[Anonymous]

This post may not be what you think it is by the title. It is a post that You can take this CPA initials and do you know what with them!!! I have about had it with this exam! My wife is expecting our first child (a baby girl) in March and all I want to do is spend time with my wife (while we have the time just the two of us), let my child (although she is in the womb) get to know who her daddy is instead of being cooped up in a room studying when I get home, and get everything ready for her arrival. I have passed two parts and failed the two I have left and I am just tired of failing them, not knowing what to study, seeing the same things I have studied before and just not caring! I am a man of faith and have prayed and asked others to keep me in their prayers and again I have failed these parts twice! Oh and I have paid so much for Becker review materials (updates, expired license, etc.), cpa exam fees, NINJA review items, and I am getting to the part of draining my savings!!!! I have seen 3 people in my firm study the same time as me, pass all parts the first time, and they are now CPAs. I want a relationship with my wife and daughter and I have been ruining it for the 2 years we have been married trying to study for these exams. I will confess that I have not put 100% into studying to where all I do is eat sleep breathe CPA material. I have studied when I get home from work for hours, feel like I have not learned anything, got bored doing multiple choice over and over, doing multiple choice and getting them wrong, writing materials where it just feels like I am writing and what is that doing, etc. That is just ridiculous and life is not about this! Life is about faith, family, then career! I am sorry I am ranting but I just had to get my feelings, emotions, and heartache out there.

[Anonymous]

OP – I know you mentioned birthing classes. We had our first baby not too long ago and we never opted for birthing classes and everything went well. Not saying they wouldn't have helped but our friends also had their first born around the same time. They took birthing classes and thought it didn't really help coz at that moment of delivery, you just forget everything (the breathing rhythm and all…)

[Anonymous]

OP – I know you mentioned birthing classes. We had our first baby not too long ago and we never opted for birthing classes and everything went well. Not saying they wouldn't have helped but our friends also had their first born around the same time. They took birthing classes and thought it didn't really help coz at that moment of delivery, you just forget everything (the breathing rhythm and all…)

[CarrieM]

I probably have no business posting this as I have not begun my exam journey quite yet, but then again…

I am currently 4 classes away from my MSA. When I began this journey in 2010, I was married and working full-time, thinking I would take a class at a time to complete my bachelor's degree. Then my life was hit by a tsunami, resulting in my husband being incarcerated after completely wiping out all of our savings, my home going into foreclosure, me divorcing aforementioned ex, becoming a single mother and sole support of grade school and middle school aged children – while still working full-time and trying to find us a place to live. Did I mention I was injured with a torn rotator cuff during all of this and in constant pain? And by this point (2011) I was also going to school full-time in an accelerated evening on-site program.

But I did it. I got my divorce. My home foreclosed. I had to file bankruptcy to get out of the debt my ex saddled me with. I am the sole support for my children and will most likely never actually receive child support. I have a child with special needs. I also had to file a restraining order against my ex because the man sent me crazed threatening letters from prison and I had to make sure my family was protected. So then I had to deal with the emotional fall out from all of that, with an already emotionally fragile child.

I graduated with my BA in accounting last May… magna cum laude, thankyouverymuch… and two weeks later finally had that surgery to repair that rotator cuff tear last summer… and two weeks after surgery, I was back in the classroom with my cooling machine plugged in next to me to help manage the pain, starting my classes for my Master's degree. Friends, family and my therapist all said “why don't you take a break?” and my answer was “it took so much to keep pushing this rock up the mountain… and now you're wondering why I don't stop?!?”

So I will graduate in May, celebrate, and then jump directly into my CPA prep classes. My favorite professor has advised a group of us to set a 9 month completion date for our exams, stating if there is a section we don't pass, then we will have the additional 9 months to remedy that. Sounds like the right plan to me and so I am setting myself up for this path. My classmates think I am crazy to graduate and begin CPA classes. I keep thinking its easier to move an already moving rock up a mountain.

My daughters have had to sacrifice much in order for me to accomplish this. Graduating with honors was my way of honoring them for the sacrifice they have had to make. We ALL post our grades on the refrigerator. My oldest, now 14, takes 4 honors classes in middle school and just made high honor roll this past semester – straight As. My youngest daughter, 11, made honor roll and joined the wrestling team – the only female. I watched her take a shot to the nose that had her bleeding like a stuck pig and her response was “stick one of those things in my nose so I can go back out there” and she proceeded to WIN, matched against an opponent that weighted 30 lbs more than her. It was her first wrestling match. Every time I feel like its overwhelming I take out my daughter's wrestling photo and tell myself “She thinks she got her strength from you. Are you going to quit and show her she's wrong?”

