[rebekahd543]

I am graduating college with a public accounting degree in a few days. My plan was to start taking the CPA exam in July.

I have never been 100% about getting the public accounting degree/taking the CPA exam. I would rather work for a smaller company than a public firm. But I was so close to having all the credits necessary to get the public accounting degree that I decided that I may as well take the couple extra classes and just take the exam.

Now I’m having second thoughts on whether right now would be a good time for me to take the CPA exam. I know it might be better to take it now rather than wait, but I feel burnt out on school/studying, that I don’t know if I would be in the right mindset or put forth my full effort and time into studying.

I’d rather just start working and when I really want to take the CPA. I was just wondering what you guys thought? What would be the consequences of having a Public Accounting degree, but not actually having the CPA certification?

[Anonymous]

Don't wait. If you think you're burnt out now, wait until you start working, have a family, etc. Do it while you have the time to study and can get it done quickly. Waiting will only put more obstacles in your way and it could take you longer to pass.

[Lindrobe]

I agree with CPAMommyof3. I am 32 and just now sitting for the exam. I definitely wish I would have taken it a long time ago! I feel like I basically wasted 10 years of my career.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[Lindrobe]

I agree with CPAMommyof3. I am 32 and just now sitting for the exam. I definitely wish I would have taken it a long time ago! I feel like I basically wasted 10 years of my career.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[halfhoot]

I struggled with a lot of the same thoughts as you before I started studying a couple of weeks ago. I'm not lacking ambition, but my career goals definitely aren't to be CEO or even a partner. Like Bronx said above though, not having a CPA is quickly becoming the newest way to weed out job applicants. I didn't want to hurt myself for job prospects over the long run by not taking the exam.

REG: July 14
AUD: 2014
BEC: 2015
FAR: 2015

[halfhoot]

I struggled with a lot of the same thoughts as you before I started studying a couple of weeks ago. I'm not lacking ambition, but my career goals definitely aren't to be CEO or even a partner. Like Bronx said above though, not having a CPA is quickly becoming the newest way to weed out job applicants. I didn't want to hurt myself for job prospects over the long run by not taking the exam.

REG: July 14
AUD: 2014
BEC: 2015
FAR: 2015

[Anonymous]

@halfhoot you nailed it… my career ambitions are pretty low (especially compared to my ambitious peers), as I really just want a decent rank-and-file job and to spend time with my family. But the CPA will allow me to have pretty much my pick of many jobs.

Better to start studying now and determine you hate it, than think 10 years down the road “I'd be in a much better place if I attempted the CPA exam…”

[Anonymous]

@halfhoot you nailed it… my career ambitions are pretty low (especially compared to my ambitious peers), as I really just want a decent rank-and-file job and to spend time with my family. But the CPA will allow me to have pretty much my pick of many jobs.

Better to start studying now and determine you hate it, than think 10 years down the road “I'd be in a much better place if I attempted the CPA exam…”

[John Tucker]

rebe,

So you aren't working at all right now? What state are you looking to get licensed in? Here are my recommendations:

1.) Yes, if you are going to sit for the exam it's best to sit for it while you are coming out of college as majority of the content is material you already learned, with more sections added or updated. You are still in study mode, learning mode, etc., so it's best to go straight into it. Get yourself a solid review course, I love CPA Excel because they have packages tailored to any type of learner (independent learner, on the go learner, or a traditional learner that needs an instructor) and their course never expires so you pay once and that's it. This gives you time to just focus on passing the exam without having to keep paying more and more for review courses.

2.) Also, you NEED to start working right now as well while you complete the CPA Exam. I always preach that you need the complete package for the job market, that's relevant experience, relevant education, relevant professional references, as well as a high quality networking procedure to identify where every single new job posting would be posted in your industry.

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[John Tucker]

rebe,

So you aren't working at all right now? What state are you looking to get licensed in? Here are my recommendations:

1.) Yes, if you are going to sit for the exam it's best to sit for it while you are coming out of college as majority of the content is material you already learned, with more sections added or updated. You are still in study mode, learning mode, etc., so it's best to go straight into it. Get yourself a solid review course, I love CPA Excel because they have packages tailored to any type of learner (independent learner, on the go learner, or a traditional learner that needs an instructor) and their course never expires so you pay once and that's it. This gives you time to just focus on passing the exam without having to keep paying more and more for review courses.

2.) Also, you NEED to start working right now as well while you complete the CPA Exam. I always preach that you need the complete package for the job market, that's relevant experience, relevant education, relevant professional references, as well as a high quality networking procedure to identify where every single new job posting would be posted in your industry.

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[Author]

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