[kelslynn1028]

I have been at this thing for almost two years now. I passed BEC my first time taking it and AUD my second time taking it but REG and FAR are taking me several tries so BEC now expired. All of my coworkers are seeming to pass without any troubles and nobody in personal life understands the struggle. I’m so fed up with this exam that I don’t have any motivation at all to study anymore. I literally am unable to force myself to sit down and study. I take FAR tomorrow. I can already tell I’m not prepared and I’m not able to push it back. AUD expires in August. What to do, what to do. I know I’ll regret it and hate myself if I give up, but at this rate I’m just wasting a lot of time and money. I’m tired of missing family events, holidays, and not allowing myself to watch TV if I want to or at least feeling guilty for doing it. I don’t know what to do anymore. I want to just finish this thing and be done with it, but I’m finding it impossible to stay motivated and study. Look how many times I’ve sat for these exams based on my signature! I’m sure I just look like an idiot to my coworkers. It’s not that I can’t understand the material, it’s just that I don’t want to take the time to study and memorize anymore. I’m beyond burnt out.

Advice please!

BEC - 78*, 7/26/14
AUD - 66, 81
REG - 70, 62, 67, 8/26/14
FAR - 68, 73, 64
*indicates expired due to 18 month rule

"Your dream doesn't have an expiration date. Take a deep breath, and try again" -kt witten

[Anonymous]

How much have you been studying for your REG and FAR exams? Since you passed BEC and AUD once, there is no reason why you can't conquer the next 2. Personally I started off by failing audit twice, then failing FAR before passing BEC, AUD then REG.

What really helped me was that I bought the ninja package, stopped watching lectures, read the books cover to cover and did all of the WTB questions. I feel that it's the only way to beat this test. Give it your all tomorrow and then take BEC in a month, then REG end of august. We're all burnt out but eventually you get through it and you'll be stronger for it.

Also I'm taking FAR tomorrow as well so lets keep our fingers crossed for a good day, hoping it to be my last!

P.S. don't tell your coworkers anything! They do not need to know when you have a test or how you are doing.

[NCcpaHopeful]

I feel the same way sometimes. I had a pretty lousy day at work today and now I have to come home and study for FAR. Sometimes it doesn't seem worth all the hassle! But you've already put so many hours into studying the material, I'm sure you can ultimately pass them all!! What I keep telling myself with FAR is that even if I don't remember everything, every time I study, I gain a little bit more understanding and familiarity with the material. Eventually it will all sink in and we will all pass this horrible test!!!!!!

AUD - 92
BEC - 76
REG - 83
FAR - 72 RE-MATCH AUG 2014

[kelslynn1028]

In the beginning I was very focused and was putting in all the time needed. I haven't done that in a while. I procrastinate and do anything to avoid studying. I'm just so burnt out on it I can't even make myself study. My exam is tomorrow and I don't even want to study today, how sad is that?! I feel like I just can't get myself together. I'm pretty sure there's no hope for FAR tomorrow, but I know I can pass BEC again since I did on my first try, I'm retaking it in July, then hopefully I can pass REG in August. AUD will expire and then I'll be down to having to retake AUD and FAR. I know I can pass AUD, I work in internal audit and find it much easier material now that I've been there for a while. As for FAR, it's a beast and I'll just have to get through it. Maybe I'll be a CPA by December. The hard part about not telling my coworkers anything is that in order to take the days off from work, I have to ask my supervisors and my other coworkers are just constantly asking. I need to stop telling them anything though because it makes me pretty depressed every time I have to tell them I have another FAIL in the books. I feel like it makes me seem incompetent and that everyone is just wondering why I'm not passing. I can tell you exactly why, it's because I'm not studying. For me it's so difficult. None of my close friends are dealing with the CPA or any exam of this nature. My boyfriend and I live together and I feel like I'm constantly cleaning up after him which makes me evenings full so not much time to study. Our weekends are always booked from one thing or another.

Anyone else feeling this way?

BEC - 78*, 7/26/14
AUD - 66, 81
REG - 70, 62, 67, 8/26/14
FAR - 68, 73, 64
*indicates expired due to 18 month rule

"Your dream doesn't have an expiration date. Take a deep breath, and try again" -kt witten

[mena je twa]

You dont want to study today, since you have your exam tomorrow.

