[Anonymous]

This forum should shed a positive vibe on the industry and be an ambassador to the credential.

Some people like what they do for a living – including tons of people in public accounting as well as industry.

I’m puzzled when people come to an industry’s forum to complain about it.

[Ben]

[GitRDone2017]

Maybe some people just need to vent and that's how they do it, just a thought. Most threads here are very positive, but we are all human and vent in different ways 🙂

"Confidence is going after Moby Dick in a rowboat and taking tartar sauce with you" - Zig Ziglar
Ninja book + Ninja MCQ + Roger
AUD Oct 2016
FAR Nov 2016
BEC ?
REG?

[SaveBandit]

A lot of people come here to vent their frustrations with people who can empathize. They may not have friends who can understand this painful process IRL.

4 for 4

FAR 85
AUD 94
BEC 86
REG 90

[Ben]

@SaveBandit – thats absolutely true. Saying it “ruined your life” may or may not be a bit of a hyperbole, but in my experience so far NOBODY else gets it except fellow exam takers.

[PleaseDontDeleteThanks]

I'm at a 10,000 loss in total after study materials, exam fees, license fees, required ethics course, etc. I'm optimistic that I'll be able to earn it back over the life of my career…20+ years left.

Licensed in April after 10 years of procrastination.

FAR 72, 89
BEC 80
REG 90
AUD 79

[Char143]

To be honest, it really helps me a lot knowing that other people feel the way I do. Sometimes I will just sit in my chair, stare at my laptop or the FAR book and just start crying. I'm so tired of studying… So I take a minute, refresh and log into another71 for a few and when I read that other ppl are crying, wanting to cry, or equally as tired/annoyed as me it makes me feel normal. I am not normal to my friends or family because they can't seem to understand why it has taken me 8 months to pass ONLY 2 parts :/ apparently I need to hurry up and “just pass the damn test”… 🙁

I personally really like reading those FML threads because they make me laugh, no one really believes that their life is over or truly ruined… we just feel like shit and want everyone to agree it is a shitty shitty process, that ultimately ends with an amazing license and a great future.. meanwhile though let us complain :/

AUD (2/16)-84
REG (05/16)-69 Retake (7/16)-79 (ty ninja MCQ)
BEC-TBD
FAR-9/8/16

[Tncincy]

I agree with the others, where else can we go to vent…our co-workers, family, and friends are all tired of the “CPA Exam” and all of the studying only to receive another 74…..the replies are usually positive, and encouraging to keep going until you pass. Why ruined life? who knows, maybe they can't let it go, maybe the family is complaining of too much studying, maybe they think the CPA exam is the only conversation. What ever the reason, let them (us) vent, get back on track and pass, so it can stop ruining our lives.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[CPA2BEE]

Don't bash the venting mechanisms! I remember how frustrated and exhausted I would become with these exams, and although I never made any “my life is over” posts, I would read through all types of threads and feel better just knowing that someone was relating to me whether it was positively or negatively.

If someone is feeling down about the process and needs encouragement, this is a place they should always be able to come to find it. This forum was huge for me when I was taking my exams and I think people should use the forum in whatever ways that help them get through the CPA exam. Don't like it? Then don't read it and move on with your “positive” life!

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[Amortized and Energized]

@charlener – When people tell me they are staring at their FAR book, I cry for them haha. My motivation to finish these last two exams on time is so I don't have to crack that bad boy open again.

To the OP: You can be a positive ambassador to the credential and still remain perfectly honest and be frank about the harsh reality of studying for this exam. In fact, as accountants I believe that is what is expected of us haha. Kudos to all the happiest accountants out there.. but I can confidently say that I have never opened my inbox and seen a PBC listing sitting it and thought to myself “Today is gonna be a good day!! Yay Mondays!”

FAR - Aug 2015 (58), Feb 2016 (81)
u
BEC - May 2016 (79)
AUD - Jul 2016
REG - Aug 2016

[Stilgoin]

Best thing about this forum- freedom of expression! @ OP- I do believe the other thread said ‘studying for the cpa exam ruined my life’. I totally get that. lol The struggle is real.

B | 62, 78
A | 73, 67, 79
R | 82
F | 59, 59, Waiting

Ethics | 93

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
~Winston Churchill

“In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

[hasy]

I can't help but agree with the venting posts. I know people are supposed to have a good balance but when I tried to do a balance, I failed FAR and REG. So I literally told my mom that she can gloat once I'm done, which honestly, in my culture is mainly all that makes her happy. So if you explain it to them, I feel like they should understand.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

-

BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[jeff]

I think the industry sees this site as less of an ambassador and more of a fringe outpost. 🙂

If you can't complain here – where can you? … to your jerk uncle who is a partner at XYZ firm and took the exam “back when it was still difficult to pass”? 🙂

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Amortized and Energized]

ah, that guy? Back when you had to take all 4 parts in one day with a number two pencil with no point outside in 3 feet of snow???? UPHILL?!?!?

FAR - Aug 2015 (58), Feb 2016 (81)
u
BEC - May 2016 (79)
AUD - Jul 2016
REG - Aug 2016

[Skynet]

I don't know about you but life has never been better. I get more tail today than i ever did before and that's just when chicks see me holding my CPA review books.

[CPA2BEE]

My boss passed all 4 parts in one sitting averaging a score of 97 and only studied for a month total back in the 1980s, but it was way harder back then.

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[Author]

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