[Anonymous]

I’m scheduled to take FAR on April 18th, but my studying was unexpectedly sidelined by the illness and death of my sweet 12-year-old lab. I’m now down to about 7 weeks and I have barely started studying. It’s the last day of my NTS window so I lose nothing by giving it a shot. However, I’m working full-time and still fighting off grief so my concentration is suffering. I’m using Becker and when I try to read the text I can’t focus at all. I wondered if anyone has tried just watching the videos, working the questions and not reading the text. Thoughts/suggestions for cramming all that material into a few weeks?

Sandra

[whitesoxfancpa]

First off, very sorry to hear about the loss of your pet. It's a brutal thing to go through. I've done it a handful of times and it never gets easier. I cried harder when my last cat died than both of my dead grandparents combined. Seriously.

Now, to be perfectly honest, FAR is doable in seven weeks, but if you work full-time and your concentration is suffering, it's going to be a challenge. I used Becker and I read the text, but I don't know that it's absolutely necessary to pass the exams. I feel like reading the text in the subsequent days after viewing the lectures really helped me. But that's not to say that if I didn't read it I would have failed.

Give it a shot. You will probably surprise yourself and hit the ball out of the park. I surprised myself four times.

AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88

[smrichard]

I too have suffered the loss of a pet and it was devistating. I can totally appreciate what you're going through. I don't read the text any more – I just go over the MCQ's over and over and over… Maybe you could try at least 20-40 questions a day while you're still grieving and work up to more? Hang in there.

FAR 82
AUD 81 (2007), 73, 80
REG 68 (2010), 76
BEC 58 (2007), 75 DONE!!!!

[Anonymous]

Thank you both! I will watch the videos, concentrate on the MCQ's and try to cram as much in as possible. Part of the problem has been that I'm resentful of the 5 weeks I spent studying for BEC, taking that time away from my girl, only to come up 2 points short. Precious time wasted. I think the reason losing our pets is so much more difficult than losing even a grandparent is that they're with us all the time and their loss leaves an enormous hole in our life.

I must move on and do what it takes to pass this test. Otherwise, it really will have all been for nothing.

Sandra

[Anonymous]

AlexaM: Hey! I know exactly what you're going through. I lost my 10 year old lab on 1/22/11 and took BEC on 2/7/11. Let me tell you….it was hard to do, but I've got my fingers crossed it was worth it. You never know…..it may just be “your” test. Don't give up and know that there are others out there that know what you've been/going through. I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, CPAcandidate! I'm so sorry to hear about your lab, too. It's definitely heartbreaking. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you passed BEC!

[Anonymous]

When I was early on in my studying, my college girlfriend and I broke-up that I had been with for a long time. I know that the scenario is different, but it was still hard on me, and rough for a certain amount of time. I may deal with grief differently than other people, but I found that it helped with my studies. It gave me motivation, and something substantial to distract me. Instead of focusing on the sadness, anger, and pain, I focused on working towards something, and substantially improving myself and my situation. As of now, I've passed FAR and AUD, and I have taken BEC and REG in this window, and I'm feeling pretty good about them.

So my main suggestion would just be to distract yourself, and realize that you're probably not going to be having a whole lot of fun anyway when you're grieving, so you might as well not have fun while you're being constructive and improving yourself.

Good luck, I hope it all works out for you.

[75orbust]

Sorry to hear about losing your pup. Not an easy thing to go through at all, it was like I lost a brother when our families golden retriever had to be put to sleep a couple years ago. It gets easier to cope with after some time, tough luck on the time but good luck with the exams.

FAR-1/04- 86 KAPLAN Review
REG-5/12- 89 MN Licensed CPA
BEC-7/17- 81 ETHICS - 100
AUD-8/31- 85

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Coastergenius & 75orbust- I may not pass this time but I will keep trying until I finish this exam!

[Author]

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