Just relax today in the evening, give a good effort for your exam tomorrow and then eveluate.

You can use some time-off from CPA and get your energy back. Right now it seems like you are just dragging your feet and are too stressed.

Just take the exam tomorrow and re-evaluate

i wish you the best , tomorrow.

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[kelslynn1028]

I will do my best tomorrow, of course, but I haven't even studied 1/3 of the material I need to. There's no way that I'll pass, but I'll still put in the effort. After this exam I'm off for a 3 week vacation to Europe with my boyfriend, maybe after this vacation I'll feel renewed and ready to finish these exams. I take BEC two weeks after we get back, but I still think I can handle that one. I just hope my attitude of not wanting to study doesn't continue. It's like a laziness that I can't seem to shake.

BEC - 78*, 7/26/14
AUD - 66, 81
REG - 70, 62, 67, 8/26/14
FAR - 68, 73, 64
*indicates expired due to 18 month rule

"Your dream doesn't have an expiration date. Take a deep breath, and try again" -kt witten

[Anonymous]

Take a look at my sig. I was, in the midst of Q3 of 2013, almost exactly where you are now, though I managed by some miracle to have FAR under my belt. Almost everyone in my office had passed each part on their first try, a few on their second. I was depressed, embarrassed, demotivated, and determined to just give up and quit the pursuit. And that's what I did. For several months I did nothing CPA exam related. I had resigned myself to the notion it wasn't for me.

So I went out. I saw my friends. I went to family functions. I had my life back. I was finally free after 2+ years… And I hated myself for it more than I hated studying. I needed that break because I found out I really did want it. I recommend that you go read Jeff's story. He's 100% right. You will never pass if you half ass it. But you have to get to the point where you are ready to be serious about it. My battle with REG proves that. No more half measures!!

Having to retake two sections SUCKS. But it can be done. Don't ever give up! But also don't be afraid to take a break and center yourself if that's what >you< need to get through it. I'm right on the cusp of 3 years of taking this test… finally about to be done (I hope), and I can't even describe the feeling. Ultimately, your own sig says it all. Take a deep breath, and try again. If that deep breath takes a whole month, then so be it!

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately time will always be an issue and will only get worse as you get older. Now is when you need to just buckle down and get through it. I was lucky to start this journey right out of college during graduate school without anything else getting in the way. FAR is definitely a beast in the amount of material but as you go through it, the concepts all seem to go together. You also got a 73 on it which means you just needed a little bit extra!

I would also look into Saturday testing as I heard some centers do it. Using PTO for this test has to suck.

As for the bf, tell him you're not his mom and that he should help you out if he wants a bigger, better apartment in the future!

[HardWork]

Yea I feel ya. I just started studying (haven't even taken a single part) and I already feel like giving up. I actually stopped for 2 months after getting stuck on F2. But I recently picked it up because I honestly can't find enjoyment in anything knowing in the back of my mind I have to take this stupid test. It seems that you have been extremely close both times taking FAR and you have already passed a few sections. I would just review your past notes, focus on your weak areas, and just keep doing MCQ that way you don't feel like you are starting from scratch. The way I get myself to study is that I box out 5 hours of my day dedicated to study then I study for 30 min take a 10 min break and continue. It's not the most efficient way but I will increase the study time every few days to eventually study for a few hours straight without a break. Just keep at it, you've gone so FAR already.

FAR- 7/15
AUD- 8/28
BEC- 10/6
REG- 11/21

[kelslynn1028]

Luckily my job allows us to take the day before an exam as a study day and the day of an exam as an exam day so it doesn't cost me any vacation, but in order to do that I have to ask for it and then when we travel and I stay in it's always because I'm studying or my coworkers will ask if I'll be in the office on a certain day and I'll say no, I'm out for an exam. It stinks, but it's very difficult to get around the whole department knowing when you out for an exam.

I think what also hasn't helped is that I'm in internal audit and we travel all over the world. We are gone for 2 weeks out of every month and that also makes me not want to stay in and study. I'd rather explore. Not having a constant schedule of always being home hasn't helped to motivate me. I've also gained about 50 pounds in the last two years because I eat well on my job and instead of working out I always tell myself that if I have time to work out then I have time to study, but instead of going home and studying, I go home and watch TV.

