[kibbles256]

Hey, All!

I am (obviously) new to the forum. I’ve been going through the archives of A71 to see if there are any potential candidates considering the CPA. I’m really here to understand the strategy; what I should take (in what order), what study materials are best based on your experience, and if my work history would qualify me to become a licensed CPA.

So, here it goes. Please pardon my lengthy and unnecessarily introspective post.

1. In Alabama, I’ve gotten my BSBA, MBA, & MAcc from an AASCB qualified university.

2. I’m now 26 yrs old and I’ve spent 5 years working for a US Federal Contractor.

3. 3 of those years I spent in Cost Accounting and Accounts Receivable.

4. I’ve never done Public Accounting…no bookkeeping, night audits, nada.

5. I volunteered as a Tax Aid for 2 tax seasons.

6. If truth be told, everything I’ve learned in school never transitioned into the workplace…that means, though I’m sure some of the information may be lying dormant, I really am no where CLOSE to being the go-to person when it comes to [more than] basic accounting principles.

7. Though I have gotten the MAcc, I ended up hating Accounting for quite some time. I, honestly, learned the most studying for my MBA…

8. The list continues to become more pathetic as you read, I’m sure 🙁

9. I need study material, at this point, to symbolically (and literal, if it was possible) take my hand and lead me to the Promised Land.

10. I really want to be proficient in Accounting…

11. This, though it doesn’t matter, is really to support my family more than me having a passion for Accounting.

12. Please…help 🙁

[Rocky123]

“I ended up hating Accounting for quite some time”

Becoming a CPA is really, really hard work. You have to want it BAD. It takes drive, dedication and self sacrifice. If you hate accounting so much, I'm not sure this is the right career move for you.

Money is important, but you need to at least tolerate what you do. Based on what you've said, you would be downright miserable.

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

[tomq04]

6-12 months of studying is brutal, you're not in the right state after all of the other master's work you've done to get this done and stay sane IMO.

When you're ready, and you have a real reason/drive to push you forward, you would be able to do it. At this point I really think you'll be flushing money.

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

[kibbles256]

Thank you Rocky123 and tomq04

I knew I came to the right forum for advice. You guys actually seem like a real caring bunch.

I've also been back and forth on that same idea as well.

I really did love Accounting growing up and even after my Bachelor's.

Then it went downhill…I fear it's also due to (like tomq04 said) over-exertion.

I think the reason I came to this board in particular is to not only see if I'm being crazy to just do it because it's a probable means to an end but also to create a steady platform for in the near-or-far future when I'm prepared to hop back into the saddle of Accounting appreciation.

I highly doubt I'm an anomaly on this board when it comes to a few of the points I made in the original post.

Besides my waning spark for Accounting, would you be able to give any advice regarding study materials and the like?

[Texan_Stuck_In_OK]

If you didn't like the studies for the MACC, then you will despise studying for this exam. My advice is to stick with what you love doing. If you are going to put yourself through this torture, then you have to be doing it for YOU, not anyone else. If you are doing it for someone else, then you could end up resenting them for doing this to you. Follow you heart…you can still work in accounting without a CPA. I've been in industry for over 14 years, have progressed nicely, and finally decided it was time to do this thing…but this is what I've always wanted to do.

Take a good hard look at what you are really trying to accomplish and go from there.

Best of luck to you…if you decide to join the masochist ranks with us…we welcome you and support in any way we can.

Personally, I use CPAExcel and Ninja materials, they are good compliments to each other.

A 88, B 76, F 84, R 76 Passed 2014

Licensed in OK

[kibbles256]

Thank you, Texan_Stuck_In_OK (or TSIO, for short lol).

This was something I've always wanted to be. From 5th or 6th grade, when they asked what you'd like to be when you grow up, I wanted to be a CPA at the age of 25.

So, I can say there is some personal drive there to be a CPA.

Admittedly, I am certainly seeing the benefit for my family and that is the stronger driving-force at this point in my life.

I don't mind the sacrifice. However, I AM retaining your words of advice…I don't want to do something I hate or end up resentful because of…at all.

#10 in my initial list is what I really want to hang my hat on eventually…I Really would like to become proficient in accounting.

This would be something that I can look back on and say that I've accomplished and am knowledgeable about.

Eventually, I'll get that to be my driving force. Until then, thank you for letting me know what your study materials were.

I was reading the Becker (post Becker and actual Scores) thread.

That was so inspiring.

When I have the urges and look at study materials, I end up looking at Roger CPA Review.

I haven't looked at Becker that strongly – neither CPA Excel. I'll read more threads on here about those.

[warrreagle1015]

@kibbles256 – is that AASCB qualified university Auburn by chance? 🙂

Best of luck with your studying. As mentioned by others, you must possess the drive in order to become a CPA. If you can overcome any obstacles that come your way, you will get it without and problems. I personally use CPAExcel and love it. Roger is a little too fast for me. Also, use the NINJA Audio and MCQs….very helpful!

Do what's best for you – your family will support you no matter what…along with us other Alabama folk.

BEC - 82
AUD - 82
REG - 79
FAR - 76

FAR - 71, 76
AUD - 72, 67, 74
BEC - 71, 69, TBD
REG - TBD

[Anonymous]

So you're not sure you even want to do this. Well, you've come to the right place for advice. You'll get all kinds of perspectives, here! Welcome.

