[sdollen64]

I’m studying for FAR and originally was scheduled to take it 5/28. I just didn’t feel anywhere near ready and still needed to cover a couple of modules in the Yaeger program; so I pushed it back to the next available Saturday which was 7/16. I’m a little older – 51 and have worked in the investment field as a licensed broker, AVP for a bank’s back office operations for Capital Markets (investments), an advisor for a retirement plan for municipalities, external auditing, sox auditing for a manufacturer, internal audit, and currently VP in accounting for a financial institution.

I have a BBA in Finance, then obtained my MBA from a major university and then 10 years later went back and obtained a BS in Accounting. Married with two teenage kids now. I say all of that just as background – not braggish. I’m older now and the ability to learn and retain isn’t as easy for me as it used to be. Sleep apnea and type II diabetes don’t make it any easier. (Damn all of you Krispy Kreme doughnuts and honeybuns and chocolate milks that I guzzled in my early 20s!)

All through school, I was always in a rush. In a rush to get the class done and get a grade, so I could move on, finish up, and get back to working and life. I feel like I rushed through so quickly at times that I’m not sure I really even learned much. I can barely even remember my Consolidations or Governmental Accounting classes – not sure how I passed but I was an “A”/”B” type student.

I feel like with these exams it’s just rush rush rush too. Of course, the 18 month rolling expiration deadline doesn’t help. It makes me feel like I do about my college experience. Not really absorbing and retaining and learning. Just learning enough to hopefully regurgitate a 75% worth of correct answers/guesses, in order to pass.

Was curious if anyone else ever felt this way or does feel this way about the exams? Wouldn’t you think that the NASBA would want to ensure that the certification was given based on experience and knowledge versus my ability to momentarily learn just enough to regurgitate it for a 75%? You can’t obtain the license even after passing the tests, without the experience – based on which state you’re in. So, I guess the answer to my question is yes. But, does anyone else understand what I’m really asking? If by some miracle I were to pass the exam, I honestly don’t know if it will make me any better at my current job or if I’ll have any sudden epiphany or grand mystical knowledge about accounting.

Thanks for listening – was just curious what others think/feel about it all.

Good luck on your exams and keep your chin (or chins in my case!) up.

[Yolonge]

Tell me about it. It is like having finals for months but I just want to get this done. Studying can be hard when you work full time.

Materials: Wiley book + Ninja MCQ

FAR - 83 (Jan 2016)
Study time: 6 weeks
BEC - 87 (April 2016)
Study time: 2 weeks
AUD - 92 (July 2016), (74 Feb 2016), (72 May 2016)
Study time: 4 (Feb) + 2 (May) + 3 (July) = 9 weeks total
REG - (70 April 2016)
Study time: 3 weeks

[Missy]

Exactly my sentiment, and it goes along with the saying that CPA actually stands for Couldn't Pass Again. I swear you could pass the exam, and take it again a week later but fail miserably.

Also remember a 75 is not 75%, for all we know of the mystical AICPA scoring system they could decide if you got question #42 correct and nothing else you'd get a 75, or if you got every question BUT 42 right you'd fail.

Its hazing. Plain and simple.

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

[TheHoundThatRides]

I thought I'd be a business genius after getting through the exams. But I'm finding it's just gonna be a certification that says that I worked hard for it and not much more beyond that. My knowledge on topics is very light and superficial, and that's even before I start forgetting it once I take the exam.

Honestly, it's a little crazy to me that not getting this certification is what holds perfectly intelligent people back later on in their career.

BEC - 78 (August 2015)
FAR - 80 (November 2015)
AUD - 73, 67. (Ok I gotta confess I was even more lazy this time around)
REG - August 27th, 2016

[sdollen64]

I was sure I couldn't be the only one that felt like this!

@mla – great points and exactly what I was trying to say but not as well.

@TheHound – totally agree. I can say that I was once asked at an interview for a financial analyst position, what I scored on the ACT. The ACT?? I had my MBA at the time. And, they were asking me my ACT score? I honestly think I had MAYBE an 18! 4th of 5 boys and a dad that was in the Navy and a mom that stayed home – there was no money for college and I was a B/C student at best in high school and no plans to go to college. On a whim one Saturday, I went and took the ACT. But, yeah, I also thought studying FAR I'd become super accountant all of a sudden. 😉

[Knight Rider]

I don't feel that way, but apparently the AICPA feels differently.

[Author]

Replies