[SchruteBeet]

Hello,

I work at a big accounting firm and recently got staffed on a project that requires me to travel every Mon-Thu. I don’t work in Audit/Tax so we don’t have a busy season but my project is expected to get fairly busy. I have an exam next week, but have found that it has become increasingly hard to study. I try to read on the plane and when I am back at the hotel after work but with the random team dinners and post-work events, I can’t even say no since I just started with the firm 6 months ago and am fairly new. Back in my home office, I could easily pick up my textbook on a slow day and no one would care, but at the client especially with my team around me, it’s hard to do that. My team knows about my exam date and tries to be accommodative whenever possible but it’s been hard without a routine. On a normal day, I start work at 8 am and get off around 7 pm. Has someone been in a similar situation and still managed to pass all the sections? If so, please share what you did.

[norseman88]

@ShruteBreet I have passed 3 sections of the exam and have my 4th scheduled in a few days. I have traveled coast to coast for the past year while studying for the exam. I do the redeye Sunday night and return Thursday evening. It definitely sucks, I know what you mean with the team dinners and stuff like that. I try to hammer out 2-3 hours a night in the hotel room after working out. Usually up till midnight and at the client by 7am. I get the majority of my studying done on the weekend, sitting in a library for 10 hours a day. The key for me was throwing my personal life away.

[tud20551]

so what are you a consultant?

[norseman88]

@Tud Yes and national resource so travel anywhere.

[Small4]

my suggestion? Build in study time every day in the AM…it would suck but i think it would pay off since your mind is fresh and you get less side tracked by the team dinners, networking, client work…i say maybe study 1 hr in the AM maybe come in at 7 instead of 8? , then 1 hr lunch/throughout the day, then 1 more hour at night… so 3 total MAX so you dont short circuit.

Not in the same boat as u, but rather more life outside of the exam reduced my free time a ton…(spouse, kid, actual job)…so i had to force myself to study in the AM when my brain is fresh.

Then you hit the weekend library in 3-4 hour stretches (3-4 sat AM, 3-4 sun AM or PM)…i never “binge study” since that was just way too much material in one sitting.

At client site, i say thats where u hammer MCQ? That way u dont need to pull out the textbook…or maybe use the free time in client site to “review only” and do the heavy lifting elsewhere.

My two cents.

Good luck!!

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Been doing this since 2007 on and off...

[SchruteBeet]

@norseman88 – Thanks for your advice. I try to fly in Sun evening so I don't have to catch the redeye on Mon and can have enough energy left at EOD to study. I'll try to do what you did. And yeah, I hear ya about having to throw away my personal life. Sigh. @small4 – Thanks so much for your advice. I think that's def a good idea. My team tries to do team lunches as well but I am sure they'll understand if I tell them I am gonna grab a quiet spot and study. I like your idea about one hour in the AM, one at lunch and one before bed. I am gonna try to do that starting tomorrow. @tud20551 Yes, I am a consultant.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I do work in one of the big 4 accounting firms. Usually, I start work 8am and get off 8pm, depending in the week I work more hours.
It is really hard and you need have focus, but it is achievable.

[Author]

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