I told you that to tell you this – what is it you really want? It kills me to miss so much time with my kids, but as I said to them and they now say to me, we have a goal in mind and we are ALL working towards it. To stop and take a break for me is to give up what I ultimately want for what I want night now. I want to make a better and more stable life for my kids and these three letters are going to allow me to do that.

BTW – last fall, in the middle of all of this – I began a new relationship. As I met with this man, I let him know up front the insanity that is my life and how it would only get worse when testing time began. There has never been a time while we have been together that I have not had to study for one thing or another. We have now been together a little over a year and are taking about getting married. 🙂 Life will continue to happen while you study. And it can be a good life. 🙂

We all have our rocks to push up the hill, Sisyphus. I believe the hardest part was putting my shoulder to it and getting started.

FAR: 5/12/16... and if I don't die from an anxiety attack...
AUD: 7/8/16
REG: 8/25/16
BEC: 11/3/16

[CarrieM]

I probably have no business posting this as I have not begun my exam journey quite yet, but then again…

I am currently 4 classes away from my MSA. When I began this journey in 2010, I was married and working full-time, thinking I would take a class at a time to complete my bachelor's degree. Then my life was hit by a tsunami, resulting in my husband being incarcerated after completely wiping out all of our savings, my home going into foreclosure, me divorcing aforementioned ex, becoming a single mother and sole support of grade school and middle school aged children – while still working full-time and trying to find us a place to live. Did I mention I was injured with a torn rotator cuff during all of this and in constant pain? And by this point (2011) I was also going to school full-time in an accelerated evening on-site program.

But I did it. I got my divorce. My home foreclosed. I had to file bankruptcy to get out of the debt my ex saddled me with. I am the sole support for my children and will most likely never actually receive child support. I have a child with special needs. I also had to file a restraining order against my ex because the man sent me crazed threatening letters from prison and I had to make sure my family was protected. So then I had to deal with the emotional fall out from all of that, with an already emotionally fragile child.

I graduated with my BA in accounting last May… magna cum laude, thankyouverymuch… and two weeks later finally had that surgery to repair that rotator cuff tear last summer… and two weeks after surgery, I was back in the classroom with my cooling machine plugged in next to me to help manage the pain, starting my classes for my Master's degree. Friends, family and my therapist all said “why don't you take a break?” and my answer was “it took so much to keep pushing this rock up the mountain… and now you're wondering why I don't stop?!?”

So I will graduate in May, celebrate, and then jump directly into my CPA prep classes. My favorite professor has advised a group of us to set a 9 month completion date for our exams, stating if there is a section we don't pass, then we will have the additional 9 months to remedy that. Sounds like the right plan to me and so I am setting myself up for this path. My classmates think I am crazy to graduate and begin CPA classes. I keep thinking its easier to move an already moving rock up a mountain.

My daughters have had to sacrifice much in order for me to accomplish this. Graduating with honors was my way of honoring them for the sacrifice they have had to make. We ALL post our grades on the refrigerator. My oldest, now 14, takes 4 honors classes in middle school and just made high honor roll this past semester – straight As. My youngest daughter, 11, made honor roll and joined the wrestling team – the only female. I watched her take a shot to the nose that had her bleeding like a stuck pig and her response was “stick one of those things in my nose so I can go back out there” and she proceeded to WIN, matched against an opponent that weighted 30 lbs more than her. It was her first wrestling match. Every time I feel like its overwhelming I take out my daughter's wrestling photo and tell myself “She thinks she got her strength from you. Are you going to quit and show her she's wrong?”

I told you that to tell you this – what is it you really want? It kills me to miss so much time with my kids, but as I said to them and they now say to me, we have a goal in mind and we are ALL working towards it. To stop and take a break for me is to give up what I ultimately want for what I want night now. I want to make a better and more stable life for my kids and these three letters are going to allow me to do that.

BTW – last fall, in the middle of all of this – I began a new relationship. As I met with this man, I let him know up front the insanity that is my life and how it would only get worse when testing time began. There has never been a time while we have been together that I have not had to study for one thing or another. We have now been together a little over a year and are taking about getting married. 🙂 Life will continue to happen while you study. And it can be a good life. 🙂

We all have our rocks to push up the hill, Sisyphus. I believe the hardest part was putting my shoulder to it and getting started.

