[big K]

Looking for some honest, even if may be hard to hear, feedback.

As a way of some background – I am career tax guy. It’s a specialty tax service that barely deals with any of the topics on any of the four CPA parts. I have been in this field for ten years, and have never worked in “accounting” or “auditing”.

Early this morning I got my AUD score – a 71. I have taken the exam five times, two of those times I didn’t get to study (took it because I paid for it and NTS was set to expire). I put a decent amount of effort the last three times and the last time because I took off a few days from work. I lost my credit for FAR (as of 5/30) and will be losing credit for BEC (on 8/31 and REG (on 11/30).

Even if I pass AUD the next time that I take it, the odds that I pass FAR after not having looked at the material in 18 months is pretty slim since it took me five tries each with decent amount of studying. So here I almost four years in and basically have to start all over.

Honestly strongly considering giving up at this point. I have been on this journey for almost four years almost nonstop (had to take off six months in between due to some health issues which is how I lost BEC and REG). I have gone back and forth in my head a few times about what to do, and there are a ton of reasons both for and against quitting.

Here are core reasons for and against quitting:

GIVE UP:

1) I really don’t need the credential; I make a really good living right now in my current position. If I had to look for a new job I could get a secondary credential (EA, CMI, etc.), which most firms now accept. If anything it is limiting my earning potential – my boss has acutally said “you can pursue this as long as you want, but you know you would be making more money if you give up”.

2) It’s just plain embarrassing to tell people that I am still studying for exams at this point. A lot of friends and family now just think that I just use “studying” as a ruse to avoid doing things. I recently received a verbal invite to an event where the guy asked would I be coming or will I be “studying”? He actually used air quotes when saying the word “studying”.

3) I have two young children, tired of missing out on watching them grow up.

DON’T GIVE UP

1) I am not a quitter. This would be the first thing in my life that I really wanted that I am giving up on.

Thanks for the feedback

[Anonymous]

Are you freaking kidding me..telling someone who doesnt remember the material to skip the lectures..

The people on this board give the worst advice I swear…If you dont understand the material you need to watch the lectures and listen to everythign and take notes..on top of reading then go through problems and make sure you understand why you missed something.

To be honest at your point Id say fuck it..the CPA is mostly a joke if youre already established..

To weed out decent canidiates? give me a break..if this exam meant anything in the real worl it wouldnt be a bunch of BS questions poorly worded designed to trick you..all this is is a Money grab from over regulated burecracies

Id enjoy time with my kids and move on in life..

[Anonymous]

Half the people on here are terrified of working in public accounting yet want to be CPAs…the other half want to work in Big 4 or nothing else and are destroyed when they dont get chosen to work 80 hour weeks for 8 bucks an hour.

Make your choice on your own..dont seek advice from 22 year old numbskulls on forums..

[acamp]

I'd take a pragmatic approach. The whole “never give up” is great and all, but you've been at it for four years, and are teetering on losing more credits all the while the sacrifice continues. I highlight the sacrifice because you highlighted it, missing out on your kids does suck.

Maybe knowing the end is near one way or another will help re-motivate you. Give it one last all in. Tell your friends, tell your family, that you have x months to pass the entire thing or you lose credit. During that time you will be ALL IN and after x months you either will be a CPA or will no longer be pursuing the exam. Either way, after x months you WILL NOT BE STUDYING again. This way it puts you under the gun and gives everyone around you some expectation on when normalcy will return.

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Msredbird]

@ big K…I got burned out one semester before finishing my Masters degree in 2013, b/c work load had increased and I was working long hours and also maintaining a household. I sat my teenagers down to discuss my decision to quite due to being overwhelmed and burned out. They said “come on mommy don't give up, we will help more around the house”. I started crying (still tearing up a bit now) and decided to keep going. I dedicated that degree to them, b/c I definately would have quit if it was not for their encouragement.

So today is my pay if forward time. I am encouraging you not quit. I know because this is a big blow that it seems at the moment like an insurmountable climb, but please just take the next day or two to just get your head together and shake this off. Then get that audit book ( I used Becker) read it cover to cover and then work the MCQs. With audit you have to digest the material b/c the questions can be tricky. Then retake the exam and get thru alwaying enough time for the SIMS so you can use AL to your advantage. If you retake Audit early July, you can retake FAR before your credit expires. If you don't mind I will keep you in prayer. Good Luck!!

AUD 4/23/16 81
FAR 02/23/16 Failed, Retake TBD
REG 6/10/16 70, TBD
BEC TBD

[Anonymous]

big K,

I'm sort of your opposite – full-charge bookkeeping is my job, but when it comes to taxes, I couldn't even tell you the filing dates. And I don't care lol.

Based on your scores, I feel you clearly have BEC and REG nailed, and it's just a matter of focusing on the goal and forgetting about the past. But you're the only one qualified to make that decision.

[Anonymous]

@acamp I was going to post the same thing the other day, then saw the thread was a week old and wasn't sure of the OP was still checking so decided I didn't want to risk the rotten tomatoes from everyone else. 😛

But OP, I think acamp's advice is spot-on. Give yourself a timeline that you'll try hardcore, then if you lose those credits and you haven't passed these, then you'll drop at that point in time. That way, you're not quitting when you're 1/2 way there, but maybe you pick 11/30 as your done-studying date, when you'll have lost everything you have right now. Whatever date you pick, though, like acamp said, it will give you and everyone around you a date to look forward to. For me personally, it also gives me the energy needed to power through to know that there's an end in sight…and maybe that final boost is what you'll need to clear the finish line. 🙂 If not, you can take a well-deserved break at least, and in a couple years decide if you want to start over again.

[Anonymous]

I for one am in the “one last all in” camp myself. I have passed and lost every single exam credit. Several failed retakes (same thing, no time to study and NTS was going to expire) I will even admit to not sitting for exams I knew I was not prepared for. I had to really look at how and what I was doing to prepare and make some changes. It made all the difference.

I will level with you, it will make or break you.

Some things to consider to make your study more efficient: Do you have any “gaps” in you knowledge base you know you need to work on (Bonds for many people, or PV calculations etc). Are you confused by the questions and selecting the wrong answer due to “exam lingo” (practice MCQ's is the best to over come this). How are you studying? Do you do long sessions with no breaks and all in the same location. Do you do short bursts of intense study and then several days in a row off? Do you review what you studied during the day each night?

[big K]

Thanks for ALL of the feedback. I really appreciate it.

Over the last couple of weeks I have made some changes in my life to allow myself more time to study without missing out on too much family life. I have gone ahead and paid for the AUD NTS and should be getting it any day. I am going to stick to it until its done no matter what.

A few people had asked what I used to study – for AUD i started with Becker, then added Ninja Notes, Book, and MCQ. This last go around I also purchased the Roger package.

Good luck to everyone (especially the ones that pick themselves up after parts expire).

Thanks again for all of the kind comments and feedback – I REALLY APPRECIATED THEM.

[tpeters321]

Don't give up! I know this sucks but It will be really worth it. One of bosses lost credit on all of her exams. She said studying for parts she already passed was miserable but in the end it was worth it. We are all rooting for you!

FAR: 63, 73
AUD: October 2016
REG: August 2016
BEC: 74 (Ugh!)

[Author]

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