[mckan514w]

So thought I would start this thread because man I need to vent 🙂

My husband just left for work and walking out the door asked if we could please just have a “happy weekend” free of “all of this CPA BS” and maybe “just relax and not study”– I don’t know why this P–ED me off so bad but it did. I am just SICK of trying to explain this exam to people. Everyone seems to think this is just a simple easy test that you study for a few hours and then merrily go off and take… and do not understand that even studying practically full time (I still have a few clients I have to take care of) I am just barely treading water. I am exhausted and if I DON’T study “all the time” there is no way in hell I will ever pass this thing. I am not being dramatic, I am not trying to “ruin our social lives” nor am I turning into a “no fun accountant”- I am just being realistic with myself, and the expectations of this exam. I know my husband and friends are sick of hearing about the exam and me having to study- and I try as hard as I can to keep up a normal life outside of this thing and not neglect my home life, my clients or to a lesser extent my friends but the truth is YOU MUST STUDY TO PASS…. Sorry I have had a really hard study week with BEC and just needed to vent to people who actually “get it” 🙂 feel free to post yours.

And they ask me why I drink

BEC 71, 82
AUD 75
REG 75
FAR 61, 69, 83

and they ask me why I drink...

FAR- 61-next time I'll ask for lube instead of a calculator
REG-75- Never been so happy to see such a low grade
BEC- 8/11
AUD- 9/2

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that… 🙁 Maybe your husband was trying to look out for your best interests and help you relax, though – I think that breaks at times can make study time much more effective, so maybe it would be OK to make relaxation the focus of this weekend, and do a lighter study schedule? I'm not saying no study at all, but do hardcore study today, then take the weekend for a more relaxing schedule? Minds need a break once in a while, and your study next week might be even more effective as a result. 🙂 Just an idea…I know how old studying can get, so maybe you've earned a break.

[HoosierCPA]

I agree with Lilla. I study every day but if I feel myself getting drained I will have light evening of studying and get to bed early to “re-charge”. I would recommend getting some studying in the morning and having a “happy evening”, maybe not an entire “happy weekend” though ;).

AUD - 80
BEC - 82
FAR - 78
REG - 89

...

FAR - 78
REG - 72,74,71...please just go away REG nobody likes you!
BEC - 82
AUD - Aug 16

[bhunt815]

@ mckan514w – I understand your frustration. I have roughly 20 years accounting experience and I can't tell you how many people have told me “the CPA exam should be a breeze for you since you've been doing it so long”. Let me end the suspense – it is not a breeze for me. In fact, it might be even a disadvantage since I've been out of school so long. I'm Finance Director at a non-profit. If I had to guess, I'd wager that applies to roughly 5% of what's on the CPA exam.

AUD - 79
BEC - 81
FAR - 84
REG - 78

Becker Self Study supplemented with Ninja MCQ's for BEC and REG.

Licensed CPA in Louisiana.

FAR 04/11/2016 - 84
AUD 05/12/2016 - 79
BEC 07/06/2016 - 81
REG 08/29/2016

[mtaylo24]

Right there with ya…My RN wife, studied a whole weekend for her 1 part NCLEX and passed (got her results after a grueling 24 hour wait…HA!), meanwhile, I've been at this forever. She too gets frustrated that I sit on the couch w/ the laptop open day in and day out LOL. I just stay stubborn and block everything out, because this will only benefit me in the long run…

CPA (2017)

REG:  75

BEC:  76

FAR:  77

AUD: 78

 

CMA (2019)

P1: 380

P2: 360

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[KJ]

Yes, our brain needs a break time to time and it gets more productive after that much deserved break. Like Lilla said just do light study this weekend, give your family more time and then get back on it Monday hardcore.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler" - Albert Einstein

FAR - August 2016
AUD - September 2016
REG - October 2016
BEC - November 2016

Remember: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein

[Tncincy]

Bless your heart, Mackan, everyone, even spouses can fail to see how intense this process is. You can do it….give them few hours, then back to the grind mill. I certainly understand, words cannot express the stress that I have experienced since I didn't pass from the beginning. My only regret is that I told so many my plans, now they won't leave me alone. Yes, I feel bad when I have to admit I didn't pass. So when I have to take on the next part or same part or change the test dates, I get these irritated sighs from my friends and family. But it's ok because when we pass we will be the geniuses everybody knew we could be or they will hate because of jealousy….so we'll win just be ready.

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

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

[okcpa2015]

@mckan514w I certainly understand your frustration. I got that a lot when I was studying for the exams. Typically if it was from my friends I just blew it off. However, with my wife I new that wouldn't help anything.

So what I did was make a weekly schedule of when I was going to study and I would share it with her. It worked out perfect. Eventually is was a collaborative effort. If she knew about something she wanted to do she'd let me know. I would work it into my schedule and adjust the rest of my week to find the amount of hours I budgeted.

