[Anonymous]

Working and studying for the CPA exam.. this is probably not unheard of, but for all you full timers out there, HOW in the heck do you do it? I come home from work at 6:30 ish and I am POOPED. I eat dinner, shower, relax a little and don’t start studying until 9. I go to bed at 1.. I feel like everything I learned from the very beginning is slipping away and I’m constantly having to relearn everything all over again. My biggest problem is that I seem to forget everything I learn and even if i do study all day during the weekends.. it doesn’t seem to be enough. Bleh 🙁

[Study Monk]

Eating healthy is the most important thing you can do.

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"

[LoveEventing]

It was very difficult. I actually quit my job in public accounting because I could not get it done. My current job allowed me to be home at 4:30pm every day so I had plenty of time to study. However, I found that I still needed to sign up for live courses to keep me going. I did full 8 hour courses on the weekends and then reviewed about 2 hours per night during the week, at least. It was hard to “work” 7 days per week, but it was the only thing that allowed me to pass.

BEC - 68, 76
AUD - 90, 91
FAR - 63, 83
REG - 55, 79

FINALLY DONE!

[LoveEventing]

It was very difficult. I actually quit my job in public accounting because I could not get it done. My current job allowed me to be home at 4:30pm every day so I had plenty of time to study. However, I found that I still needed to sign up for live courses to keep me going. I did full 8 hour courses on the weekends and then reviewed about 2 hours per night during the week, at least. It was hard to “work” 7 days per week, but it was the only thing that allowed me to pass.

BEC - 68, 76
AUD - 90, 91
FAR - 63, 83
REG - 55, 79

FINALLY DONE!

[jlough]

@ OP- I would suggest studying as soon as you get home. Grab some dinner and get to work. I have a similar schedule as you- I get home around 630. I eat a quick dinner (having a husband who is a teacher and home at 4 pm helps) and I head right upstairs to my office to study. I study until 930, 10, 1030 (depending on my energy level) and then I relax for an hour before bed. I don't even LOOK at my couch or bed until that day's assignment is done.

Another idea can be to pack a dinner (or order delivery) and stay late at your job to study. I do this once a week and the added bonus is that I avoid rush hour traffic.

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[jlough]

@ OP- I would suggest studying as soon as you get home. Grab some dinner and get to work. I have a similar schedule as you- I get home around 630. I eat a quick dinner (having a husband who is a teacher and home at 4 pm helps) and I head right upstairs to my office to study. I study until 930, 10, 1030 (depending on my energy level) and then I relax for an hour before bed. I don't even LOOK at my couch or bed until that day's assignment is done.

Another idea can be to pack a dinner (or order delivery) and stay late at your job to study. I do this once a week and the added bonus is that I avoid rush hour traffic.

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[Anonymous]

Staying late at my job to study.. huh I didn't think about that!! It can get a bit noisy at my house, so this seems like a really good idea. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Staying late at my job to study.. huh I didn't think about that!! It can get a bit noisy at my house, so this seems like a really good idea. Thank you.

[joelseph]

^ The only place I study has been my office. Yes it sucks to basically live here 12 hours a day, 6 days a week but I can't get anything done at home (even with nobody else there). As you mentioned in the OP, you don't start still 9pm, which just seems crazy to me… I'm done by then.

FAR: 84 on 4/4/13
AUD: 91 on 7/27/13
BEC: 72 on 11/11/13, 82 on 01/03/14
REG: 80 on 02/27/14

[joelseph]

^ The only place I study has been my office. Yes it sucks to basically live here 12 hours a day, 6 days a week but I can't get anything done at home (even with nobody else there). As you mentioned in the OP, you don't start still 9pm, which just seems crazy to me… I'm done by then.

FAR: 84 on 4/4/13
AUD: 91 on 7/27/13
BEC: 72 on 11/11/13, 82 on 01/03/14
REG: 80 on 02/27/14

[Texas CPA]

I studied at work. 45 minutes at lunch, then 5:30-7:30/8. Mon-Thur, took Friday night off. Then went back to the office, 4-6 hours on Sat/Sun. Two weeks out from the exam, went later on week nights and 6-8 hours on the weekend. It sucked but it worked. I usually took two to three weeks off after each exam to recharge. Loaded up on snacks/fruit/microwave dinners.Amy's organics are pretty good.

Reg - Passed 82 Nov 2012 - Becker
Aud - Passed 86 May 2013 - Becker
BEC - Passed 88 Aug 2013 - Becker
FAR - Passed 88 Nov 2013 - Becker

https://www.becker.com/cpa-review

Texas CPA

[Texas CPA]

I studied at work. 45 minutes at lunch, then 5:30-7:30/8. Mon-Thur, took Friday night off. Then went back to the office, 4-6 hours on Sat/Sun. Two weeks out from the exam, went later on week nights and 6-8 hours on the weekend. It sucked but it worked. I usually took two to three weeks off after each exam to recharge. Loaded up on snacks/fruit/microwave dinners.Amy's organics are pretty good.

Reg - Passed 82 Nov 2012 - Becker
Aud - Passed 86 May 2013 - Becker
BEC - Passed 88 Aug 2013 - Becker
FAR - Passed 88 Nov 2013 - Becker

https://www.becker.com/cpa-review

Texas CPA

[MrsBing]

I found breaking it up helps. Most days I would study for an hour before work, an hour during lunch and stay at work when my workday was over to study for an hour. I would be home by 7pm and have 3-4 hours of free time before bed.

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, and Ninja 10 Point Combo!

FAR: 89
REG: 87
AUD: 92
BEC: 75
Ethics: 90

Licensed Arizona CPA

[MrsBing]

I found breaking it up helps. Most days I would study for an hour before work, an hour during lunch and stay at work when my workday was over to study for an hour. I would be home by 7pm and have 3-4 hours of free time before bed.

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, and Ninja 10 Point Combo!

FAR: 89
REG: 87
AUD: 92
BEC: 75
Ethics: 90

Licensed Arizona CPA

[Gatorbates]

I work at Fortune 15 company. I also have a wife that works part time and have two kids (6 and 4). The best thing I can say is make a schedule and stick to it. Religiously. This is a marathon and you have to train/study to succeed. I work from about 7-5 M-F. On M, W, F, I leave and drive to the local college library and study until 10 or 11. This give me about 30 minutes to unwind from work and get my head straight for studying. T and Th I have to take off since my wife works late and I have daddy duty. Saturday I also have the kids all day, while wife is working. Sunday, I'm in the library for 10 hours. If I have any energy on T or Th after the wife gets home, I may try to squeeze an hour or two in. It is exhausting, but will be worth it in the end. Self discipline is the most important thing, in my opinion. Good luck!

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Gatorbates]

I work at Fortune 15 company. I also have a wife that works part time and have two kids (6 and 4). The best thing I can say is make a schedule and stick to it. Religiously. This is a marathon and you have to train/study to succeed. I work from about 7-5 M-F. On M, W, F, I leave and drive to the local college library and study until 10 or 11. This give me about 30 minutes to unwind from work and get my head straight for studying. T and Th I have to take off since my wife works late and I have daddy duty. Saturday I also have the kids all day, while wife is working. Sunday, I'm in the library for 10 hours. If I have any energy on T or Th after the wife gets home, I may try to squeeze an hour or two in. It is exhausting, but will be worth it in the end. Self discipline is the most important thing, in my opinion. Good luck!

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Author]

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