[Anonymous]

Not an easy task!! but hopefully the latter will be done soon.

[Anonymous]

If I find out I passed my last two sections in a couple of weeks, I will actually start planning my wedding. Studying for the CPA exam while working full-time has so consumed my life that I've been engaged for over a year and won't be married until 2011! People kept asking, “So, have you done this? Have you done that?” and give me quite a look when I explain that I'm up until 2AM most nights studying and go nowhere over the weekends! They just don't understand how this process overtakes your life!

[Anonymous]

To GinabiniCT:

Thanks so much for your response – I'll look into it:-)

[yanks0607]

The candidates who work full-time and find the time to study have the utmost respect from me. I used to work for one of the top public accounting firms and I just could not balance both. I was laid off last December so I decided to turn something negative into something positive and I dedicated myself to passing the exam. I knew I would never have this opportunity again so I've put my heart and soul into this. So far I'm three for three and I'm waiting on FAR (ugh). My husband recently asked me what is the one thing I want most for Christmas and I said, “To pass the last part of the CPA Exam.” I've been a good girl all year so I hope I get what I asked for!

AUD - P (4/09), REG - P (5/09), BEC - P (8/09), FAR - P (11/09)

[yanks0607]

Amethyst8 – I don't know how you are studying and not planning your wedding!!!

AUD - P (4/09), REG - P (5/09), BEC - P (8/09), FAR - P (11/09)

[melnp]

Amethyst8

I know what u mean.. I've been engaged for 6 months now and been asked over and over when is the wedding and why I haven't start planning as yet.. When I say I have exams to study for they think it's some lame excuse.

Ohhhh Well.. I can't focus on that right now and I have someone that understands that, so I'm happy.

I'm hoping that I will pass all my exams next window so that I can finally start planning.

[Anonymous]

I know I could not do this without my wonderfully supportive husband who has pitched right in were I leave off as far as taking care of our 3 & 4 y/os. I work full time and have 3 kids and the 4th on its way. One thing I did last year when I started to study was hire someone to clean every other week, this has been a life saver for us. I'm lucky to get my weekly laundry done. Otherwise during the week, I”m fortunate that my husband will cook since he is the first one home. We typically have dinner, then I go upto study while he gets the girls ready for bed.

first thing I'm going to do when this is done is enjoy the rest of my pregnancy. Studing for FAR while in the first trimester was pure horror. Talk about fighting pregnancy brain.

The second thing I'm going to do is enjoy my family.

lastly, start thinking of my plan to get my work experience in, currently can not do it at my current job.

I am finding the holidays, much harder to balance all of the family/work/studing thing!

[StudyGirl]

This has been the absolute craziest year of my life!

I started studying for the exam in April 2008 while doing grad classes. I put my classes on hold and began my job at one of the Big 4 in July and continued to study. I got done 2 parts of the exam by July and then started house hunting with my fiance! (I have no idea what posessed me to do such a thing!) I spent a solid 4 months in the home-buying process and settled in the end of December… didn't use a realtor because I decided I could do all that fun paperwork by myself. hahahaha. As soon as January hit it was CRAZY with my wedding planning. I thought of nothing but work, work, wedding, work… so the exam got put on hold because my poor body would have given out. (I also decided to do a DIY wedding… so I made my own boquets, programs, everything!!… in retrospect… bad idea) We got married in May 2009 and the day after the honeymoon I jumped back into gear with studying.

Unfortunately, now that I have been with the firm a year and am officially a work-a-holic, I have more responsibility and more time needed at the office so it is significantly harder to find a moment of spare time to study! My poor, wonderful husband is jealous of Becker and my cute little house hasn't even been decorated because I can't deal with the distractions!! I just want to be able to watch a movie and make a home-cooked meal and ENJOY it. (my current method is that I scoff it down and run to my office for the night while my dear husband cleans up). I can't wait until this is over!!!!

AUD - 75; REG - 79; BEC - 72,75; FAR - 72,80 - DONE!!! THANK THE LORD!!!!

[Will_it_ever_end]

I think you have to be a disciplined person to manage a life, family, work, and study all at the same time. If you are lucky enough to have a supportive spouse, that is fantastic. At the end of the end at least you can vent to someone (even if they have no idea what an ESOP is).

I have found that if you need time, quite simply you have to make it. Sleep is the victim in my life. My wife and 13 month old don't seem to understand the time commitment necessary. If I tried to get my study time in at home, my son would be crawling up my leg and the Mrs. would have some honey do's. In order to get my studying, I am up before sunrise and at the office and turning on the lights. I can get an hour and half there. I might eat at my computer during lunch while doing some multiple choice questions. After work, I stay an extra 1.5 hours and study some more before commuting home. Family time for 2-3 hours and then the day ends with another 30 minutes of reading in bed. This is assuming it isn't busy season time. This method drags the study process out but at least I am getting it done.

I keep imagining what it will be like to have this time back when it all said and done… I think I'll get bored (sad isn't it)

REG 97, FAR 69,82, AUD 80, BEC 71, 81 - It finally ended!!

[Anonymous]

What is ESOP?…

[Will_it_ever_end]

Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Isn't that on FARE? Hopefully short term memory is enough to pass the test.

REG 97, FAR 69,82, AUD 80, BEC 71, 81 - It finally ended!!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, ESOPs are FAR material, along with the other forms of employee-equity related compensation.

[Anonymous]

Ha, well you can see my grade on FARE. I wasn't the most disciplined student on it.

[ashleyshepherd]

Gina, what are your thoughts about the MSA program you took at UCONN? I am looking into it and would like any information you can provide. Did it prepare you well for the CPA? Do you feel you learned a lot considering it is online? How has it helped you earn a raise/ catch a new job? 🙂

[Minimorty]

Oldest bump ever?!!

[Anonymous]

HOLY CRAP 2 years ago.

[Author]

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