becker or CPAexcel the same as I treat my Yaeger study time? Anyway, that’s my situation. I’d really appreciate some feedback. Thank you for your help.

Passed: R-F-B-A - Persistence is the key to passing.

[mmcgrad1]

Can you access your materials without using the Internet? I found the Internet to be a huge distraction when I needed to use it to access videos.

When I was listening to mp3s I deleted my wireless network and turned the wireless off. I made sure not to add it back until I finished my studying. Also, when I studied using my books I did not take my laptop with me. I also made sure to study at a library or some place without the distractions of home.

This may help you concentrate on your materials better. It worked for me.

The question you have to ask yourself is, “How bad do I want this?”

In 2009, the answer for me was, “I don't want this; I'm afraid I'll fail.” So wasted $1000s on a review course and never sat for a single exam.

In 2012, the answer was, “I need this to live my life without fear and regret!”

That attitude and determination made all this difference this time studying.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[jenuno01]

Do you have some vacation or PTO at your job? If so, it's time to use it. Not for vacation, but to study. Give it all you got to pass AUD and FAR. It can be done. Don't let your BEC score expire. Finish strong and get your life back.

Class of 2012

[jvcpa]

@mmcgrad1, thank you for the tips. The video lectures I have are on a flash drive and the Wiley Test Bank software can be used in offline mode for MCQ and Sim practice. I really, really dread the experience of going through the AUD and FAR lectures again, but I think I need to because I didn't learn enough to pass AUD or FAR. The Becker lectures seem more bearable but is it worth the $3K? I don't know.

@jenuno1, I do have some PTO, but I have to use it to fly across the country for a convocation ceremony for my fiance. My family is also at the place where the convocation will be held, so they expect to visit with me while I'm there. I should still be able to get in some study time but will it be enough?

I appreciate the responses but I'm still on the fence…I know I can do this but will I push myself enough to actually do it? This sucks.

Passed: R-F-B-A - Persistence is the key to passing.

[jvcpa]

I'm going for it. Audit is done and hopefully passed. FAR is on Tuesday

Passed: R-F-B-A - Persistence is the key to passing.

[momto5]

Good luck @jvcpa! Glad to hear it! Just wondering – you said in your first post that your BEC expired on the 22nd, yet you are taking FAR on the 23rd. Did you just have the date wrong in your first post? Hopefully you will not lose BEC after all this hard work. I'll be rooting for you! Keep us posted!

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[jvcpa]

Momto5, I actually had my date wrong in the first post. My BEC expires on the 23rd, so I took FAR on the afternoon of the 23rd. I'm pretty sure that I didn't pass. If I were to do this over again, I would sit for the exams in the order you have chosen. I would also have changed some of my study habits, but you live and learn. Now it's time to wait for scores and live a normal life without CPA study, even if only for a little while.

Passed: R-F-B-A - Persistence is the key to passing.

[Author]

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