[uscpa]

So I’ve completed my CPA exam already and I never realized how difficult it would be to support a CPA candidate. I know I had my difficult CPA moments and moods, but my family was very supportive through it all.

My boyfriend is now taking the CPA and I’d like to know how I can help him. As much as I’d like to push him along and push him to continue studying because I know how much work and dedication the CPA requires, I also don’t want him to feel like I’m taking over and pressuring him. I often make him food, bring him coffee, do the cleaning, etc….but I’m not quite sure he’s really studying enough; however, I’m not his Mom and therefore do not want to stand over his shoulder ensuring he’s doing enough questions every day.

Any advice on how to balance the role of a supportive girlfriend and someone who has been there and done that?

[tomq04]

dump him, nothing more motivating that that.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Rocky123]

He's lucky to have you. No one understands it better than someone who has gone through it.

Why do you feel he's not studying enough? Everyone learns at different paces and has different styles.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[uscpa]

Did you miss the part of my post that said I want to help him, not pressure him? We're very supportive of each other and truly care about each other. I know he'd support me, not ‘dump me' and I want nothing more but to support him.

Apparently you've never experienced a relationship like ours because if I were to break up with him, he would probably just quit the CPA to work things out with me. Yes-there really are guys out there that truly care about their girlfriends. However, I don't want him to quit the CPA for me. I want him to succeed and I'm not going to make him choose between the two.

Quite honestly, I'm shocked that a CPA would have such a rude response, not to mention all of the grammatical errors in your response. Respect the profession and stop making the rest of us look bad.

[uscpa]

Rocky, I've always been an overachiever and I was one of those CPA candidates that studied from the time I got off to the time I went to bed, which was usually only about 4 hours before I had to get up again. I understand not everyone is like that, which is why I'm trying to keep back and let him do his own thing. However, it is definitely difficult when I walk by and see that he's on facebook or watching tv instead of studying or spending time with me.

[taxgeek83]

Try not to do the “you're not studying enough” thing too much. It's great to have people around us to keep us accountable, but I've definitely found that the more folks tell me I have to study or tell me I'm not studying enough, the more I rebel against it. I don't know what it is – maybe I just really don't like being told what to do. Regardless, I'm one who has to do things in my own time, in my own way. Some folks are great at making a schedule and sticking to it – I'm more apt to say screw the schedule and cram for a couple of weeks. It's not pretty, but it always gets done, and it's worked for me so far. (Last exam is next week so we'll see how it works out this time…. 😉 ) Maybe offer to run flashcards, or quiz every now and then, especially when you don't think he's studying enough? That way you're being more helpful than accusatory or bossy. Good luck – and congrats on passing! 🙂

[klmc]

It sounds like you are doing enough. Being supportive without being a nag. This sounds like me the first time I took the test – I didn't study nearly as much as I should have and I got a 70. This time around I feel alot more prepared and ready to tackle the exam because I studied non-stop from dusk to dawn. No body can really tell you to study more you just need to decide for yourself.

|FAR| - 72, 83
|AUD| - 73, 76
|REG| - 76
|BEC| - 73, 82

ALL DONE!!

[Lion_of_the_Rock]

My advice is to be his girlfriend and let him figure out the other stuff. If he cares about passing the test then he'll study, if he doesn't really care then he won't study and he'll fail.

*Tomq04 was having a bit of fun I think. Don't disrespect the profession by feeding the stereotype that all CPAs are devoid of any personality.

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 74, 79
FAR - 75

You have to buy a ticket to win the raffle.

[CPAfit]

What if your bf is reading this thread right now instead of studying :p

AUD - 82
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 83

HIYA!

NH Licensed CPA - Jun 2018

[raymondsfamily]

I honestly think he needs to figure out what works best for him and if that means trial and error then so be it…I truly underestimated the level of commitment needed to pass this exam and when I failed a few sections that's when I got my a** in gear (more or less – I did have a momentary temper tantrum of not wanting to shell out more time and money on the exam). I say continue doing what your doing for you bf and keep the communication channel open and stay positive for him 🙂

AUD - 89
BEC - 83
FAR - 81
REG - 86

Finally done - many thanks to Jeff and A71!