FAR: 5/12/16... and if I don't die from an anxiety attack...
AUD: 7/8/16
REG: 8/25/16
BEC: 11/3/16

[megasaurus]

@gt5717b- Truer words were never spoken.

OP- I'm glad you're coming around. I promise you (as a mom of 2 who works FT at a big 4) you will NOT want to attempt this post-baby. You can do it!! Good luck!

[megasaurus]

@gt5717b- Truer words were never spoken.

OP- I'm glad you're coming around. I promise you (as a mom of 2 who works FT at a big 4) you will NOT want to attempt this post-baby. You can do it!! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Cajun –

YOU CAN DO IT! I know how you feel. Although I'm not married I do sit here studying hating how long it is taking to pass this damn test. I'm studying for my 3rd one and already wish I picked a different major. Take a studying break then get back at it full force. Think about all the possibilities once you have your license. You can do it!

[Anonymous]

Cajun –

YOU CAN DO IT! I know how you feel. Although I'm not married I do sit here studying hating how long it is taking to pass this damn test. I'm studying for my 3rd one and already wish I picked a different major. Take a studying break then get back at it full force. Think about all the possibilities once you have your license. You can do it!

[evesocal]

Cajun – I did not read through all of the replies, I think maybe you are starting to change your mind about dropping your studies. To add yet another opinion – you can do whatever you like!

You really do have a LOT more time now then you will after your baby arrives. And maybe additional babies in the future. 🙂 That is, until they are grown. Then you'll have more time again but will get tired faster lol.

You will make more money with the CPA license then without one.

Having said that – you can have a good life and good career without the license. You can get it later in life. You can drop it forever. There is no absolute right or wrong about it.

Like one of the other posters, I put off taking the exams for 30 years due to other obligations. Finally I got it done, getting my license at the age of 57 as a grandma of two! I worked full-time and more throughout the exam. I hated the lifestyle and was exhausted. BUT! I'm so glad I got this done. It gives me prestige with my clients and coworkers, it was a great example to my (adult) children, and gives me some more money for the remainder of my career.

I wish I'd done it 30 years ago. Or 20. Or 10. But I didn't. I still had a successful career as a tax accountant and for however much time is left, will have an even better one as a CPA.

I'd encourage you to keep trying since you have two parts passed. If you can pass two you can pass the others.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[evesocal]

Cajun – I did not read through all of the replies, I think maybe you are starting to change your mind about dropping your studies. To add yet another opinion – you can do whatever you like!

You really do have a LOT more time now then you will after your baby arrives. And maybe additional babies in the future. 🙂 That is, until they are grown. Then you'll have more time again but will get tired faster lol.

You will make more money with the CPA license then without one.

Having said that – you can have a good life and good career without the license. You can get it later in life. You can drop it forever. There is no absolute right or wrong about it.

Like one of the other posters, I put off taking the exams for 30 years due to other obligations. Finally I got it done, getting my license at the age of 57 as a grandma of two! I worked full-time and more throughout the exam. I hated the lifestyle and was exhausted. BUT! I'm so glad I got this done. It gives me prestige with my clients and coworkers, it was a great example to my (adult) children, and gives me some more money for the remainder of my career.

I wish I'd done it 30 years ago. Or 20. Or 10. But I didn't. I still had a successful career as a tax accountant and for however much time is left, will have an even better one as a CPA.

I'd encourage you to keep trying since you have two parts passed. If you can pass two you can pass the others.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[005]

You're right there … what are you complaining about? It's the CPA

Grab your balls, be a man, and do what you gotta do.

Less praying, more studying, let's go.

/tough love rant

BEC - ✔
REG - ✔
AUD - ✔
FAR - 11/29/14

CPAExcel, Ninja MCQs, and a sh*t ton of coffee

[005]

You're right there … what are you complaining about? It's the CPA

Grab your balls, be a man, and do what you gotta do.

Less praying, more studying, let's go.

