This exam, for most people, really consumes a large portion of our time and lives; I know it has for me. I can't tell you how many times I've had to make large sacrifices to my social life, my relationship, and my family just so I can sit behind the computer and explore the wonders of Accounting for Leases, Schedule A deductions, and the Modified Unqualified report.
I thought I would start this post to help us future CPAs see the light at the end of the tunnel (the good light, not the 'oncoming train' light). Thinking about all of the great things I will be able to do once this test is over keeps my hopes high and my mood even higher. I can't tell you how many times I have played the following scenario in my head:
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I walk into my house after a long day of work. It's hot and sunny outside so I slide open the back door and let the breeze rush in through the house. On the way to the bed room to hang my tie, I notice that my phone has a few messages:
@Jeff @ another71.com: 8533 FAR scores have been released to AICPA.
@NASBA: Today, 8533 FAR scores have been released by AICPA to NASBA for April / May 2010 testing window.
@NASBA: Don't forget it takes 24-48 hours for scores to post.
"YES, FINALLY!!"
I barrel across the living floor and into my office to flip on the computer to check the scores. My hands are shaking so it's hard to hit the power switch, but somehow I manage to hit it by violently dropping my hand in the general vacinity of the power button. Waiting for the computer takes 5 hours to turn on that day. Once up and running, I open my bookmarks and I'm instantly transferred to NASBA's website. My NTS is already sitting there taped to my desk to minimize the amount of time it takes to find my section ID, so I quickly copy the number into the correct field. Now my birthday....my birthday....damn what was it?! Oh god, what was my birthday!? I don't have time for this!! Where is my license?!
Oh yeah, I got it never mind. Okay, this is the moment of truth. One click of the mouse is going to show me whether or not the next 2 months are filled with weekends upon weekends of studying Bonds and Encumbrances, or whether or not I'll be studying weather.com for the weekend forecasts. The anticipation is too much so I close my eyes. I'll just click and walk away. I don't need to see it! If I don't see it, I can't fail, right? Okay okay, but seriously it's now or never.
Click...
...
"This site is taking forever to load, come on!"
Waiting...
Waiting...
The screen blinks off for a second as it reloads. The background is loading, this is it!!
"Error: Score not found. Please verify Section ID Number and Date of Birth format and re-submit"
My heart continues beating again and I exhale. Not this time. I'll just wait until later tonight to check again.
:::five minutes pass:::
F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5
"Error: Score not found. Please verify Section ID Number and Date of Birth format and re-submit"
"Error: Score not found. Please verify Section ID Number and Date of Birth format and re-submit"
"Error: Score not found. Please verify Section ID Number and Date of Birth format and re-submit"
"Error: Score not found. Please verify Section ID Number and Date of Birth format and re-submit"
I can't take it anymore...
http://www.another71.com > CPA Exam Forum >
"Anyone in NY get their scores?"
"Have you tried the loophole?"
"Nothing here in Texas, how about anyone else?"
"F5 F5 F5, but nothing!"
:::Random troll exclaiming that the CPA exam is easy and all accountants have to do is put numbers in the calculator:::
"Anyone know when the scores are being released?"
F5 F5 F5 > page is loading! This is it this time!! This time the page takes 10 minutes to load.
"If everyone stops refreshing the site would go so much faster!! Come on!"
"Error: Score not found. Please verify Section ID Number and Date of Birth format and re-submit"
The clock now reads 11:00 PM and my eyes are getting heavier and heavier. It's okay, I can wait just a little longer though - I have to know or I definitely won't be able to sleep
F5 F5 F5 F5 > 77.
My heart suddenly falls out of my chest and I scream. There was no loading screen, it just spontaneously bursted onto the screen. I wasn't ready!!! But wait... Oh god I passed!! I passed!! Now there's no way I can sleep I have to call everyone in my contacts list. I have to post it on Another71.com!!
"I passed!! NY scores are out"
"85 here in Illinois!!"
"Mine isn't out yet, wtf!"
"Congrats guys!"
/end daydream
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So that raises the question:
What do you plan on doing when you finally finish the exam and have your lives back? What have you put on hold for the past 3, 6, 9, 12, xx months that you can't wait to pick back up again? What has studying for the exam inspired you to want to start doing?
I'll start it off:
I haven't had the chance to really do anything the last 9 months except study and work, so I can't wait to start playing / writing music again and having BBQs with my girlfriend and friends on the weekends. I suppose I'll have to go back to the gym too, since I will no longer have a valid excuse not to go (well, I'm sure I can come up with another excuse). I also want to start using some of the vacation time I've accrued over the year to travel, since I haven't even had the opportunity to use any.
Share your thoughts!
BEC - 77, REG - 88, AUD - 90, FAR - 83
