[MOMCPA2B]

This site brings me some comfort. I started this adventure in the end of April and have opted to sit one section per window. This leads me to this statement. Someone who has NOT been through this, JUST DOESN’T GET IT! Its a friday evening and I am studying Auditing and all I hear from friends is, “oh, that still or that again or how hard can it be?”. My response- Really? Really? This is what I want and this is what I have to do. I have accepted it why cant they? So to all of you going through this, I salute you and thank you for sharing.

I cant wait for this to be over.
AUD-7/25/11-77
BEC-11/27/11-Failed(UGH)Back to the drawing board
REG-2/27/12
FAR- Aug 2012

[SusanStudies]

@MOMCPA2B: I applaud everyone here who has the dedication to commit to something so strenuous and time-consuming. Those who have not been through this committment have no real comprehension of the sacrifice. Its not like we PREFER to spend our nights and weekends studying for the exam! Gesh!

I know I have the support of my family and friends but if I hear “oh, you'll be fine.” one more time…

It certainly is nice to have a board where we can all relate. 🙂

AUD: 07/11/11 - Passed
BEC: 08/27/11 - Passed
FAR: 01/17/12 - Passed
REG: 04/30/12; Re-take 7/16/12 - Passed

FINISHED!!!!!!!!

[kb24]

I know what you mean. I feel like I'm damned if I do well and damned if I don't. I want to pass, but I know that if I do people will say “You worry too much. I knew you'd do fine.” If I passed this time around or when I pass in the future, I guess I'll have to be satisfied with knowing within myself what I accomplished.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[jelly]

Nah, unfortunately, people who aren't going through it really won't get it. You feel like a broken record explaining it, and sound like one of them. But hey, when you have it, it's something that can't be taken from you (unless you go criminal).

Couldn't pass again!

[Anonymous]

“Awwwww. You'll ace it!”

Um, no.

[T-rex]

“Are you STILL studying for that?! Hasn't it been like a year now?”

“You need a vacation. Why don't you just take a break and fly out to CA for a week or two?”

“You know what they say about all work and no play….”

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[shutupandstudy]

wow..you people really need to stop complaining. too much negativity on these boards. “wah wah no one understands!” whinging babies

[Anonymous]

@MOMCPA2B you're right, people just don't get it if they're not going through the same thing. I had a friend ask me if I was stupid since I've been taking the exams for over a year and am not done yet. Ummm No, but thanks for the support friend!

You will get through it, don't worry. You just need to stay positive and focused. This is a long process but it is worth is in the end! Just try not to let other people get you down. That brings me to my next point…

@shutupandstudy stop being such a jerk. This site is used as an outlet for CPA exam candidates. Please don't mock us. @MOMCPA2B is working her butt off to be a CPA and she deserves some empathy from other CPA candidates! Take your negativity elsewhere please!

Good luck to all when grades start posting! (even to you @shutupandstudy… in hopes that you will pass and then leave the rest of us alone!)

[Anonymous]

@kb24 did you really take all 4 exams this window??? That is crazy! I look forward to seeing how it turned out!

[HighMileageDude]

I think the thing with the CPA exam is that you basically have to study for each section like you're preparing for your hardest final throughout your 4-5 years of college. That's about what difficulty it is. For me, my hardest final exam for 5 years of schooling (BS&MS) would be my cost accounting/cost management final junior year. That exam was probably almost as difficult as FAR. The difference is in school you're shooting for 80-90+%, and you can begin to see how your score is shaping up as you're completing the test in front of you. In CPA while it's not a percentage, you're hoping you just made the cut, and you really don't have much clue as to your score (maybe only a little bit) until the scores come back.

And of course a lot of it depends on what else is going on in your life. When I started working, the firm was offering a nice CPA bonus, and not only was I looking forward to that, but I was also looking forward to really exceed expectations to get my CPA immediately after schooling, stand out from my peers, etc. So at that time the motivation was really there. Now that this didn't happen (for various reasons I wont get into), it's more difficult to stay motivated. And as more time passes, the attitude at some CPA firms changes from a WoW you're on a ROLL to a OK, well congrats but it's about freakin' time you passed!

[yankeeaccountant]

@momcpa2b,

I think you struck a nerve. Yep, I know most people don't get it. Yes, I have the support of my husband, but in the end, he doesn't get it. He is patiently waiting for this to end. Me, I am tired of missing out on family outings. Gosh, I can't wait to be able to schedule things, ANYTHING, without a concern of studying or an exam.

I think if I get another shocked look when I tell someone how many hours I have studied…and not passed, I will explode. As George Castanza used to say on Seinfeld, ” Serenity now!”

[NewRunner18]

Most people really don't. Most of my friends are in the medical field, management or financial fields and they just don't get it.

“you'll be fine” “you'll ace…” “you dont really need to study for 20-30 hrs this week.. you're just be dramatic about it” “well at least you only need a 75..” “If I can study and pass 2 of <insert type exam> and not study as much, then you can too”

That last one is what gets me all riled up. I had my friend who just passed two of her medical board exams tell me that. I wanted to be like yea it's easy when the first time passing rate on those exams are 90%.

I'm glad there are other people here who feel the pain. @MOMCPA2B keep going. We're all here with you!

[MOMCPA2B]

@kb24 OMG I just notice also, you sat in one window. How did you do it? I cant wait to see how you did? I am sooooooooooooo excited for you.

I cant wait for this to be over.
AUD-7/25/11-77
BEC-11/27/11-Failed(UGH)Back to the drawing board
REG-2/27/12
FAR- Aug 2012

[kb24]

MOMCPA2B

I graduated 5 years ago but had to postpone getting a job. My mother was diagnosed with dementia my last semester, and that situation required large amounts of my time at unpredictable times so there was no way I could even try to get a part time job. I studied off and on for the exam after that but never got far enough along to take even one section. I decided at the beginning of this year that the situation was now settled enough that I could get a job (sad to say, but, logistically, it's an easier disease to deal with in the later stages), but I was concerned about finding one as a “mature” job applicant with a 5 year old degree and no accounting experience in a lousy job market. I decided to wait a few more months and take all sections of the exam by the end of the second test window. Even if I didn't pass them all, this would refresh my accounting knowledge and show how self-motivated I am. Due to a delay with my application of intent, I wasn't able to get a test date that worked for me for FAR in February so I scheduled it for 4/1. I wasn't willing to give up on my goal, though, and decided to take all 4. When studying for FAR, I learned what worked for me and what didn't so I could prepare much faster for my other exams. My daughter's grown, I have no job, my husband's super supportive, and I'm somewhat obsessive when I have a goal so all I did was study all day every day. It wasn't easy, but I felt pretty good after all my exams (for what that's worth) except REG. Now I'm applying for jobs when I'm not climbing the walls waiting for my scores.

Thanks for the good thoughts. Good luck with AUD.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[Anonymous]

Even people that have been through it don't get what you are all talking about. You can't skip out on life, and it does not take that much studying if your studying is good and focused. I passed all 4 parts on the first try in 4 consecutive windows. Pace it out and you shouldn't have to say no to any invitations.

[IwannaBaCPA]

@CPAtesttaker: congrats on passing, but you do realize you are representative of less than 10% of candidates? It's wonderful that you passed on your first try and without sacrificing much, but that is outside the norm. The people above did not have it that easy for whatever reason (like 90% of candidates), so most of us DO know what they are talking about…

Keep in mind, if it were easy, everyone would be a CPA and then those three letters would be virtually worthless…

Best of luck to everyone!

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[Author]

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