[I Shall Pass Thee]

Hello all!
A little bit of background, I graduated with my BS in accounting in May 2016 and later with my masters in December of 2016 (I did an accelerated program where I would take masters-level courses as an undergrad). I graduated with 3.9 GPA from both degrees, and thought the CPA exam is going to be a piece of cake! But I learned shortly after that it surely ISN’T.

I have been preparing for the CPA since 2016, but things kept on happening. I moved to a different city, had to make new friends and find a community, ended a serious relationship, got a house and a car and on top of that I work for one of the Big 4.

I attempted the CPA 3 times with 2 different sections, and I did not pass (cores were 53, 73, and 64). It is really embarrassing because the CPA is expected and recommended at the Big 4. I get asked often where I am in the process, and I have to explain why I still have not passed any sections.

I try to dust off and start all over, but I’m so burnt out. I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am missing out on so many things and putting my life on hold while not passing too. When I don’t study, I feel guilty, and when I do study I feel like there are so many things that I could be doing (not just “fun” things, but responsibilities” I want to focus on my career and my clients. I provide half the support for my family and I take care of all the house responsibilities. Every time I would get myself motivated to study for two days, then I just give up and lose focus.
The thing is, I don’t see myself working for the Big 4 for a long time. My long term career goal is teaching and probably running a small taxation business to help individual and small businesses.
I like accounting and taxes. I know I am good at it and I get the CPA material. But I am so burnt out that even the thought of studying for the CPA just upsets me.

Should I stop studying and pick it up later in life when I am more ready? Or should I just keep going? Any further advise?

[Recked]

There's no time like the present. You may be lacking the primary motivators to stay focused right now in your life, but the longer you wait, the harder it gets.
Trust me. I didn't start on the exams until I was 37.
I'd suggest you look into other review courses to see if there are any that grab your interest, to make the study process a little less draining.
Try all the free samples. I am sure they give you Becker at your Big4 job, but Becker might not be right for you.

[Anonymous]

I agree with Recked. It's never going to get easier. I went back to college at 31 and just passed my final exam at 36. In that same time frame I've had 2 kids and I kicked myself everyday for not doing any of this sooner. You will never be “more ready,” and like Recked said it only gets harder. If your long term goals are teaching and opening up a small tax firm, then I would say that getting your CPA is a must. Every accounting teacher I had in school had their CPA and if you just get an EA so you can do taxes people will wonder why you aren't a CPA. I work at a small tax firm and since my name isn't on the door I can tell you that almost every client's first question to me when I sit down with them for the first time is “are you a CPA?”

Maybe take a little time to re-energize and re-focus because if you haven't passed any tests yet your clock isn't ticking, but if your long term goals are what you say they are then that should be all the motivation you need to get this exam done.

If you specialize in tax, maybe use the tax code changes to motivate you to take REG in Q4 this year before the new material becomes testable in 2019. Having a hard deadline might be the kick-start your motivation needs to get the ball rolling again and after you pass you can ride the momentum on to the next section.

[I Shall Pass Thee]

I agree with what both of you! I believe that the logical answer is to keep going because life is not gonna get easier or less busy. But I think there are many layers to my problem. I am really miserable at work! I used to have so much passion; I did everything with passion and went above in beyond with any task I was given. Every place I interned/worked at loved me and valued me and I was happy with them, but my goal was to work for the big 4 and gain as much experience as I can. Well, the big 4 is destroying my career and leaving me doubting myself. I often cry on my way back home from work. I want to succeed so bad, but I am not being used up to my potential. On top of feeling not very successful in my career, I keep getting hit with more failure with the CPA. Some people here really like me and my work and they think really highly of me (and they are partners!), and other people avoid even making eye-contact with me or saying good morning back. It's a very cliquey and gossipy culture, and I really just don't fit.
I feel like if I am happy at work, I will want to go above and beyond to do more and give more, and thus I will be more motivated to do the CPA. Maybe the answer is to change jobs? I don't know.

[Anonymous]

When it comes to your job at the big 4, my advice would be to not worry about it. From reading your previous post, it seems like you are pretty young. You have to realize that the big 4 burns through 1st and 2nd year employees like a hot knife through butter. They could care less if first or second year people quit or are happy at work because there will be a fresh batch of graduates coming in next season. Hell, I owned my own business for over 10 years and we had a ton of turnover (the lowest positions were grunt work manual labor jobs, but an experienced vet could make a very comfortable living.) Most people would stay a few months and leave, some would quit the first day. I never even bothered to get to know most of their names unless they had been there at least a month just because there was a distinct possibility I would never see them again.
My point is this – they are using you because you are young and inexperienced. Use them back. Take your free CPA study course and knock this test out of the park so you can get out of there. I had to pay for mine and it was a couple thousand dollars I wish I didn't have to spend. They aren't going to take your potential or your happiness into consideration because you simply haven't been there long enough for them to care. Use the big 4 for it's resources, networking, and exit opportunities like they are using you to churn out tax returns.

[Author]

Replies