[JCVFUTURECPA]

I just need to vent. I want to get the CPA exam over with after years of putting it off. I was trying to take REG on 10/29 and Audit 12/10, but I’m overwhelmed with 10 hour days at work, 3 kids under 6 and a wife I dont want to neglect.

I had to reschedule for REG on 11/26 and Audit next window.

I’m disappointed. Anyone know this feeling?

[Anonymous]

Unless you have a credit that's expiring there is no need to create more stress for yourself than needs to be-this process is stressful enough…Maybe just set realistic deadlines for yourself? As long as it's within 18 months of passing the first exam, you don't have to try to rush through it…. Don't be disappointed. This test requires a lot f prep and self-discipline. take your time and you will succeed!

[ML]

Though disappointing, you will discover, if you already haven't, the sacrifices that need to be made in order to commit and pass this exam. It is very often mentioned in this forum from other members similar to your situation that you will need to compromise/sacrifice certain major aspects of your life. Preparing your family and having them understand the time needed to commit to studying is definitely something you will need to do. It is very possible to have a full time job and family and still pass. But you need a very high level of discipline and time management. I have a full time job w/ overtime and weekends were godsend to me because that was the bulk of my studying. I cranked out about 1-2 hours on weekdays and 6-8 on weekends. Of course everyone is different and some people need more/less preparation than others. My average exam preparation ranged anywhere from 4-6 weeks. But like Anyatver said, if you haven't passed your first section yet, don't stress too much, just plan it out steadily.

FAR - 7/31/14
AUG - ???
REG - ???
BEC - ???

"These are the precincts of pain. A goddess lives here. Her name is victory." - Unknown

[Anonymous]

I don't have kids, but I have the others. I did REG and BEC during Q3 this year and it went fine. It's do able, but you have to squeeze whatever time from the day you can find. I had some late nights/early mornings. But I also agree with anyatver, if you don't need to rush it's not horrible to take the extra time and spread them out. I only did it because I wanted to be done and one was BEC that only took 2-3 weeks to study for.

[CS]

Full time job, spouse etc. that’s all good. With young children it’s a completely different beast- I have a toddler and an infant. I aimed for one exam each quarter and fortunately passed each on the first attempt. My advice might not be the best but I knocked out 80% of my studying early mornings starting by 3 am after 3 or 4 hours of sleep every night for about a year and got to work an hour early and used that also. Sucked but it kept the evenings and weekends free (except early Saturday and Sunday morning like 4 am) for the family. As others advised unless you’re up against expiration dates just do one at a time, and don’t skimp out on review materials (not saying you are but I’ve seen this on the forum often). I’ve paid for Ninja and Gleim test banks extra for each exam – say an extra 300 or 400 each time so 1200 or 1600 extra total. Doesn’t matter you will make that up in no time. Find a strict routine and once you find what works run with it. By BEC and REG my final two I knew what worked for me as opposed to FAR which I felt like a deer in headlights throughout the process. Of course family support is critical but unlike what a lot of people say you don’t have to sacrifice your family to the point of isolation for this, best of luck.

[TM]

I had the same situation minus one child and my boys are 1 and 2 years old. Unfortunately, it will be nearly impossible to put in the time necessary to pass the exam without one of the other things in your life being put on the back burner a little. For me, it was spending time with my wife. She did not really enjoy this but now that it is over we are back to normal and I am making it up one date night at a time. I agree with the others that the most important thing is giving yourself enough time to study which will give you the best chance of passing the first time around. I gave myself 8-9 weeks for BEC and AUD and about 12 weeks for FAR and REG. If you take one in the first week of a testing window and another the last week of the window you will have a good 8-9 weeks in between. However, do not feel bad about rescheduling or pushing exams back if you need to, I had to do this multiple times as well. I also had to retake BEC and FAR and gave myself around 4 weeks for the re-takes. All in all it took about 14 months which isn't great but isn't terrible. It goes fast. You can do it! Best of luck!

