[Getting a CPA]

How do you stay motivated? And how do you pick yourself up and move forward?

And specifically, what is your amended study strategy? Anything less than a 75 is a 0, but you can’t possibly repeat the same schedule, can you?

BTW – the title to this thread is meant to be absolute, positive reinforcement – like “The Biggest Loser”.

Fall 7 times – get up 8 🙂

Thanks!

[smp73]

First. I hate that I fall into this category. 🙂

I have failed REG twice, first with a 63, second with a 74. The 74 hurt A LOT. I let myself be upset about it for a day or two, seriously considered giving up but then realized I am not the type to give up. For me to stay motivated to study for it yet again I have posted my 74 where I will see it multiple times a day. I do not want to see a score like that again.

I also know there is a promotion at the end of the CPA for me so that is a big help. I try to stay focused on why I started, remind myself that it will be worth it when I am done and that no one can take that title away from me (unless I go do something incredibly stupid which is highly unlikely).

The second time studying I used completely different materials. I used the wiley book and the test bank the second time. I tend to learn better if I can physically hold something and write in it/on it. So that helped a lot, I also bought the ninja notes and started rewriting them. I bought myself nice pens found a different place to study (actually rearranged my house to do this) and started breaking up my studying through out the day. This time around I am doing insane numbers of MC questions, really making sure I understand why the other answers are wrong, taking notes on the MC, rewriting ninja notes again and constantly reminding myself it will be worth it.

It is hard to stay motivated and for me it was important to give myself time to be upset over failing again in order to truly be able to study for it a third time.

Hope that made some sense. I am exhausted!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[smp73]

First. I hate that I fall into this category. 🙂

I have failed REG twice, first with a 63, second with a 74. The 74 hurt A LOT. I let myself be upset about it for a day or two, seriously considered giving up but then realized I am not the type to give up. For me to stay motivated to study for it yet again I have posted my 74 where I will see it multiple times a day. I do not want to see a score like that again.

I also know there is a promotion at the end of the CPA for me so that is a big help. I try to stay focused on why I started, remind myself that it will be worth it when I am done and that no one can take that title away from me (unless I go do something incredibly stupid which is highly unlikely).

The second time studying I used completely different materials. I used the wiley book and the test bank the second time. I tend to learn better if I can physically hold something and write in it/on it. So that helped a lot, I also bought the ninja notes and started rewriting them. I bought myself nice pens found a different place to study (actually rearranged my house to do this) and started breaking up my studying through out the day. This time around I am doing insane numbers of MC questions, really making sure I understand why the other answers are wrong, taking notes on the MC, rewriting ninja notes again and constantly reminding myself it will be worth it.

It is hard to stay motivated and for me it was important to give myself time to be upset over failing again in order to truly be able to study for it a third time.

Hope that made some sense. I am exhausted!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[LSNYC]

It took me A LOT to stay motivated. I have sat 18 times to date, my 19th and hopefully my last exam is in May.

AUD 6 times (2 passes)

BEC 4 times (2 Passes)

FAR 3 times (1 Pass)

REG 5 times – No passes last score was a 70.

I was so discouraged I quit, I had sat 14 times with 2 passes and I couldn't take it any more. This was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made. I was half way there and still had 10 months to pass. I wish I had kept at it because I know I would be done by now.

While quit was the worst thing, it was also the best. I took almost 2 years off lost my two sections but my studying habits are better, my dedication is actually there. I was not really putting in the effort before not passing was my own fault. I was half a$$ing it and hoping I would pass, now I know you cant do that as soon as I started really studying I stated passing.

When I think about quitting now I think about my potential raise and promotion, all the time and money I have wasted and all the amazing people on A71 that have helped me. I am almost done, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

This exam can really get in your head, don't let it, stay positive allow yourself time to relax every day even if just ten minutes you need to stay sane but you can motivate yourself!

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[LSNYC]

It took me A LOT to stay motivated. I have sat 18 times to date, my 19th and hopefully my last exam is in May.

AUD 6 times (2 passes)

BEC 4 times (2 Passes)

FAR 3 times (1 Pass)

REG 5 times – No passes last score was a 70.

I was so discouraged I quit, I had sat 14 times with 2 passes and I couldn't take it any more. This was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made. I was half way there and still had 10 months to pass. I wish I had kept at it because I know I would be done by now.

While quit was the worst thing, it was also the best. I took almost 2 years off lost my two sections but my studying habits are better, my dedication is actually there. I was not really putting in the effort before not passing was my own fault. I was half a$$ing it and hoping I would pass, now I know you cant do that as soon as I started really studying I stated passing.

When I think about quitting now I think about my potential raise and promotion, all the time and money I have wasted and all the amazing people on A71 that have helped me. I am almost done, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

This exam can really get in your head, don't let it, stay positive allow yourself time to relax every day even if just ten minutes you need to stay sane but you can motivate yourself!

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[Getting a CPA]

LSNYC – yowzers! I was hoping “bnrhilton” would come on here, but I had no idea about your history!

I respect your dedication, endurance, work ethic, and whatever else it takes to make 18 attempts. I hope May 3 is literally the light at the end of the tunnel for you 🙂

[Getting a CPA]

LSNYC – yowzers! I was hoping “bnrhilton” would come on here, but I had no idea about your history!

