[NBA.Louisiana]

Just some background…I’m taking the exam for the first time (finally!) and I have a 14 month old. Balancing work/studying/everything else is a little intense…any pointers from parents who have successfully completed the exam?

Also…wanted to share these tips my aunt sent me. 🙂 She didn’t take the CPA exam but she is a doctor and has 4 kids so I think her advice is pretty legit.

Thanks in advance!

B

Tips for My CPA Exam:

1. Make cue cards for that really nagging thing that wants to slip from my memory. The “Oh! What’s that called?” thing. That way I can carry that card around and pull out that card and read that card until I remember it. Having it on a cue card gives me the opportunity to write it, read it over and over without extra things around (I can focus only on it), and then recall it in THAT moment.

2. I will get 8 hours of sleep. No matter how much studying I got in that day.

3. I will smile at my son while quoting exam material to him.

4. I will ask him challenging questions that I try to ignore because I really don’t get it or want to get it. Thus challenging myself into learning it.

5. I will suddenly ask (insert name of someone you live with…she used my sister lol) the concept of something I want to remember but I can only think of it in the middle of my bath and cannot look it up or write it down so (insert name) must now be my receptionist with a notepad and pencil so that I will be able to look it up once my much needed soak is over.

6. I will eat right. I know what I need.

7. I will not OVER CAFFEINE as I am too smart for that.

8. I will not forget my Savior. I will pray each morning – before studying – while studying – after studying – for proper rest – for proper digestion (of material and bodily nourishment).

9. I will actually stop and go in the sun or shut my eyes while experiencing the world around me.

10. I will call my Aunt – who loves me more than I will ever know – before – during (if possible) – and after my exam.

11. I will walk in and take this exam with no fear – no regrets.

12. I will not over think or under think – for I am smart.

13. There is no failing this exam. There is only experiencing it.

14. The hard work has been put in. Now it is time to just take the exam and learn how to improve my focus and studying for the next one.

15. And if I get the score that gets me out the door – I need not study forever more!

Decided to FINALLY take this beast of an exam...5 years out of college AND with a 1 year old...so here it goes!
REG 05/28/14 -- 85!
FAR 11/24/14
AUD 10/07/14
BEC 08/28/14 -- 81!

[Gabe]

As someone with a 2 year old and another on the way…and a few failed attempts, I just wanted to say that I fully agree with #13.

CPA, CFE
CISA- Experience will be completed by August 2016

[Anonymous]

The stress of the exam is actually how I ended up pregnant! yay for my CPA baby! Due Aug 21, 2014

[LaComptable]

NBA.Louisiana, we are in the same boat! I have a 16-month old, and I'm about 4.5 years out of college now and just getting serious about this dratted exam. I made a feeble attempt in 2012 but did not really give it my best effort and stopped trying until this year. Now, I'm committed and I'd love nothing more than to check this exam off my list this year!! This exam is a pretty big commitment but you can definitely do it. We are all in it together!

I love your list. I'm not that good though. Unfortunately I'm in flagrant violation of numbers 2, 6, and especially 7.

What is helping me through is that DH and I have a routine down. I put the LO to bed one night, he does it the next night. I use the night he puts her to bed to study, and, if I'm not totally zapped, I'll stay up and study after she goes to sleep on the nights I put her to bed. When I need extra time, which seems like it's always, LO spends one day of the weekend with grandparents who, fortunately, are local. Then I get a few solid hours of daytime to study. I also study on my lunch hour at work and whenever I have a free moment.

I think Ninja Audio also helps. I have a tough time with active listening so it is not a good primary learning method for me but it is a great recap of exam material and helps pound concepts into my brain that I may have otherwise forgotten about.

Good luck!! You can do it!

BEC - 88
AUD - 74, 87
REG - 77
FAR - 63, 82

CIA certified in 2013

[mla1169]

There are many threads with good advice for balancing parenting and studying.

Heres one I started forever ago https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/to-all-concerned-about-doing-this-wkids-while-working-while-in-school

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Gerg, CPA]

more power to those with children that pass the CPA exam. i finished just before my son was born.

FAR - 1/26/2012 - PASSED (78, but Lost credit), re-do 11/27/2013 - PASSED (87)!
AUD - EPIC FAIL, 71, 69; 68; 5/25/2013 - PASSED (85)!
REG - 10/1/2012 - 72; 7/1/2013 - 73 UGH, 10/1/2013 - PASSED (85)!
BEC - 2/28/2013 - PASSED (82)!
Licensed CPA!

Used Becker self-study materials (just this for FAR original & REG #1), WileyTestBank, NINJA notes/audio, and Roger cram course for AUD #5, REG #3 & FAR reboot. CPA!

[Anonymous]

Buy study materials that are portable such as audio, flashcards for iphone, and e-books that work with a kindle.

[Anonymous]

For us candidates with kids, we really can't study more than 20 hours per week. I usually try to study 15 quality hours per week. I shoot for 1.5 hours each weeknight, then two hours each weekend morning, and two hours combined afternoon/evening. If you have a commute you can add NINJA Audio, but I have a really short commute. NINJA notes are also great for the office without getting nailed for studying on company time.

Alternating tuck-ins is a great idea, and now that I am in the homestretch, I have been excused from dishes and tuck-ins this week.

Vacation from work studying is also key. I passed REG because I spent over 40 hours studying during Christmas/New Year's vacation.

