[hili783]

I work for PwC and it is my first week working for them. I work from 8 am till 6 pm Monday to Friday.it takes about an 45 mins to drive from home to work and the same time going back home, so in total around 12 hours are out of my control. I talked to my boss about releasing me early like around 3 or 4 pm so I could have enough time to study, but he refused, so I asked him if I can study, but he also refused because I will have so much work and I won’t be able to study.

PLEASE EVERYONE, I need you advise, I am going to have my FAR exam in May and I am wondering if I should leave PwC and just get all my free time for studying, or I should keep working and give a try if I can handle both CPA and work.

FAR -
BEC -
REG -
AUD -

[Anonymous]

The best thing I can say to you is to make good use of your time outside of work studying for the CPA exam.

You wanna see if you can balance both. My advice would also be to talk to your coworkers and get advice from them.

Good luck!

[Herbieherb]

Why should your boss accomodate you? 8-6 isn't that bad suck it up

NEW YORK- DONE

[KTE_CPA]

I would agree with Herbie on this one. I have a demanding job myself and also a family of four at home. Basically, my study time is 7:00 till whenever on the weedays and then most of the day on Sat and Sun. I learned early in this process that there is basically no free time and there will always be things that compete for my time. You can do it. It is hard coming home after 10 hours in the office and having to study for 3-4 hours and miss time with the family. However, I just finished taking my fourth part last week (hoping that I passed) and I can honestly say that the reward and accomplishment far outweigh the sacrifice. Hang in there.

FAR - 80 (05/23/11)
AUD - 92 (07/27/11)
BEC - 81 (10/24/11)
REG - 89 (02/20/12)
CA Ethics - 94 (03/31/12)

CA CPA - Licensed May 2012

[Anonymous]

You sound kind of young and probably remind me of myself when I was young….as best I can remember it was a long time ago.

I'm going to have to go consensus on this one. I have a brand new career as well, I drive 45 minutes or more each way, I have a wife, I have two kids, I also run a tax business on the side and am very active at my local Church.

I get up at 5 am, drive to work…study before work. I block off my schedule on my calendar during the day at lunch and spend my lunch hours studying. I go home, eat….play with the kids and then I study. On the weekends I put a full work day in on Saturday (I break it up into 2-3 hour segments mixed with a break or two) and study between services on Sunday.

Between all that I managed to put 120 hours into auditing and probably even more into BEC.

It's doable…just treat it like a second job.

[ppierce]

i work a full time job, have a wife, 3 year old daughter and a 3 month old son. i just took Aud on Friday and god willing have one more to go after that.

me thinks your weekends are wide open if youre not married or don't have kids.

FAR 80
REG 76
AUD 85
BEC 85
Ethics 98
DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Frank784]

I'm definitely going to agree with others and also tell you to suck it up. You're lucky that you get off work at 6. You should do what I've done the last two months studying for FAR and study after work at your desk, or in a conference room until 10. I don't know how you feel, but I want to pass and get this over with. I'm taking the exam in a couple of hours and know that I really couldn't have dedicated anymore time to this and working those late nights will be worth it.

[mla1169]

you can listen to audio during your commute. Honestly you can fit it in still. If I could fit it in around one full time (8-5) job, PLUS a part time job of another 20 hours a week, PLUS being in school for my masters, I wish I had your schedule to study.

FWIW, may not be the best move on asking at a new job for reduced hours.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Minimorty]

Most people are taking the CPA exam to get your job at PWC. I'm a little surprised you asked for reduced hours or to study at work. If I were you, I would work my ass off to make up for that rookie mistake.There are plenty of hours in the day to do both. You just have to want it.

[nextstopCPA]

Treat Saturday and Sunday like work days and study 8-10 hours each day. If you do that every weekend until May, then you'll get some good study time in. That's well over 100 hours. Make it happen Captain!

FAR Passed
REG Passed
AUD Passed
BEC Passed

All aboard, this train's leaving. Next stop, TBD!

[Anonymous]

cpa-exam-study-planner

You're Welcome!!!

[freshy70]

There is plenty of time to study if you make time for it. How about 8-10pm and then 6-7am, and all day Saturday and Sunday. If you want this, make time for it.

I have a 16 month old daughter who doesn't go to bed till 7:30 and I make time for it. If you can't do this then maybe you should look for a new career.

BEC - 5/20/11 83
REG - 11/20/11 83
FAR - 2/26/12 82
AUD - 7/26 86
Ethics 12/27/12 90

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine what my boss would have said if I asked to leave early to study for the exams. I bet most people don't get that luxury. This exam requires a tremendous sacrifice of time and energy…you will have to give up a social life for a while.

Find the time wherever you can.

[SMUT_Co]

I have to walk 10 miles in the snow uphill both ways with no shoes to study…

@hili

I know it seems hard to find time to study but it is there. In the grand scheme of things those prime time shows really are not that important and someone not getting a rose will not matter next year.

Good Luck!

FAR: Done
REG: Done
AUD: Done
BEC: Done

[Anonymous]

Agree with mini, surprised you would even think about giving up pwc for CPA, I suggest you take it when it is not during the busy season, 8-6 during busy season is really good. Good luck!!

[makinthemagic]

What are you wasting your 12 non-work hours on? Sleep? Like already said, don't give up PWC, try the exam and if you fail there is the non-busy season to study.

Bec 4/11/11 91
Aud 7/11/11 75
Reg 8/31/11 80
Far 5/24/11 86
Ethics - 98
California Licensed CPA
Illinois Registered CPA

[Author]

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