[Anonymous]

I am just curious as to how long people sleep. Those who have jobs, children, or neither. How much sleep do you get on average?

Secondly, with so much responsibility, even if you are disciplined and motivated to sit and study, how do you keep your brain from rotting away? Couple of months in and I feel I lost my ability to socialize and think clearly. My dilemma is this, I need to study because I am so behind, but I need to have fun to refresh so I can hit the materials harder. I am currently not finding a good balance. The last two days, I just veggied on the couch and watched TV. How do you prevent your brain from numbing?

[Sandra]

This is a timely subject for me- I am more or less taking 6 months off work… In that time I am planning to take my CMA (already done now), my CPA and finish my MBA.

I haven't started with my CPA, but found myself in the same state you describe with my CMA. I would go from scoring 80-85 on the practice tests to 40-50 just because my brain was “melting”. That being said- I slacked big time and started studying like 10 days before I took part one. Its not that the material was all that hard, it wasn't, but at one point I thought I might start crying over direct costing vs. absorbtion costing. Things I knew previously seemed super confusing, etc.

Here is what I found helped me, it may or may not work for you. In general if I don't get something I am not going to get it by staring at it once I get frustrated/flustered. It sounds really dumb I'm sure, but sleeping on it sometimes makes all the difference in the world. I have gone to bed totally frustrated and confused and wake up the next morning finally getting it. Sometimes its little stuff that just needs time to fall into place I guess.

Now when I get to a point of frustration or even just a point where I feel my brain melting I just move on to a different subject. I cannot afford to slack (although there are days that I do) so instead of giving up for the day, I may just take a break, then pick a different subject.

I also do a lot of stupid $hit. like write post it notes which I then stick all over my condo. Whenever I get near one I read it out loud. Even my dog thinks I have lost my mind (he may be right). I'm “lucky” in that I have some MBA work to distract me too. It helps to switch from accounting to something totally different like supply chain analysis.

Lastly I do take a lot of breaks. Little breaks, but breaks. Its amazing how walking the dog around the block once or twice resets my brain. Make sure you get enough sleep. If you are super tired your studying won't do you any good. If you are a morning person studying first thing in the morning might be great (many of the review courses seem to recommend that), but I would rather make it count later in the day.

I don't know what to say about the lack of socializing. I get texts from my friends all the time now “Have you left your house?” or “are you dead yet?”. So clearly I lack the balance there.

[Anonymous]

Haha thanks. And congratulations with passing the CMA.

I guess what I fear most is, that I will fail the upcoming Audit and the FAR I just recently took. And will extend this painful chapter of my life to my death. This has been my entire life, and I feel if I fail, then my life has failed. Haha, does that make sense? And I feel like I gave it my best, and if I fail now, what are my chances of passing again? I hear things “click” better the second time. But at the same time, I am afraid the energy, motivation, and health I came in with is not the same.

My worst case scenario. Sisyphus unable to make that final push of the boulder to the otherside.

I dunno if you are extremely studious or if that is just crazy talk. But MBA work to distract you from CPA studies?? You are crazy! haha.

[forever4]

I had full time school, 2 jobs so it's really hard for me to balance all these things. I always try to go to bed at 11 and wake up at 3 30 and study until 6 7 before i go to work. Then when I come back from work, i always have to go work out, eat my dinner and watch some drama before getting back to study. I tend to study from 7,8 til 11. But usually night studying is not as good as morning studying though. You'll force yourself to study more as it's getting closer to your exam!

FAR 5/14 88 PASSED!
REG 7/13 74 :((((((((....! I cant believe it!!!! I studied so hard...
REG retake 11/29 -> 89!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEC 10/11/12 -> 84!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AUD 10/25/12 -> 95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm DONE! OMG 8 months of hard work.

I SHALL PASS. BECAUSE IT'S ME, SO EVERYTHING WILL BE OK!

[Anonymous]

I have it all…..wife, two kids, a thankless dog, an extremely demanding full-time job (think big 4 tax season all year with lots of exposure to Sr. Executives), teach Sunday school and am a Deacon (I do a lot of visiting of sick/elderly), hour drive each way to work, oh and a Tax business on the side. I'm growing silver hair like old farmers in the midwest are sprouting corn!

The only way I found to do all this is:

1) Very supportive spouse.

2) Supportive boss

3) I get up at 5:15 am on weekdays and go to work early. I study from 7 AM until about 8:30 AM.

4) I have perpetually blocked off my entire lunch breaks from here until September to study. I take my lunch (my supportive wife packs it to save me that time) and eat for about 10 minutes and study the rest of the time.

5) I come home, eat and visit with the family. Then I sit at the kitchen table with headphones on to block out the unholy amount of noise my kids make and study at least 2-3 hours a night. I find I study better if I am not segregated away from the family and the kids feel like they can can visit from time to time.

6) On the weekends I try to schedule some time with the kids in a focused way. Say at 5 PM we go see a movie or spend some time watching a movie…but only if I study like I should. That prevents the “I'll play with you guys in just a little while”.

As for sleep, I dont' get enough. I usually hit the bed at 11:00 each night and wake at 5:15. By the weekend, I am exhausted but I try to fit in about an hour nap somewhere each day Saturday and Sunday. It's just enough to keep me moving on.

As you can see, I found that for me I have to treat it just like another job. It has a schedule and it must be adhered to.

[nolifecpa]

i'm trying out a new schedule which incorporates study and fun.