[Anonymous]

I think the number one key is to have a supporting spouse. My wife is able to take our 5 month old to work with her, she teaches preschool. I get home an hour before them and study then. I then spend time with both of them until they go to bed and study an hour after that. The most important aspect of this plan is spending time with my son when he's home and awake. Regardless of what happens in your professional, nothing can take the place of time with your family.

[StephAV]

I have 2 boys, 6 and 2 years old. At this point, knowing that I'm halfway through is really helping to keep me motivated. There are many times that I've wanted to quit. I've felt like I'm not doing a great job at anything. Work, there are things I've had to tell my boss I cannot realistically take on right now, my older son is just finishing up Kindergarten and I never got to volunteer in his class, I've been on an emotional rollercoaster with the exam for the last year. I have faith that it will be worth it in the end.

I think portable study material is great advice! I do most of my studying on the iPad and my phone. I don't usually get 8 hours of sleep, I totally over caffenate and I don't always eat very well (evidenced by the 15 extra pounds I'm now carrying around). I think that is great advice though. It's just hard! I like to convince myself I deserve a Snickers or whatever, after all I got up at 4 and got in 2 hours of studying before getting my two kids off to school/daycare, worked all day, made dinner…

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[Guti]

8. I will not forget my Savior. I will pray each morning – before studying – while studying – after studying – for proper rest – for proper digestion (of material and bodily nourishment).

2. I will get 8 hours of sleep. No matter how much studying I got in that day.

7. I will not OVER CAFFEINE as I am too smart for that.

Best 3!

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Mamabear]

I violate a lot of those rules, but especially 2, 6, and 7. I rarely get 8 hours of sleep when I am in full study mode. I snack constantly and I drink more caffeine than you could imagine. I have 3 kids (1,3, 5) and it's hard, but my husband is supportive and my parents help a lot. The girls love having a couple of sleepovers a week at Nana and Papa's so I can have study marathon sessions. It's the only way for me. I'm too tired after they go to bed to absorb new material so that's when I review old stuff. I get about 20 hours a week in the beginning and in the last few weeks before the test I can get 25-30. I try to do stuff during lunch and I listen to Ninja Audio in the car. I'm not able to study at work so I can't get any time there, but it all adds up. Let them watch more t.v. than normal if you need to. I've passed 3 parts since August and hopefully will pass this last one in July. In the grand scheme of things it's a relatively small amount of time in their life and you will be setting a good example for them by sticking with this goal. You can do it.

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!!

[jaredo155]

When I started studying for the exam I had a 2 month old at home, so I can definitely understand your concerns with trying to study with a little one. I think the list your aunt made is great, and that is one way to go about it if you are ok with the process possibly dragging out. I refused to miss time with my new baby girl, but I never got 8 hours sleep, I never stopped to slow down and just breath in the world around me, and I ate sugary foods and drank caffeine to give me that extra energy to study.

I would usually sneak in a half or full hour at lunch, then when my daughter went down around 8 p.m. I would study until 11 p.m. Then on the weekends I would try to get in one full 8 hour day of studying, and take the other day off just to spend with my family (this will put extra strain on your spouse so make sure they know how much you appreciate everything they do). With this pattern I usually was able to get in anywhere from 20 hours on a bad week to close to 30 on a good week. Also the ninja audio was amazing as I have a 45 min to an hour commute each way, and the ninja notes are great for review when you are wrapping everything up to see what you do and don't understand from a high level instead of literally reviewing everything again.

From the start I took the position that I would give this exam everything I had on the first try, and if I passed great and if not it just wasn't meant to be. That way I wouldn't spend several years studying taking time away from my daughter, but that doesn't work for everyone. I am the kind of person who performs much better under pressure than I do if I am relaxed about something. Also I knew that as my daughter got older it was only going to get harder and harder to take time away from her to study. What works for each person is very different, but rest assured that there are a lot of us on here who have done this with little ones so it absolutely can be done.

AUD - 2/2013 - Passed!
BEC - 5/2013 - Passed!
FAR - 8/2013 - Passed!
REG - 11/2013 - Passed!
"Do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda

[NBA.Louisiana]

Y'all are all awesome! Thanks for the posts!

I will definitely be using Ninja Audio on my commute going forward…amazing idea! I always feel like that time is so wasted!

Good luck to everyone still testing!

And for all of y'all that have passed with LO(s) I can't wait to be one of you!

Decided to FINALLY take this beast of an exam...5 years out of college AND with a 1 year old...so here it goes!
REG 05/28/14 -- 85!
FAR 11/24/14
AUD 10/07/14
BEC 08/28/14 -- 81!

[ahugemistake]

I have a 2 year old and a 1 year old at home who can not just let me sit there. I have to leave and go to a starbucks every night for 2 hours to study. I really like the idea of studying on weekend mornings and I think I will begin implementing that starting tomorrow!

goodluck to everyone ITT. We aren't just studying for our selves but setting up the future for the little ones as well.

FAR: 78*, 75
REG: 76*, 85
BEC: 79*, 76
AUD: 79*, 93

All scores expired, let's try this again.

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[fiona87]

1 year old and almost-five-year old here. Passed FAR six months after giving birth, AUD three months after that, just took REG the weekend after having a first birthday party, and BEC coming up in a flash.

All my time is spent sleeping, working, studying, taking care of my kiddos. It's exhausting, but it's possible. Schedule your time and stick to it. We use google calendars and we all have our own calendar -in addition to “family” “Fiona” “Jei” and “kids” I added “CPA Exam Study” and mapped out what day I do each video including extra time for MCQs, scheduled in make up days and time for just working MCQs and reviewing notes.

It helps that I'm a super organized type a kind of person. 😛

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[Author]

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