[rlkamp]

Background:

10 Years Ago I was a retail manager who knew that I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life. Examined my options and decided to pursue Tax and my CPA. What a trip I’ve been on.

I am the oldest of five from a family of over achievers. There is a doctor, a sucessful business entrupenuer, a nurse and most intimitating is my baby sister who is a CPA who passed all exams on the first try. No pressure right!

Path:

Quit my job

Went back to school for my Masters in Tax while working PT and raising my family

Got a job in a tax dept of a corporation while still in school

Finished my MST

Went back to take the prereqs I was missing as my undergrad is in management

Began studying when I was pregnant and one of my best friends was battling cancer

I was with her on Memorial Day when she lost her battle (This really made me realize that we are guaranteed nothing and best make the most of the time we have here)

Had my second baby @ the end of June 2011

Picked back up with my studies and took my first exam in August 2011

And now 11 months later I’m done.

Observations:

Studying – Reading this forum has been great for somethings, obviously there are great people on here who really want to help and lend support, it’s wonderful to know that you are not alone etc. That being said, I also feel that for me reading the posts on the forum made me feel like I wasn’t doing enough. How could I ever pass because I can’t put in the hours that everyone else is putting in…… It was discouraging. I know everyone has to make sacrifices to studying, believe me I did but when many talk on here that you have to read the book twice, do the multiple choice twice, do the final exams twice, do the SIMS practice twice……… and then maybe you’ll have a chance and bash people who aren’t putting the time in. These posts made me want to hang it up. I tried to live up to those studying expectations but always fell short. I got up at 4 and tried to comply, I missed my daugther’s sporting events and tried to comply and I BEAT MYSELF UP DAILY THAT I WASN’T DEDICATED ENOUGH when the test was 2 weeks away and I hadn’t even finished every multiple choice once let alone the required twice.

SO what I am trying to say on the studying front is even if you can’t commit the time that you assume it takes, just keep moving forward and don’t give up!!! Fit studying in where you can. I put the wiley app on my iphone and did 5-10 multiple choice before closing my eyes every night. I recorded my lectures over a loud speaker to my iphone to listen to while working, cleaning and driving. I did not howerver ever finish every question and I still made it. I’m not saying that I didn’t work extrememly hard or that it was easy. I just didn’t let the fact that I couldn’t do everything I thought was required stand in my way! I know that everyone is different so I am just hoping that my experience will help those that are beating themselves up about not doing more when for you it’s just not possible. DO YOUR BEST!!!!!! It may just be enough.

THE EXAMS

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Posts from this forum again got in my head! The exam will get harder if you are doing well, you see that everywhere you turn. So on my last two exams after I hit the submit button for first testlet I held my breathe. Please get harder I said to myself. The second testlet came up, it’s not wordy……. it’s not full of hard calculations. My mind immediately goes to panic mode. MAYDAY MAYDAY, I’m failing this exam. It’s all over…… How do I continue. Then each time I get a grip on myself take a deep breathe and tell myself it is what it is, just do your best. I’m here to tell you. My testlets did not appear to get harder and I still passed. DON’T LET THIS EXAM GET IN YOUR HEAD! You can still pass and maybe you won’t be able to tell what is really “harder”

SIMS

In all 4 of my exams, the SIMS represented things that I feel a “Real Accountant” should know. I have been saying all year, I’m not a real accounant but now that I’ve passed I guess I’ll have to stop saying that. Maybe my draw on the SIMS were just lucky but I don’t think so. I think we over analysis. My advice is to master the basics. They know that you don’t have the time to solve super complex problems during this exam.

IMO they want to make sure you understand the BASICS.

For Audit – Think about what you would have to do on an engagement.

For Reguation – Think about the basics you need to know to complete a business or personal tax return.

For FAR – Know your basic J/Es and How the accounts relate.

For BEC – Use buzz words, make sure you can spell and that your grammar is correct. (I have a problem with the last 2)

I’m sure people will rant and say that they weren’t tested on the basics but I would argue if you can calmly work through the SIMS set up the basics, you will get a majority of the points. The problem that I almost had on my last exam FAR is that I forgot my basics due to the overwhelming detail provided. But I gave myself enough time for the SIMS nearly 2 hours so I was able to get my head back in the game.

SO from this non accountant who has just completed a journey of a lifetime which included life, death, job changes, and many other obsticles, I say to all of you, keep your eyes on the prize and don’t let what you think is required stop you from even leaving the starting line.

AUD 84 (AUG-11)
BEC 81 (OCT-11)
REG 87 (FEB-12)
FAR 81 (MAY-12)