AUD- 82
BEC- 73, 82
FAR- 73, 78
REG- 80

[Anonymous]

Here is what I did:

FAR one window
AUD REG one window (Failed Audit)
AUD BEC one window
I am married with one year old, and work full time
I barely saw my daughter and wife, and wasted two summers not doing anything except being stuck in my room studying. This exam requires lot of discipline and motivation. It will come down to how much you want this thing

[Tim]

Everyone has their own style that works for them. You don't have to ruin your life to study for this thing. I took one section per window for 3 windows, then missed 2 windows cause of my wedding and overall lack of motivation. I still have 2 windows left to pass the final part. When I do study I only study about 10-15 hours per week. Maybe this won't work for other people but it has worked for me.

[Anonymous]

You have to figure out what works best for you and it is all about efficiency and quality v quantity. I spent as much time studying for BEC as I did for FAR and I scored the lowest on BEC. I figured out for me, it was best to read the chapter, work the MCQs then listen to my Roger lectures. When I first studied for BEC, I went lecture by lecture and spent 4 weeks listening to lectures to THEN I would do MCQS. Needless to say, I got nothing from the lecture/ reading approach. Once I jumped perused the material and jumped into MCQs and fumbled, I would then listened to the lectures and that made me finally understand.

Also, I have a toddler, so I would listen/ watch lectures on my phone and put a movie on for her. I felt super guilty about the movie every night and the permanent damage I was doing to her, but I got to cuddle her and that was preferable. I justified that it was better to cuddle her as she watched a movie than to ignore her. When she went down to sleep, I would bust out the iPad and work MCQs. I did this even in her hospital room when she had ear tubes put in. I held her as she slept and studied.

What I am saying is, there are alternatives to ignoring the family. A phone and an earbud can help tremendously as your family watches a movie. Also, I skipped lunch and workedMCQs and woke up one hour earlier to study. That right there, is 2 hours. Movie time was an additional hour at night.
I am now done with the exams after one year of studying and instead of movies, I read to my daughter and play with her and she seems happy either way.

[CS]

I sat next to my wife at the hospital doing MCQs while she was nursing our newborn baby laying in the bed . She didn’t mind at all but I still felt like a complete prick. Felt so good to literally hurl the entire set of all 4 sections of review materials into the town sanitation dump on homeowners day, very therapeutic. @ Tim – welcome back man congrats on being married!

[Anonymous]

@SBNY2K17, If your wife said she did not mind- she did not. She may be like me, someone who gets joy by just sitting next to her husband or baby. My daughter is the same way, I think. This year I caved and let her sleep with my husband and me, head on my chest and her feet on her daddy. She is happy as a clam.

[cottonkandi]

I have two kids and I do not work but my husband isn't available to help due to his job. My family made some sacrifices this summer so I could study and I was able to sit for 3 exams in one quarter. I passed FAR and REG and failed Audit by 3 points. On top of that my baby was 4-months-old when I studied for FAR and I only studied probably 2-3 hours per day for 6 weeks. While I was studying for Audit, both of my kids fell sick and had stomach viruses and they were sick for a total of 16 days. I started studying June 1st and took my last test September 10th and I gave it all that I had in me. I didn't brush my hair or wear makeup during this time or have play dates or go to any social events. All I can say that it is possible, and if you study efficiently, it'll only be a couple of months of discomfort. If you can afford it, I would suggest hiring a babysitter during the evenings so your wife has some help with the kids. I would also suggest to you to do non-stop SIMs 2 or 3 days before the exam.
I also like to add that I didn't see any light at the end of the tunnel until I passed those two exams this past quarter. During the whole time I was studying I thought I was wasting my time because I probably failed anyways. I feel if you put in the time, you will get a return, have a efficient study plan and stick to it. Most importantly, believe in yourself. You can do this.

[Author]

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