I respect your dedication, endurance, work ethic, and whatever else it takes to make 18 attempts. I hope May 3 is literally the light at the end of the tunnel for you 🙂

[LSNYC]

I think that was first time I ever posted how many times I have sat in total. I try not to think about the exams I took on my last attempt, and am only focusing on my attempts since I started sitting again in August. I finally have come to terms with my prior failures on this exam.

You can do this, failing an exam isn't the end of the world, hopefully you only see passes but if you see a fail use it as motivation!

Good luck!

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[LSNYC]

I think that was first time I ever posted how many times I have sat in total. I try not to think about the exams I took on my last attempt, and am only focusing on my attempts since I started sitting again in August. I finally have come to terms with my prior failures on this exam.

You can do this, failing an exam isn't the end of the world, hopefully you only see passes but if you see a fail use it as motivation!

Good luck!

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[Anonymous]

@gettingacpa, you stole my tag line!!! A couple weeks before I was scheduled to take my last exam (FAR retake to get my credit back) I went to eat chinese and my fortune read, and I kid you not, “FALL DOWN SEVEN TIMES STAND UP EIGHT”. If you take a look at my scores you will see I failed eight exams. I stood up for that FAR retake and killed it!!!

I added to my study methods. I added ninja notes, then I added ninja audio, and if those didn't work I started rewriting my notes and working mcq's until I was blue in the face.

[Anonymous]

@gettingacpa, you stole my tag line!!! A couple weeks before I was scheduled to take my last exam (FAR retake to get my credit back) I went to eat chinese and my fortune read, and I kid you not, “FALL DOWN SEVEN TIMES STAND UP EIGHT”. If you take a look at my scores you will see I failed eight exams. I stood up for that FAR retake and killed it!!!

I added to my study methods. I added ninja notes, then I added ninja audio, and if those didn't work I started rewriting my notes and working mcq's until I was blue in the face.

[Getting a CPA]

@bnrhilton – that's where I got it from! I knew I stole it from this site. I was hoping you would come on here, since you have posted your scores. I fail one practice exam, and I get discouraged! I am proud of you and lsync.

Right now I am using only CPAExcel, but if I fail a part, I will supplement it with Ninja and/or Wiley test bank.

Let's hope I don't fail a section this early though….

[Getting a CPA]

@bnrhilton – that's where I got it from! I knew I stole it from this site. I was hoping you would come on here, since you have posted your scores. I fail one practice exam, and I get discouraged! I am proud of you and lsync.

Right now I am using only CPAExcel, but if I fail a part, I will supplement it with Ninja and/or Wiley test bank.

Let's hope I don't fail a section this early though….

[Anonymous]

I would definitely recommend investing in Wiley test bank and ninja notes and/or audio. It is always good to use another source of questions to be able to see them from another angle. Often there will be some topics that are not covered in certain review courses that you will find questions on in Wiley test bank. I know that Wiley licenses their questions from the AICPA as does Becker, not sure about cpaexcel. You could also try cpareviewforfree.com for another source of questions.

Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

I would definitely recommend investing in Wiley test bank and ninja notes and/or audio. It is always good to use another source of questions to be able to see them from another angle. Often there will be some topics that are not covered in certain review courses that you will find questions on in Wiley test bank. I know that Wiley licenses their questions from the AICPA as does Becker, not sure about cpaexcel. You could also try cpareviewforfree.com for another source of questions.

Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

I've personally never failed. I just found a bunch of ways not to pass the exam. Luckily, I found 4 that worked. Staying motivated was never a problem for me. I always wanted to study. I always wanted to get up and get it done, but other things got in the way (understatement of the year!). I've always believed in God and I always knew He had a plan for me. Some of us were put on earth to fight and to struggle. I believe that the fight doesn't make you tougher; it makes you more compassionate than you were before.

I still have the picture of bnrhilton's fortune cookie fortune as the background on one of my computers. I almost freaked out when I realized that I had fallen down 7 times and stood up on the 8th time with REG and then finally with FAR. So I figured out what it meant to STAND!

Study constantly

Take your anger out on the exam

Accept that you won't know everything

Never Quit!

Determination is the key

I tried studying the same way for FAR that I studied for AUD. That didn't work! Each test is different and you have to approach them differently. For me, BEC was all about memorizing formulas and “drawing pictures” of how things were organized. I used Word's Organizational Chart to draw my pictures. I think it was the process of making them that made the information really stick. AUD was learning the standard audit report to the point that I could sing it! FAR was just repetition, repetition and more repetition. I had to draw some pictures there too. REG was listening to Jeff's audio over and over and over. I used his audio on BEC, FAR and REG and for me it helped the most on REG. That was my nightmare child! I almost answered one question wrong, but then I heard Jeff's voice in my head telling me what to do! When I walked out of that exam I had to send him a text to thank him. I couldn't tell him why I was thanking him, but I wanted him to know that his little memory tricks saved my behind!

To answer your original question of how do you pick yourself up and move forward, getting really, really, really angry helps! Focus that anger and take back your lunch money! Sometimes you have to STAND up to the bully to get what is yours!

[Author]

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