[kaleidascope28]

Hey guys,

I joined this forum 6 months ago. A lot happened since then! I was not working at all and had a part-time internship which ended recently. I am a citizen of Nepal, so especially after the earthquake, I have had a lot of anxiety/stress concerning my family members back home. I stopped studying since then.

I had planned to take the first test this July, but I am pushing the dates. My first question, 1) when I am not working (like now), how do I concentrate on just studying productively. I have free time, but I do not feel disciplined. I make a plan but I am not sure if I am studying enough or not. If I do not follow the plan, I start getting anxious and then I feel very demotivated. So, that has been a circle so-far. 2) When I had a part-time internship, I was studying more, but I could not study as frequently. 3) My level of anxiety is increasing because I want to sit for the CPA exam, but I have started feeling like I won’t pass it at all! I am 29 and career-wise, I feel very behind. Getting a CPA license would really boost my career. My husband, my family and everyone I know are very supportive. But I am having a hard time finding a balance. I do not work right now and I really wish to take the test in the 4th quarter.

I really need some word of advise. The more I postpone it, the more anxious I feel! I am obsessing about studying for a certain period of time, but when I cannot reach that goal, I tend to beat myself and this is not helping my study-habits at all. I have become less productive because of it.

Can someone give me a word of advise, esp since I have a lot of free-time in my hand, I am having a hard-time scheduling my study hours so I am productive. I do have a short-attention span, so I cannot study for more than 3-5 hours a day.

[Determined CPA]

It seems that the thing that is causing you the most stress is the one thing you keep pushing back – taking this exam. Why are you waiting until Q4 to sit for your first exam? You can start studying now and get in any of the parts in Q3 and then another part in Q4.

Which part do you want to take first? Do you have any experience professionally that correlate to any of the exams (Tax, Audit)? A lot of people start with FAR to get the beast out of the way but since motivation seems to be your biggest challenge, you may want to start with a part that you are most familiar with. This can also increase you chances of passing, build up your confidence and motivation while starting the 18 month clock.

The best thing to do, in my opinion, is (and do this only if you are TRULY ready to start making sacrifices) schedule an exam and sit for it in Q3. Life will always get in the way. You have to make time for things that are important to you. If passing the CPA exam is important, you will find time.

Which study materials are you using? Since you are not working, can you commit 5 hours a day M-F to studying and then a few more hours during the weekend? If yes, then you can definitely sit and pass a part in Q3.

The hardest part is getting started. Once you schedule an exam date, and DO NOT reschedule it (unless of course there is an emergency) you will be motivated to study and pass.

A - 75
B - 78 God is good.
F - 77 Answered prayers.
R - 84! Done!!

Paperwork sent - waiting for license!!
Still on a cloud and in shock. Through God, all things will happen.

[Anonymous]

I studied AUD for almost 2 years before I felt confident enough to sit for it (and only because my boss was nagging me nonstop), and when I took it, I was sure I failed, but got an 87.

Sounds like you are where I was a year ago. The CPA exam seems like an insurmountable obstacle, like you'll never pass. You may wish to start with a section you are more comfortable with just to give yourself confidence. I found BEC to be the easiest by far, but a lot of people have the opposite experience.

I've had a lot of CPAs tell me, “if I can do it, you can do it”. Trust me, you CAN do it. You just need to devote a lot of time and effort and pick a good review software. Personally, I love Gleim, and the Ninja MCQs are great. I used Gleim exclusively for the first 3 sections and added Ninja MCQ for REG as I only had one shot at it.

PS – I'm 34, so no complaining about your age. And I'm sure I'm not the oldest yet-to-be-licensed person here. 🙂

[Missy]

I can understand the anxiety and stress over your family in Nepal, but unless you're able to go home and help with their recovery or spending time fundraising here to financially help your family and neighbors it shouldn't keep you from studying.

If youi're not working at all, you should be taking at least 1 exam in Q3.There is no good reason to study 4+ months full time for any of these sections.

Study for no less than 5 hours per day, it doesn't have to be all at the same time you can do 2 hours at 8am, 2 hours at 2pm and 2 hours at 10pm or however else you can fit it in.

Best advice I can give you is to recognize the reasons you've given above are very weak excuses at best. People with full time jobs and families get the exams passed. If you're just not motivated, then don't do this halfway. It will lead to nothing but disappointment and more anxiety.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[kaleidascope28]

Hey guys, thank you so much for your insight. I really appreciate it. I can def tell you that I do see the CPA as “an insurmountable obstacle.” The more I think about it, the more anxiety it gives me. However, I am very determined to pass it. I am using Becker's CPA package for FAR and I am planning to buy Gleim.

I study 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. I am trying to increase my pace as I go along. Today, and this month my plan is to study at least 6 hours. Hope that's a good strategy. Any helpful tips would be appreciated. 🙂

[Anonymous]

@kaleidascope28

I love this saying: Worrying is like a rocking chair. It give you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.

Break it down into manageable chunks. It sounds like you are going to take FAR first. Great, you now only have to concentrate on that one piece of the CPA exam, instead of the whole thing. As all the courses do, Becker breaks that subject down into chapters. Just focus on one chapter at a time. If you feel like you have spent too much time on a chapter, or if you feel like you are running out of time but still don't understand something, give yourself permission to focus on the next chapter. Don't kid yourself that you understand it if you don't, just make a note to come back to it if you have time.

I am studying full time, trying to crank out the CPA before I start full-time in October. I also have a hard time focusing for long periods of time. My recommendations:

Take breaks. Some people like the pomodoro method/timer (you can google it, but basically the idea is to study for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break.) I find this too frequent for me, personally. I prefer to take more natural breaks. Sometimes I want to get to the end of a section, or finish a certain number of MCQ's, or sometimes I just can't stand staring at my computer screen & listening to someone talk. Generally, I think my study sessions are about an hour. Then on my breaks, I tend to do something. So… roll out of bed and study. Take a break & see what's what on another71. Study. Next break make breakfast. Eat it during the next study session. Wash the dishes during the next break. Study. Test & adjust the pool on the next break. Study. Take a late shower. Study. Make lunch & eat it during the next study session. Wash the dishes during the next break. Study. Do 3 burpees and then do some filing. Study.

Other suggestion: Try to mix up how you are studying. Watch some video. Read some book. Do some MCQ's. Review your notes. Look up information in old class notes or textbooks if you have them. I really like it when someone asks a question on this forum about FAR (I am studying for FAR also), because (a) it gives me a break from whatever I am studying to do something a little different. Like I am studying government accounting right now, but someone asked about installment sales. (b) It still helps me because I still need to know it. (c) When you explain something to someone else, it helps you to learn it better yourself.

[kaleidascope28]

Thank you, really helps me be focused too. That is what I plan to do. I don't give myself a chance to be worried or think too much, otherwise I feel stressed. So, my strategy is to take a break and be productive while taking that break too.

[Author]

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