[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 🙁

[ymmit]

8-10 PM every day, weekends about 4 hours each day. Its about getting into a rhythm. You shouldn't be proud of yourself for studying (in terms of mindset), its just part of the daily routine.

Licensed CPA!

[ymmit]

8-10 PM every day, weekends about 4 hours each day. Its about getting into a rhythm. You shouldn't be proud of yourself for studying (in terms of mindset), its just part of the daily routine.

Licensed CPA!

[rachenyc]

It's not easy, but somehow I was working full time, studying, and training for a marathon. I can honestly say though, I didn't study much during the week at all. I studied on weekends and then took 2-3 days off of work before my exams to cram.

Are you eating well? I am very careful with my diet so that I maintain energy on minimal sleep. I know you probably don't have time to do this too but do you work out? Working out gives me more energy.

I also agree with someone else by saying take a nap! I love cat naps, I took them during long study sessions on the weekends.

FARE--78
AUDIT--88
REG--81
BEC--75

DONE!!!!

[rachenyc]

It's not easy, but somehow I was working full time, studying, and training for a marathon. I can honestly say though, I didn't study much during the week at all. I studied on weekends and then took 2-3 days off of work before my exams to cram.

Are you eating well? I am very careful with my diet so that I maintain energy on minimal sleep. I know you probably don't have time to do this too but do you work out? Working out gives me more energy.

I also agree with someone else by saying take a nap! I love cat naps, I took them during long study sessions on the weekends.

FARE--78
AUDIT--88
REG--81
BEC--75

DONE!!!!

[jen123]

So much great advice! Maybe instead of taking a vacation this year I need to consider using those days to take off work and study all day. Thanks berrygoose for asking this question.

[jen123]

So much great advice! Maybe instead of taking a vacation this year I need to consider using those days to take off work and study all day. Thanks berrygoose for asking this question.

[Anonymous]

Well reading all of this gives me hope!!! I have time to study at work right now. Its hard for me to stay late at work because I have home obligations and its hard to study at home because I get distracted. I feel like I am wasting my time. I don't feel like I am retaining any of the information when I do study.

I think part of my problem is that I don't know how to study! I am kind of discouraged if you can't tell.

[Anonymous]

Well reading all of this gives me hope!!! I have time to study at work right now. Its hard for me to stay late at work because I have home obligations and its hard to study at home because I get distracted. I feel like I am wasting my time. I don't feel like I am retaining any of the information when I do study.

I think part of my problem is that I don't know how to study! I am kind of discouraged if you can't tell.

[jen123]

ddum, agreed. Same here.

[jen123]

ddum, agreed. Same here.

[mla1169]

Just to give you an idea, I worked M-F 7:30-5 at my full time job, and a few hours on the weekends at Kohls.

I was taking 2 online classes per semester at SNHU. My kids were 10 and 17 at the time, and my youngest did both cheer and scouts.

I'd study at lunchtime. I had a job at the time that allowed me a radio on my desk and I listened to audio at work (didn't absorb much but it didn't hurt). I'd get home by 5:15 and make dinner for the kids.Then I'd spend 6-8 checking their homework, paying bills, all the typical parent stuff. I walked the dogs and listened to audio while we were out. If we had cheer practice I brought my Wiley book with me. I did homework for school from about 8:30-9:30 every night and studied CPA stuff from about 10-midnight. I'd listen to audio as I fell asleep. Again, may not have helped but I squeezed every single minute out of every single day. The only weeknight I couldn't study was Mondays because we had girl scouts and I was the leader. Then I'd get about 5 hours studying every Saturday and sunday.

Because I am the mom, I still felt like I had to cook/clean/etc so I listened to audio on my ipod while I was folding laundry, weeding the garden, vacuuming.

I finished the entire process in a few days shy of a year. during that time I got married (not a wedding, just a JP), took the kids to Disney, my oldest graduated high school, and I put down a hardwood floor by myself. LOL.

That year was a bit stressful, I won't lie, but it was manageable.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Just to give you an idea, I worked M-F 7:30-5 at my full time job, and a few hours on the weekends at Kohls.

I was taking 2 online classes per semester at SNHU. My kids were 10 and 17 at the time, and my youngest did both cheer and scouts.

I'd study at lunchtime. I had a job at the time that allowed me a radio on my desk and I listened to audio at work (didn't absorb much but it didn't hurt). I'd get home by 5:15 and make dinner for the kids.Then I'd spend 6-8 checking their homework, paying bills, all the typical parent stuff. I walked the dogs and listened to audio while we were out. If we had cheer practice I brought my Wiley book with me. I did homework for school from about 8:30-9:30 every night and studied CPA stuff from about 10-midnight. I'd listen to audio as I fell asleep. Again, may not have helped but I squeezed every single minute out of every single day. The only weeknight I couldn't study was Mondays because we had girl scouts and I was the leader. Then I'd get about 5 hours studying every Saturday and sunday.

Because I am the mom, I still felt like I had to cook/clean/etc so I listened to audio on my ipod while I was folding laundry, weeding the garden, vacuuming.

I finished the entire process in a few days shy of a year. during that time I got married (not a wedding, just a JP), took the kids to Disney, my oldest graduated high school, and I put down a hardwood floor by myself. LOL.

That year was a bit stressful, I won't lie, but it was manageable.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Guti]

I really admire what you guys are doeing working/studying. I used to work for this Billion dollar company down in South Florida. Since we only had 4 CPAS out of 40 Accountants, the company decided to purchase Becker for 10 Accountants (2 Directors 4 Managers 2 Seniors and 2 Staff). Out of the 10 Accountants, only one of the Staff Accountants was able to become a CPA after about 14 months. Around 7 of them just quit after failing one or two times. The two directors fail FAR and quit.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Guti]

I really admire what you guys are doeing working/studying. I used to work for this Billion dollar company down in South Florida. Since we only had 4 CPAS out of 40 Accountants, the company decided to purchase Becker for 10 Accountants (2 Directors 4 Managers 2 Seniors and 2 Staff). Out of the 10 Accountants, only one of the Staff Accountants was able to become a CPA after about 14 months. Around 7 of them just quit after failing one or two times. The two directors fail FAR and quit.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Crunchtime]

It's tough but doable, I arrive at work at 7 and study until 8, eat lunch really quick and study for 40 minutes. Then I stay until 6 or 7 and work, 8 hours every Saturday and Sunday. I work at a CPA firm with only 9 employees so very quiet and supportive. I actually enjoy it, I miss rush hour every night. With Tax season approaching I have to put my studying on hold until 4/15.

AUD-77
BEC-70,73,68,74 SH##!!!!!, 80
REG-73,76
FAR -74,82

Ethics here I come!!

[Author]

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