It's all about expectations, and I had to make sure when it was time to “not study” I gave my full attention to that time and not the exams. Best of luck!

FAR - 91
REG - 88
AUD - 98
BEC - 88

[ruggercpa2b]

I totally understand how you feel. My husband and I used to argue all the time. I finally realized that I was constantly wanting to study and with my frustrations with the exam I became not the nicest person to be around. I was always grumpy if I had to take time out of my day to go hang out with friends for a few hours. I remember getting into a huge fight one fourth of July because I literally had a resting bitch face the whole time I was at the party.

After a while I finally realized I needed to make time for him. The exam was my first priority outside of work which left zero time for anyone else. He was grumpy and I was grumpy. I also realized that we were barely intimate which made for even more fighting (I know TMI). Now we have date night every Friday. Either we go out to dinner or stay in and get caught up on shows that we both enjoy and just talk. I also make sure that we eat dinner together every night and then I go study. We put our phones down during that time. The last two weeks before my exam he knows that all I do is study and no date nights during those two weeks. He is in charge of dinner and taking care of the house. He doesn't mind it.

Tomorrow we have friends coming over. I used to get so angry when he invited people over. Since I wont be able to study for the time they are here, we don't have date night tonight. Instead I am going to study for a few hours and then also study tomorrow morning before they come over. We have an agreement that I will do one thing every few months with friends. I also do not talk about the exam with our friends. I also do not really talk to my husband about the exam either. I just tell him when my next exam is and occasionally he will ask how studying is going but thats about it.

The exam can be consuming. You have to try and find some balance.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 1/6/18
FAR - TBD
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Anonymous]

mckan514w if it helps it beats my alternative. I had thought my husband was just really supportive and giving me time and space to finish the exams, he was really using it as an excuse to develop another relationship….I will be replacing the Mrs. with CPA….

Focus on the positive, you have a spouse that really misses you, his definition of a happy weekend is spending time with you. Good luck!

[Jackobe24]

at least your husband is just asking you to take a weekend off,

but girlfriend keeps asking me to go on a freaking vacation with her….lol

she can't understand that if I pass all four damn parts of the exam then I would have all the time in the world to go on vacations, but before that I'm not going anywhere….

FAR - 9/8/16 (Hopefully it's my last CPA exam, God bless me!)
REG - 80
BEC - 81
AUD - 69, 81

[aran01]

I have only told two people I am studying for the exam. Because the last time I tried to start this process everyone knew and were constantly asking about it. I just wanted to scream, shut the F up (but I was also going through a divorce at the time). Hoping this time goes a little smoother and not letting others know takes some of the burden off. My now ex didn't get it either….maybe why he is an ex j/k.

[mckan514w]

@mtaylo24 YES! my husband keeps comparing it to his yearly “compliance test” he has to take – that take an hour out of his day the night before to read the material and an hour the day of to answer 30 mcqs- I'm just like hon no offense but doesn't even compare

ha ha ha ruggercpa2b resting bitchy face!!!!- yes I think I can be accused of that as well…

@Jackobe24 I think thats part of the reason yesterday made me so mad- I got badgered into a week vacation after REG we JUST got back from it- and I gave him 100% of attention- no studying, no talking about the exams, no talking about work, I didn't even sneak on to the forum here 😉 — It was great, it was fun but I lost an entire week of studying!!!!

Thanks everyone for the encouragement- I really do TRY not to let this thing run my life and for the most part I really do try to take breaks and leave my Saturdays and Sundays relatively study free- but I also realize that usually when I am not studying I am obsessing about it or talking about it or checking flashcards on my phone- ha ha ha– I will try to be better so thanks for the alternative view points

and @efcornell all I can say is wow! and from where I sit your better off without that a-hole 🙂

GOOD LUCK to everyone thanks for letting me vent

And they ask me why I drink

BEC 71, 82
AUD 75
REG 75
FAR 61, 69, 83

and they ask me why I drink...

FAR- 61-next time I'll ask for lube instead of a calculator
REG-75- Never been so happy to see such a low grade
BEC- 8/11
AUD- 9/2

[Anonymous]

Sometimes family don't understand that the all consuming stress of hte CPA exam is equivalent to the upheaval that comes with a major life event, like moving across the country or getting fired and having to search for a new job. The family just wants things to be normal and easy again because they feel neglected and inconvenienced but you know that's practically impossible unless you put in the time and work and get through it.

It's definitely frustrating because if someone lost their job and was spending all their time looking for a new one and feeling stressed and worried and upset, you wouldn't say “oh just take the weekend off from that job search crap” or “well, maybe you don't REALLY need a job”.

[Anonymous]

Next time he should say, “I'm going out Friday night. I hope you will join me.”

Then he should go out and have fun Friday night, and let you make your choice.

[Anonymous]

@Jackobe24 maybe ask Skynet to take your girlfriend on a freaky vacation

[Author]

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