F - 5/8/13 81
R - 74, 2/7/14 86
B - 74, 12/6/13 82
A - 70, 11/4/14 89!!!

I'm done 🙂 Many thanks to Jeff, A71 and Roger CPA!!!

MBA and CPA

[tomq04]

Sorry for the fun and games!

My wife was mucho supportive of me while studying (not a CPA), and since I have nothing productive to add, I'll take my poor usage of the English language and move away from here.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[tomq04]

I've thought on this the last 9 minutes and I do have something to add.

Here are the reasons I passed, followed by the reasons I failed…English be damned.

1.) I took charge of my own fate, regardless of what was going on, and how tough times were I studied! “No we can't go and do this or that” was said many times over.

2.) I stuck to a schedule, that was nearly inflexible despite having a 2 year old and a pregnant wife. Did I fluctuate during “emergencies”? Of course, but I worked extra hard when everyone was asleep, or during down time at work.

3.) I grew up; in my past life I was a “push over” in the sense of doing most whatever my wife wanted, and I was happy with that. After failing 2 tests, I realized that if I wanted to pass, I had to kick some serious ass, and guess what…my wife's feelings weren't hurt! She understood completely, and encouraged me to kick said ass.

Why I failed:

1.) I was a big cry-baby, times were tough, and I didn't put in the right number of hours!

2.) I didn't stand up for my study time when I KNEW I needed more hours.

3.) Excuse-ville (this one is valid), my wife was pregnant and puking in bed for 2 months while I tried to continue to work and love on her and the said 2 year old. It was an “emergency” and I did my best, but I failed 2 tests. That could have been the end of me, but I came back hard knowing I had to finish before the baby was born. Knocked out test #2, failed FAR again, rallied and passed BEC. Had a baby, had a mental breakdown, and somehow pulled out the stops and totally wrecked FAR with every ounce of strength in me.

Here is the moral of the story, this shit is tough, and there is lots of work that needs to be done in our (marriage) lives. I couldn't have passed without my wife's support, but in the same time it did a serious number on her and us. Be understanding (you've been through it), try to not be pregnant as best as possible, and let him “take charge” of his habits. He will pass or fail if he wants to, despite you or because of you.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[mla1169]

Let him know if there's anything he needs you're on board even if it's running flash cards. Then leave it up to him. Hopefully he knows or will soon find out what is “enough” studying for him and you'll be able to just follow his lead.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[RachelP]

Yep, I agree with what people said here. I am SO GLAD my husband didn't nag me. I need less studying than he does, but I still need to study! lol. What he would do, since I'm so social, is just create a study atmosphere. So, we started spending nights together in our “study” where he would read/play a computer game on silent next to me while I knocked it out. Fully believe this is why I passed the first one.

We also got a computer game to play together, so I would say, ok, if I get 100 MC right in the next two hours we will spend 1/2 an hour playing. (Notice I said right, not done LOL)

Also, even though I maybe didn't put “as much time as I should have” in the first 4 weeks, the last two when I'm freaking out & emotional, he was always there to tell me that I had put my time in & studied & my work would pay off. He NEVER questioned my habits (ok, well, sometimes gently if I had taken more than 2 days off in a row) lol

I know those 2 weeks before every exam are really hard on him, but bless him, he's stuck with me even though!

"Don't worry, beeeeee happy!"

Unhappy with job, long distance boyfriend, not much studying:
FAR- 66 [08/28/12] AUD- 61 [10/04/12] REG- 59 [11/28/12] BEC- 63 [01/11/13]
Year off (from exams): Got new job, got married, moved, etc
✓ AUD- 79!!! 01/10/14 FIRST PASS!! WOOOO!!!
✓ REG- 73 02/27/14, 81 10/27/14
✓ FAR- 83 5/16/14
✓ BEC- 80 7/24/14
✓ Education ✓ Experience
Ethics Exam

[Author]

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