[rlarivee01]

I’ll try to keep this brief. (update: didn’t work)

After years of attempts, a TON of money spent on review courses and exam fees, a creeping depression (this last part I’ll seek help for professionally this month when I get insurance), the result is I have no completed exams to show for it. My partner is a type-A and she’s becoming very impatient because I’ve yet to make progress despite being at it for so long.

I just bought the Roger course because I appreciate his energy, and will continue to buy Ninja MCQ because Jeff is the man.

I have BEC on Thursday, can’t reschedule, and I’m not prepared. I actually did take it in February before the changes and got a 73 then, but I’m rusty and not performing well on the material this close to the exam. It’s 6 days away, but I don’t think my head is at a place where I can successfully cram.

I’m old(ish) and to me time is more important than money, so I’m considering starting fresh and adhering religiously to Roger’s 6 month study plan to FINALLY finish this beast in that exact time frame.

My biggest issue is consistency and discipline, well, that and attention span….

So I’m thinking, no more cutting corners, no more being cute about it trying to cram and take parts lightly, take time off, reschedule, etc… just KISS (keep it simple, stupid) and follow the very specific directions.

Would anyone be kind enough to give me some guidance or words of wisdom? I’m at the end of my rope.

[M123]

The part of this that resonates is the part about your partner. Just please know that it's not worth living a life of missing your dream because it wasn't convenient for someone. 10 or 15 years from now – those thoughts of “could have been” become merciless. Sorry if that's harsh.

Have you tried speaking with some actual people who support those products? I know some are more responsive than others. What do they say? Do you have a cpa mentor? Who has actually made it? Some outside perspective along with reflection on what isn't working and where the soft spots are will be helpful to you. Since you're going to see a professional – maybe a pause will also help with getting some of that squared away then jumping back in with both feet?

The other thing I pick up on is “last attempt”. This creates an incredibly high pressure of do or die and since it's self-made – it's artificial. If this is your dream – try to find out what is causing the challenge. Don't let anyone or any failure keep you from your dream.

73 is a darn good take and you might just get over the edge. A confidence builder is a heck of a motivator.

[Missy]

I'm thinking your second to last paragraph, if you're being honest about cutting corners and being cute about it is the red flag. If I had a partner only half hearted doing this I'd also be frustrated beyond words and ready to bolt.

My advice if that's the case is sit with your partner, make a SINCERE study schedule and stick with it or just quit the exam process. Tell your partner you're ready to take this seriously 25-30 hours per week EVERY week even when you can find an excuse not to. Say if this doesn't produce a pass by xx/xx/xx you'll concede you're not willing to do what it takes.

If that paragraph was just self depricating please ignore my advice because it's moot if you've TRULY given it all you've got.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[CPAcandidate3]

From the little info I have I don't think your partner is wrong. While you may have been at it a long time it doesn't sound like you're really that disciplined. While the exams are hard if you study smart and with discipline just about anyone can pass them. From the sound of it you need an accountability partner

[JCVFUTURECPA]

You need to find your “why” for passing the exams.

You won't accidentally pass the exams. As with anything we want in life we need to be intentional. Don't count the cost. Don't be average. Winning is for winners, Losing is for losers. I learned all of this from youtube.

[SaveBandit]

ABC

Always Be Consuming.

You have to always be consuming the material. I took notecards and outlines with me everywhere. If I'm a passenger in the car, I'm studying notes. Waiting on your meal to be served at a restaurant? Notecards. Do you go out for lunch every day at work? Not anymore. Bring your lunch and study your notes or take online quizzes.

I was a C student in accounting and look at my scores. 4 for 4. People fail because they don't put in the work.

You want this thing behind you for real? Study until it hurts and then study some more.

4 for 4

FAR 85
AUD 94
BEC 86
REG 90

[Anonymous]

@rlarivee01

I will try to be brief even though my journey through the CPA exam process was not. To start, I am glad and proud to say that I have passed all the parts, receiving my last score Aug. 17th.

I started my CPA journey back in 2008, yes 2008… where I was taking one part here and another part there, not really focusing and applying myself, but rather having an attitude of “its just an exam”. In the interim, life continued to move and I was busy with work, wife, house, sick dad, you name it and it was happening. It wasn't until one day, I really sat down and thought to myself with my wife besides me, and said if this is something that I want, I will need to put 120% of my all into it!

And that's what I did. I printed monthly calendars and basically scheduled my life around these exams. If there were special events like birthdays or Holidays, I would write them in my schedule and try my best to attend while making sure I was up to date with my studying progress, however note – this is easier said then done, but the calendar/schedule help me manage, etc. There were times that I passed the exams and there were times I failed, even though I felt like I gave it my all. YOU CANNOT let this discourage you… these exams are meant to be this hard and a reason why the majority of the candidates fail multiple times! Go back to the drawing board, make your own notes, write down special clues/hints that you understand, do anything and everything that you feel will work for you.. BC whatever worked for me or whatever style of studying I used might not work for you..

TRY TO REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE DOING THIS… For more money, for you family, for a better position at your job.. Whatever it is.. remember that!

For me, the reason was a career letter/assignment I had to do when I was in middle school… Where I wrote about my future and becoming a CPA to have a better future.

Hope this helps.. I may have left a lot of items in between, but please feel free to reach out!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

[rlarivee01]

I'll try not to make this a constant update thread, but I at least wanted to follow up.

Today was the first day of my fresh start. I'm doing the 6 month plan and I completed everything from the first day. I'm actually feeling motivated enough that I want to consume more material than the plan requires. I'll probably switch over to Ninja. Just 179 more good days and I'll be finished. I need to get away from my computer as that's a source of distraction, so I “wasted” money on flash cards and I'll be taking those everywhere I go this fall.

About my partner- I'm not saying she's wrong to feel that way, in fact I know she's right. She's disappointed in me, I'm disappointed in me. It just adds to my stress. I need to balance my focus on the material with constant discussions about our future. It's my doing that led to this, but it's becoming a drag. I'm not planning on ending things, but she's going to have to decide whether or not she wants to stick around.

I need another white board. Going to write “180 days” in big bold letters.

Thanks A71ers for the kick in the ass.

[Anonymous]

I posted a reply to this but it got deleted for some reason. Long story short – you're doing the right thing with a schedule and setting a deadline for yourself. That's good! I wish I'd done that earlier. I didn't have any deadlines and it played a part in helping me fail my last 3 exams. I had a 3.9 gpa in school. I'm no slouch. Some others have said that if you aren't studying enough, you won't pass. I'd amend that to say “if you're not studying in the right way, you won't pass”, because that's what happened to me (due to work and many other things.)
It sounds like you have some issues with your partner, who is letting this thing get in the way of the relationship. I don't know if they had some big plans for the both of you, which rested on your passing the 4 exams and getting a better job or something but if I were you, I'd tell them to not even think about those things until after you were done with this process. Assuming you stay together, you have lots of years left to live. Just my opinion, but there is no way that this should be a factor in the equation of your life/lives right now.

Wishing you the best.

[Cpa_wip]

I can share the two things that have worked for me.
i) Try and find a study partner. You don't have to study together but at least know someone who is motivated to complete the course and is already studying. Share your progress periodically. This helps immensely.
ii) You have already studied some part of the subject. Instead of focusing on what you know already, start with topics you know you are not good at.

Hope you find them useful.

[Author]

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