So here's a secret: I really, really hated accounting. I'm a licensed CPA and I get a little nauseated when I think about journal entries and T accounts. But let it be known: my exams scores reflect how much I hated accounting. I wasn't serious about becoming a CPA for the first 2 1/2 years of my journey, and I failed over and over again until I got serious about it. But I ended up finding a niche I really enjoy doing compliance audits, and having the credential is what got me into the position I now have.

So ask yourself: are you serious about getting the credential? Can you buckle down and do something you really don't like for months on end? My best advice is that if you decide you want to be a CPA purely because of all of the doors it opens for you, then you better make sure you are 100% committed to the process. No having a passion for accounting doesn't mean pursuing a CPA isn't the right move, but it also doesn't mean pursuing a CPA isn't the wrong move. You've got to know your own limits, your own drive, your own work ethic. You've got to know that you can and will do whatever you must to see it through and keep going despite any setback you come across.

Good luck!

[Mamabear]

I don't like accounting. In fact I despised it in college. Dreaded every accounting course. I got As in them, but I hated it. In fact I worked in accounting (AP, AR, INventory control) for a while after I got my MBA because of the job market. I tried desperately to get out of accounting and eventually got into financial analysis, which I loved. Now I am back in accounting because that is what my company wanted me to do, on the condition that I get my CPA. So here I am, taking this test, missing time with my family, missing sleep, gaining weight, and generally not enjoying it. So my advice to you is if you want to do it, DO IT NOW…before the husband/wife, before the kids, before the mortgage, etc. Do I do accounting because I love it? Absolutely not. It's boring. It's the same month after month after month (in my job at least). I do it because I'm good at it and it will provide for my family. There are people that follow “passions” and many don't make it in those professions. A lot of “passions” don't pay well, at least not in the beginning. I don't need to be excited to go to work everyday because I am excited to come home every day. I am excited to get my 4 weeks off a year. I am excited that I know when my busy days/weeks are at work so I can plan for them. I am excited that I am in a profession that will always be needed and that affords me the opportunity to pursue my other interests or passions after work. Well–I'll be able to AFTER I pass this damn test. 🙂 You're young and you're in study mode. Get it done now and knock it out quickly before life gets in the way. Just do it! The more you question whether you should, the more you talk yourself out of ever starting, and the longer it will take if you decide to do it later.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[kibbles256]

@warrreagle1015, not Auburn (though I really wanted to do a few courses there 🙁 ) – UAH, rather. But WDE, anyway! Thank you for your advice! I'm really now looking at this CPAExcel closer than I've been.

@CPA means Cant Pass Again, thank you for your warm welcome and for sharing that with me. I thought I was really off if I admitted that the majority of my studies became the subject I got tired of lol. You gave some serious insight. Those are really questions I must ask myself.

@Mamabear, you're my twin. I really am rooting for you. Everything you said is really how I feel right now. I hope that you do great on the exam!

This really seems like a great place to converse about the ins and outs of accounting/CPA.

[warrreagle1015]

Mamabear has been an inspiration to this entire community at Another71. I'm rooting for her BIG time come exam day.

@kibbles256 – glad you got the motivation you need. Reach out to us if you need anything. Oh yeah…WDE! Hope all is well in Huntsvegas.

BEC - 82
AUD - 82
REG - 79
FAR - 76

FAR - 71, 76
AUD - 72, 67, 74
BEC - 71, 69, TBD
REG - TBD

[mla1169]

You sound pretty much like anybody when they start to entertain the idea of the CPA, you're in good company. However I do have a concern that you fear your falling out with accounting was due to “over-exertion”. Trust me when I tell you that nothing you've experienced will come close to the over exertion associated with passing these 4 exams within 18 months. I have a MACC and would do it ten times over before doing even one of these exams again.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to be the unpopular one and temper some of these posts with my opinion that a Masters seems more grueling than the CPA exams, because it lasts sooo much longer. Quickest Masters programs I've seen are still at least 18 months, but many people complete the CPA exams in less time than that. My on-campus undergrad college years (working at the same time and maintaining certain GPA to keep scholarship) were more strenuous by far than my CPA prep. I'm just throwing this out there to give an alternate perspective and help the OP understand that the CPA isn't necessarily the end of the world. That being said…

I don't think that studying for the CPA is likely to teach you anything more than what your MAcc did, nor is it likely to make you like accounting more. Very little of your studies will carry over to your job ever – or at least I have yet to meet anyone, in any profession, who actually said that their education carried over heavily into their day-to-day work. The best way to become an expert at your job is to focus on learning at work instead of learning outside. With just an undergrad and working through the CPA, I became a “go-to” at my workplace for several things because I had what a college can't provide: an understanding of and insight into the day-to-day of my specific job. The way to get that is to focus on learning every minute you're at work…and/or to try to glean as much as you can from the senior people in the office.

Also, not everyone has a passion for their work. I enjoy accounting as a job but can't say I'm passionate about it – it's just something I can do well that people will pay me to do, so I do it…and I have a positive attitude about it. I have no passion for this job or any other, but I have enjoyed every job I've had and poured myself into it. I think an important skill to develop is the ability to pour yourself into something even if it's not a passion so that you can do as well at it as someone who is passionate about it. This skill has allowed me to bag groceries better than anyone around me, and to be a go-to person after just a few months on the job when surrounded by people who have worked the same job for years.

[Author]

Replies