It's a vicious cycle and I need to get my head in the game and myself under control. I'm hoping this 3 week vacation will help to re-prioritize the CPA in my mind and that I can just buckle down and finish it up.

I just always wonder if I'm the only one feeling this way. Everyone else seems so focused and able to study and able to knock them all out relatively quickly if not right away.

BEC - 78*, 7/26/14
AUD - 66, 81
REG - 70, 62, 67, 8/26/14
FAR - 68, 73, 64
*indicates expired due to 18 month rule

"Your dream doesn't have an expiration date. Take a deep breath, and try again" -kt witten

[wannabeCaliCPA]

Interestingly enough, this is EXAAACTLY what happened to me back 6 years ago: I had three sections passed, but kept failing FAR time after time after time. so….my sections started expiring….I was sooo demotivated that I, also, could not force myself to sit down and concentrate on studying. After wasting time and money, I decided to leave the CPA exam for “better days”. Now, 6 years later, I am passing them all from the first try (God, please help me pass REG as it is my last one! – waiting for my score on it). Maybe, it is worth just leaving it for a while and come back to it later. It sure worked for me. Just a thought from my personal experience.

one last exam score to wait for......
FAR - 78
BEC - 84
AUD - 92
REG - 88

[Anonymous]

I am studying for my third BEC retake in a few days and I am completely unmotivated. This will be my 10th exam and I only have one part passed. I am feeling very discouraged and frustrated and am seriously contemplating giving up all together. I have been studying for almost 2 years and I feel as if I have no progress to show for it. I have come very close to passing multiple times and yet cannot get over that hump. I've been using Becker to study and then when that wasn't working I purchased the Wiley book's as well. After working all day and traveling, the last thing I want to do is come home and study. I feel like I am missing so much of my life by always studying or feeling guilty when I'm not studying. It is always a constant stress and I am tired of feeling like I am dedicating so much time and money and not seeing results. I work at a Big 4 firm and I feel like there is so much pressure to pass this exam and everyone else is passing and I'm not. It's very stressful and disheartening. I constantly wonder if there wasn't the pressure from work if I would want to pass this exam at all. I know there are plenty of people who take the exam numerous times, but right now I feel as if this endless cycle of failing will never end.

kelslynn1028 you're not the only one to feel the way you do. I wish I had advice to give or tell you that it'll all be okay, but frankly, I feel exactly the same as you do. I am finding it more difficult to study and focus. This test is making me reconsider my decision to even become an accountant. I feel as if I want to cry and scream at all times. I am tired of feeling this way because of a test. I've tried different study techniques and materials and I'm running out of ideas.

Any that has been in the situation have any encouraging words? Is it really worth all the stress and heartache?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you need some adderall!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you need some adderall! (I don't use it but boy does it help you focus)

[lalap]

Hi danko,

I know it's a lot of stress!! Almost everyone in my starting class already had the exam under their belt during orientation!! I know my team was very supportive and really wanted me to pass. I usually stayed at client site and studied until 9 or 9.30 (everybody else left around 6). I couldn't study at home, because I always ended up watching netflix or taking naps.Then a week before the exam, my team allowed me to take PTO. Nobody bothered me or even ping me with work question during my PTO which helped me to focus just on the exam. During my PTO I reserved a cube at the office and studied there. I know it sucks to use PTO to study but I got to the point where I want to stop giving my money away to NASBA. You can do this!

Passed

[ruggercpa2b]

I feel your pain. I have been at this for a few years now and my failures were due to not putting in the time. My fiance and I lived together when I decided to get back to studying after taking a year off and it was an adjustment. I had to sit down with him and explain to him how important this exam was and needed him to pick up the slack around the house. I have been very fortunate to have someone that does not mind cleaning and making dinner on certain nights. I use the crockpot a lot, we use paper plates most of the times and each does their own laundry. If I had to pick up after him I would go insane.

I am in audit as well and travel occasionally for work. When I travel I adjust my study time. Since the hotel we usually stay is within 10 minutes of the office. I wake up earlier to study and then in the evenings I go have dinner and explore with coworkers. I do make sure that I don't stay up late nor do I have more than one alcoholic drink at dinner. They say I am lame but I have to do what I have to so I can get my study hours in. Maybe you should take a break and then revisit the exam since you are so burned out.

Don't give up!

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.

[Author]

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