/tough love rant

BEC - ✔
REG - ✔
AUD - ✔
FAR - 11/29/14

CPAExcel, Ninja MCQs, and a sh*t ton of coffee

[Skynet]

Hello Cajun. Do you know what I do currently? I work in RETAIL! THAT RIGHT EFFIN RETAIL! And hate it with a passion. I hated the fact that my managers are a bunch of incompetent fools whose decisions only sets you up for failure. I hated the fact that many of my coworkers themselves are about as imcompetent too. I hate the fact that they all continue to make the same Boneheaded decisions over and over again and not being able to come up with solutions that are right in their faces. The saddest thing of all is that i have no TRUST in my managers at all. Unfortunately, there is a lot more to my story, but you get the gist of it.

I have an accounting degree, but because I got laid off in 08, the only experience I had was in AP. With the height of the Recession at it's peak and not having the necessary experience, I had a rough time getting a new accounting job. Not only that but with funds being low and no source of income coming in, I was unable to take the CPA exams.

You on the other hand, have already passed two sections. That is two more than what I have, having failed the two that I have already taken. Because of my job, I have gone to he point of studying 4-6 hours a day and even as much as 6-8 hours a day. Between my situation and yours, I would take your situation over mine in a heartbeat.

So I say you should keep at it since you have time before he baby arrives. Soon enough you will be done wih them and not have to worry about them again. One thing you cannot do though is GIVE UP! For me that is not an option. Most of us here on A71 aspire to become CPAs here. It is not an easy task but it is worth the sacrifice. It is my only chance to escape retail. When I think about the BS that I have to put up at work after clocking out, it only serves as motivation for me to get off my butt no matter how tired I am to open up that book and do mcqs or simulations in order to pass the exams. Because I know, once I pass them it will open up opportunities for me.

[Skynet]

Hello Cajun. Do you know what I do currently? I work in RETAIL! THAT RIGHT EFFIN RETAIL! And hate it with a passion. I hated the fact that my managers are a bunch of incompetent fools whose decisions only sets you up for failure. I hated the fact that many of my coworkers themselves are about as imcompetent too. I hate the fact that they all continue to make the same Boneheaded decisions over and over again and not being able to come up with solutions that are right in their faces. The saddest thing of all is that i have no TRUST in my managers at all. Unfortunately, there is a lot more to my story, but you get the gist of it.

I have an accounting degree, but because I got laid off in 08, the only experience I had was in AP. With the height of the Recession at it's peak and not having the necessary experience, I had a rough time getting a new accounting job. Not only that but with funds being low and no source of income coming in, I was unable to take the CPA exams.

You on the other hand, have already passed two sections. That is two more than what I have, having failed the two that I have already taken. Because of my job, I have gone to he point of studying 4-6 hours a day and even as much as 6-8 hours a day. Between my situation and yours, I would take your situation over mine in a heartbeat.

So I say you should keep at it since you have time before he baby arrives. Soon enough you will be done wih them and not have to worry about them again. One thing you cannot do though is GIVE UP! For me that is not an option. Most of us here on A71 aspire to become CPAs here. It is not an easy task but it is worth the sacrifice. It is my only chance to escape retail. When I think about the BS that I have to put up at work after clocking out, it only serves as motivation for me to get off my butt no matter how tired I am to open up that book and do mcqs or simulations in order to pass the exams. Because I know, once I pass them it will open up opportunities for me.

[psullyii]

Cajun – Hate that I haven't seen this… audit season has been busy. My wife and I are expecting our first child in April. When I found out we were expecting, I was half way through. Granted, it sounds like I had a little more time than what you are dealing with, but my wife and I decided that there would never be a better time to try to finish than right now, regardless of the sacrifice. I've seen the comments talking about the different ways that God works… and couldn't agree more. My plan was to be taking REG this next month… but that was before I thought I failed FAR. I was so determined to pass an exam in Q4, and so sure I failed FAR, that I signed up to test in the extended window and was determined to study for and pass REG in about 4 1/2 weeks.

By the time I found out I had actually passed FAR, I was more than half way done studying for REG, and then went on to pass that exam as well. It isn't fun, but you can use your situation as the fuel you need to get it done. The amount of studying I got done in those 2 1/2 weeks where I thought I had failed FAR was insane. It's all done now, and will just be a story I get to tell my boy when he gets older and starts complaining about “hard work”.

Study hard, pray hard, and get it done. Like I said, it isn't fun, but you'll be glad you got it done.

AUD - 82
BEC - 81
FAR - 82
REG - 88

Clean sweep with Becker and Ninja Audio. Licensed 1/24/2014.

[Author]

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