2am-5am: study

5am-630am: workout

630am-5pm: work

5pm-7pm: happy hour

7pm-2am: sleep

rinse and repeat

REG-65,71,74,73,70,74,79
BEC-60's,60's,69,71,76*,78
FAR-67,66,65,79
AUD-54,60's,65,83*,69,80
*expired

DONE

[Sandra]

Well I have not taken my CPA tests like I said, but I will say this- I will NOT check my scores when the first two come in. Because of how my test schedule is laid out I will likely get the results of the first two tests before I take the rest.

I have checked the threads on here with where everyone talks about checking for the scores every 5 seconds on release day. I think it will be super hard (and I may yet cave in) but since I'm taking the tests so close together it seems like I should just wait the extra two or three weeks. I'll get to play that game later one after I complete all the tests. Thats one upside of taking the tests so close together- at least its only a couple of weeks wait. A pass would be a SUPER motivator, but I feel like a fail would cause me to slack too much. Ie :I have to retake this test next window anyway so I may as well retake two.

I am taking BEC last and might check my scores before I take that, since I feel super confident about BEC.

[HustlinHustlin]

Wow. Everyone on here makes me look pathetic. I wake up at 6 and study about 6:15-7, an hour on my lunch break if I can focus, and try to get another 2 hours after work. I just can't function past 11:30….

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[lynseyklly]

I can't really blame the CPA for my lack of sleep, I've never been able to get enough. I have no kids, just FT job and husband. And 3 very needy cats. Generally I'm asleep by midnight, alarm is set for 5:45am, but the snooze is my bff. Work about 8-4, I use my lunch hour to study M-F, minus the obligatory birthday lunches (how are there so many?!). So hour at lunch, try to do 2-3 hrs in the evenings, M-Th, Friday never has been a good study night for me, college years included. Make sure to do at least an hour. Then Sat/Sun's I usually worked 4 hrs ea. minimum, was best when I got up early and finished early afternoon.

My biggest issue balancing work/study with fun is my fun includes alcohol. So how am I supposed to have “fun” Fri/Sat night and get up early and study the next day? 🙁 I limit my fun as much as I can stand currently. You know what they say, “it will all be worth it in the end!”. Swear I'm gonna slap the next person that tells me that.

AUD 85 (2/22/12)
FAR 81 (5/10/12)
BEC 7/13/12
REG 10/1/12

using Becker

[KS-FLA]

Well we all function differently but it's basically the same theory..the more you see the material the more it will stick and the more you'll get accostumed to see it lol.

My schedule is as follows…when I am 3-4 weeks 'til exam day I study about 1-2 hours in the morning before going to work. I take my laptop in the car and I hear to the lecture (30 min to work and 30 back from work- 1 hour a day). It seems to help a lot since I've noticed that I pay more attention by just driving and listening to the instructors rather than being home and highlighting/taking notes. Other than that I do about 45 minutes to 1 hour studying (mostly writing notecards/reading) during my lunch, then about 3-4 hours at night when I get home from work during the weekdays. During the weekends I do about 5-8. It does help a lot to have the support from your partner and no social life is a must!.

FAR - 77 (Feb 2012)
REG - 88 (Aug 2011)
AUD - 79 (Nov 2011)
BEC - 80 (May 2012)

[Anonymous]

My suggestion is when u feel drained out and u desperately need a break– do take one.

U will be doing more harm than gud by trying to cram through fatigue and being down and wht u study at that time never enters ur brain.

So freshen up,take a shower,go out relax and rejuvenate urself and get back into the study mode fresh.

Few hours that u forgo will benefit u a lot.

[littlenumberrobot]

Wow I sound like a sleep hoarder compared to you all! I average 8 hrs a night, maybe that is why you all are passing! If I would cut off some hours from sleep I'd go in the morning. I plan on changing up my habits for FAR this summer. I take AUD 5/25 and have already increased my study time a lot from in the past. I study at lunch, in evenings and weekends. I go to library to focus. As for everything else, my social life is my family. Luckily I live in same town as all my niece/nephews. It's just me and my cat at home. He would love me to wake up earlier! He would get fed sooner 🙂

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[MChro12]

24 year old with a full time day job-

wake up 450a

Gym w/flash cards until 6am

Bus w/flash cards 640a-710a

Work

Bus w/card 445p-530p

Study 6-730-8ish (quality over quantity… if you are losing it stop)

Weekends 4-6 hours, and 8-12 test weekends

I also took every Friday off

Reg 77 (Aug 11)
Aud 80 (Nov 11)
BEC 79 (Jan 12)
FAR 80 (April 12)

[Anonymous]

I've got major quality of life issues…:) My schedule below:

33 years old, 2 kids (under the age of 3), 1 full time day job with 1 “on the side” contract position

5:30a – 7:15a – Get up and get the kids/myself ready for daycare/work

7:15a – 8:00a – Commute

8:00a – 6:00p – Work

6:00p – 8:30p – Be a daddy/husband

8:30p – 9:30p – Help get kids to bed

9:30p – 12:30a – Study (sometimes don't get started on time, sometimes quit sooner because my eyes won't stay open)

12:30 – 1:00a – Shower (what can I say…always been a night guy) and hit the sack

[greenli2]

@sandra…what cma review material did you use?

BEC - 2/13 - 87
Audit - 4-16 - 99
Reg - 5-29 - 94
Far- 8-13 - 97

I use becker self-study, final review, flash cards, wiley test bank, and I make my own flash cards using studyblue.com

[Sandra]

Gleim. I liked it ok- would NOT use them for CPA stuff, but for the CMA its totally sufficient. Its not for everyone though- the material is not presented in an easy to absorb sort of way. I loved the MCQs though and felt like the exam was easier than anything Gleim threw at me. If you shoot me an email I'll send you a sample of what it looks like.

[Author]

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