[CPA Dex]

Hi everyone,

I consider my self average when it comes to being smart. I made mainly As Bs a couple of Cs and Ds in college (3.4 GPA). I didn’t really get accounting when I was in college, but have understood it more now that I am out.

I am 28 years old and I’m taking my first exam (FAR) in about 2 1/2 weeks. Most of the time I go through life not feeling very smart. My wife is unbelievably smart and just gets things. She is a petroleum engineer. I am not like that, or those other people that just skim through the CPA books and remember it all. I have to read things multiple times before they soak in and really have to try in life to improve. Not fair 🙁

I’m just wondering if this whole CPA thing is a waste of time because I am an average person. I have heard from several ppl it’s not about how smart you are, but about how hard you study. Well, I study all the time. That’s not the problem. The problem is when I do finally understand a subject and move on, I start to forget about that subject about 2 weeks down the road. I feel like most people have good memories and just get things, whereas I have to push myself harder than others.

Anyway, I guess my point of this is just to see if there is anyone out there who feels like they are just an average person in the same boat as me. If so, I’d like to know, because I’m starting to feel like maybe I’m just not cut out for this and should leave it up to the ones who are the most capable. I appreciate you taking the time to read this. Not to sound rude, but I hear from my wife all the time, “hang in there. You’ll pass. It will be worth it… bla bla”. So, although I appreciate your encouragement, don’t feel like you have to say those things to lift me up.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Ok, just remember that a passing score in the CPA Exam is 75. A 75 = C = AVERAGE. The exam isn't a test of intelligence, it's a test of discipline and dedication. Don't expect to pass all four sections your first time. This exam takes sacrifice and determination.

[Anonymous]

Being average is an excuse, if you ask me.

When I first started, just reading a question, would give me a headache…

Ask yourself, whether you want to do it or it seems like too much trouble. It's your first exam and you're already thinking about giving up. The road is much longer.

[jeff]

Remember – it's not 75%…it's a rating of 75. I consider a 75 more like a B+/A- … It means that you represent the minimum to protect the public.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[ROACH]

I'm as average as they come. I'm 27.. barely graduated from an average school.

I didn't get accounting neither until I started tying things together with work and what I'm learning now from studying CPA stuff.

Back in school I was just a passive student.. the accounting classes at my school was made easy and were a joke for the most part. I passed my tax class thanks to google (exams were online) and good ol guessing.

I'm taking my first CPA exam (BEC) on 2/29/12 too. I haven't finished studying but I feel confident I'm not sure why.

I think the more you study and actually learn things for the CPA exam you'll start feeling better.

I made a bunch of flashcards for myself so I can keep reminding myself what certain accounting terms means (yes I still don't get a lot of the accounting terms). And I'll keep reviewing all this stuff even after I'm done with the exam to make sure I know what I know.

Were in the same boat man.

BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
AUD: 8/28/2013
REG:
FAR:

[Minimorty]

My college GPA was 2.4. Lol.

Give the exam a shot. Put everything into it and see where you come out. Then make a decision about whether or not to continue.

[mla1169]

Some 55 +/- percent of people who take the exam each window do fail so a 75 is hardly average. That said not everyone who passes had a 4.0 GPA. So what makes the difference? A smidge of luck and a ton of perseverance! Give it all you've got and then more! In my opinion a nauseating amount of repetition is the key!

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Buddy you're preaching to the choir.

I ditto Roach & Minimorty. Except I think I had a 2.9 or something like that…not great.

I won't tell you to “hang it there” because this exam is emotionally and physcially draining. But just don't quit after your first failing grade. And it sounds like you probably will fail at least once in the process. Sorry but that's what us average candidates do. The majority of us here have failed at least once (most more than once).

The people who skim the book and remember it all are not average-they're freaks of nature! We're all struggling here to get out alive. We listen to boring lectures, read the book, take notes, do 5,000,000 multiple choice questions, forget stuff, bomb the sims, etc, etc. and still manage to pass.

It sounds like you won't be an Elijah Watts winner (or whatever it's called) but who cares…you just need a 75. And that my friend…is average.

Oh and I put in 200+ hours on FAR and failed the first time with a 74. You wanna talk about average? That's me!

Good luck on your test! Keep us posted. And use this site.

[Anonymous]

@noahchase1: I think u might have thought too much. If u wanna do it, just go for it! CPA is not even like rocket science, u don't need to be a super genius to pass them.

The exams are all about dedications, and spending the right amount of time into it.

Once u pass ur first CPA exam (regardless which one), u will feel more comfortable about the rest.

Is CPA worth the effort? Absolutely!

[RKCPA]

Hi Noahchase1!!

when i was reading your post, i was thinking that this person is describing me!! I feel the same way but i do not let it get to me. Although, i don't have anything for the CPA yet to show for but i'm determined to study study study as much as i can until one of these days i become a CPA. i took my first part back in November and of course failed but i can't tell you that i gave it my all, i really didn't so there was no one to blame but myself.. All i could say is that i will keep trying until i get it.

I hope you do the same!!

[misanthrope87]

At OP – You're hilarious!!! lol. Life is not fair because you have to try in life to improve huh..HAHAHA But anyways forgetting things is normal. I usually forget things within that time frame but I do a 2nd review of all the material and I pick it up faster than the first time. And I do weekly reviews of past materials during my 2nd review. If I don't get a subject after a 2nd review, I do a third. Most of us on here are mere average people like you. You can surely do it. Listen to your wife. She's smart isn't she?

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[Herbieherb]

3.145 GPA rounded to 3.2 on resume :)…I didn't understand accounting in college either cost accounting c+, intermediate b, audit d, tax d, intermediate 2 c+…some of these grades were curved….I also forget everything. It's embarassing when my friends ask me for tax tips and I'm like “uhh..I dunno I forgot”…recently I forgot what an ACE adjustment was when I was looking at my companys accounting software program…

NEW YORK- DONE

[jkey57]

@Noahchase1 – Dude, that's the great thing about the CPA: GPA/school rank/honor roll are completely irrelevant when it comes certification. It's like every disclaimer on CNBC, “Previous performance provides no indication of future results.”

I just joined an informal AUD study group and there's a guy who went to Northwestern, had a 3.8, and he's taken AUD 4 times, with his best score being a 60-something. He hasn't passed a single exam. Another guy in the group got his degree from an ok school, 2.3 GPA, and killed 3 sections in one test period. It's all up to you.

Also, when people are boasting how little they studied (whether its a forum or study group), or are trying to front how smart they are, they're usually full of it. How does someone remember all this information by “just skimming” through the material? When I did my accounting pre-reqs, there was a kid in my class who got every single question of every test correct. I asked him how much he studied and he said very little. Well, it turns out the kid would go to the library 12 hrs a day, 6 days a week. He wouldn't even take a break to eat at the cafeteria, he would bring a brown bag lunch and eat while he read. It's important to never mistake dedication for intelligence!

Good luck, my man!

[Author]

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