[thebigguy1992]

Does anyone not go out at all while studying for the CPA exam? I am going to begin studying full time this summer, so if I study all day during the week (job starts in fall), I might have time to go out and party on weekends. But is anyone that committed that they just don’t drink and stay focused studying the whole time?

[marqzho]

Most people here are working full time and only have 2-3 hours for weekday study.

You can study full day on weekday. lol Nothing you need to worry about. Feel free to go, relax, and have fun on weekend =)

REG 90
FAR 95
AUD 98
BEC 84

[waffle_house]

Study but no need to go overboard and have no life…there is only so much you can study before you need a drink haha

[Anonymous]

For FAR I didn't drink except on two occasions. It's not that it was entirely my choice, but with my work schedule and studying I didn't have a choice. With REG I became a little more relaxed and drank more occasionally. I don't think there was a significant correlation between drinking/relaxing and my REG score. I encourage you to take breaks, just don't go overboard 😛

[jcf175]

i went out like twice during the summer when i was studying… but i did play a lot of golf tho

Passed all sections between 5/15 - 10/15 order AUD REG BEC FAR (used Becker only)

[sev705]

Stepping away from studying is probably one of the best things you can do. As long as you prepare and plan to skip a night, it's completely fine and a good thing. This whole study with no life thing you keep reading about is bad for you.

FAR: 75
Reg: 53, retake 4/31
Aud: 5/30
BEC: 7/1

[OlintoJr]

I hardly went out boozing while studying. It usually drank/chilled while waiting for exam scores. And that was about it… Other than the occasional beer here and there. It was definitely the least fun year ever and I was pretty miserable during it but I was able to pass all sections without much trouble and saved a ton of money allowing me to pay off all my student loans(over 30k). I looked at it as a sacrificial year. It sucked but it was worth it for me. Most people opt to have a little more fun, but a lot of those people are also still trying to pass.

If you can do both great.. If not, pick your poison.

FAR - 11/30/14 -79
AUD - 2/19/15 -86
BEC - 4/09/15 -86
REG - 11/30/15 -87

I'M DONE! ITS OVER! WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

[mtaylo24]

I usually always have a beer in hand while studying (at night) #dontjudgeme

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[Vanessachy]

I mean sometimes, you cannot avoid it. I just went out last night with my husband for my firms Christmas party, and I will go out to my husband's company's Christmas party tonight. If you go, just don't drink too much, otherwise the second day will be a waste. I try to avoid social events, but holiday events is hard to be avoided.

Far 10/26/2015, 64, 1/4/2016, 82
Reg 7/10/2015, 60, 2/27/2016, 86
Aud, 5/9/2016, 74 (ouch), 7/26/2016, I cannot wait to take this test again
Bec, 6/10/2016, 70,9/8 retake

[TaxGod]

For Audit i would drink on my last round of MCQs to help me fit in one more when i couldnt handle it anymore. I think thats the reason I got the highest grade 😉

AUD: 02/28/15 - 89
FAR: 05/29/15 - 80
BEC: 08/03/15 - 81
REG: 08/27/15 - 76

[Key522]

I usually only go out for family and friends birthdays but just to go out no I stopped that while studying for the CPA. I hope by this summer I will be finish and can go out randomly again.

BEC Feb 2015 68 - rematch Apr 2015 - 84
FAR July 2015 77
AUD Oct 2015 74 Feb 2016 71 April 2016 85
REG Jan 2016 67 July 2016

[Jdn9201]

I think as long as you schedule breaks, they are beneficial for your studying. Yes, preparing for these exams are hard but no reason to make yourself miserable. I make time to go to dinner at a friend's house or party, and sometimes I take the time to make myself a good dinner and have 1 or 2 glasses of wine before I start to study. It just depends. I'm not a big drinker but I find if I'm stressed out or wanting to avoid studying, a glass of wine helps me to relax and learn the material quicker.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[Anonymous]

If you're studying full time I think you have to get out and do stuff with friends/family. That being said, try to keep it reasonable so your night out doesn't turn into another day of nursing your hangover. Lord knows I wasted a few Monday's this past window because of weekend shenanigans.

[waffle_house]

Also, read Jeff's “How to Survive the CPA” guide. He goes into more detail about this.

[ThirdTimesACharm]

I don't go out and party, but I do allow myself Sunday Funday–mainly because nothing comes between me and football. However, once football is over I doubt I'll go out much at all (I work full-time, but am allowed to study at work if it's slow).

REG 80 11/23
FAR 1/2016
BEC 2/2016*
AUD 4/2016*

*If all goes well!

[msgolds]

Balance is the key. I went out a few times when I was studying (had a fairly wild 23rd birthday), and I tried to give myself a one or two week break in between when I finished a section and when I started studying for the next section. Definitely had a good time during those breaks. But mostly I stuck to my schedule, didn't go out at all during the week, and dedicated most of my weekend mornings to studying.

BEC - 90 PASSED
FAR - 84 PASSED
AUD - 93 PASSED
REG - 84 PASSED

I DID IT!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study

"If we were put here to carry a great weight, then the very things we hate are here to build those muscles."

[Author]

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