[letsfixthis]

Just a random musing the day before I take AUD. No personal anecdotes to convey but I was curious if anyone has ever felt like this entire process did enough damage to his or her personal (or professional) life so much that he or she can say it “ruined their life”? I bet it has happened before….

BEC: 87 (7/13/11)
FAR: 86 (8/31/11)
AUD: 99 (10/6/11)
REG: 88 (11/30/11)
Ethics: 100
(Illinois)

Used Becker for all four parts. Supplemented it with Wiley Test Bank for FAR and REG (HIGHLY recommended) and NINJA notes.

[jomarie]

I do know this….a girlfriend of mine and her husband divorce while he was studying for the exam.

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[Macc Grad]

Anyone's divorce/separation was only hastened by the inevitable.

I don't think this exam does anything other than not delay what wasn't already on the horizon (was that a triple negative? F you AUD, figure that one out, lol)

I for one am glad about it, cuz it has helped me a whole bunch in communicating with my wife, and somehow I think I'll come out married and happily ever for after. And all that crap…

The exam is merely a a catalyst for problems that were already there.

BEC - 77 (exp. 2/23/12)
REG - 75
AUD - 74
FAR - 11/29/11

[jomarie]

I do agree with that Macc Grad. Since I've been studying my husband has been more supportive and stuff. Like tonight, I was telling him I wasn't feeling well cause I'm overtired and he was yelling at me for doing to the dishes after dinner. He was trying to tell me to go lay down and try to relax.

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[SwanCPA]

Helloooo… it's 9:00 on a Saturday night and look at how many of us are “studying” and/or looking for motivation and support on Another71. I wouldn't say our lives are ruined but they have definitely been put on hold. 🙂

Now, who has another 2 hours in them!

FAR- 63, 75
AUD- 61, 78
REG- 63, 74, 80
BEC - 63, 61, 75!!!!! I'm done!!!!

[tbstew]

I think the CPA exam can definitely have a negative effect on family life, but only if couples fail to communicate and support each other. In those cases there's usually an underlying problem that would eventually surface over something else. I will say that the exam pretty much kills your social life, for a while, anyway. But to actually ruin a life? Nah. Poor choices, poor attitudes, and things like addictions ruin lives.

That's my 2 cents. Feel free to discount it at the current market rate.

AUD - 79
BEC - 88
REG - 87
FAR - 86 - Woot, all done!
Ethics - 100

[killaking]

Thought the exam was ruining my life being an A** to my mom, this girl im seeing and lost a job from a bad boss that didnt care. But after passing 2 parts I got a new job at a firm and went from 35k to 53k.

FAR: 7/17/10 missed exam FML reschedule 8/29/10-77 EPIC!
REG: 5/31/11-73 SMH, 8/31/11-85
BEC: 4/15/10-72 : retake 10/3/10-80
AUD: 11/28/10-74, 02/27/11-71 FML, 8/1/11-80
Ethics 10/22/22-80, retake 11/28/11 - 88

[gateway3601]

My GF of six years left me after only passing REG section of the exam in 15 months of studying. After taking one week to recover my emotion and gather myself together, I have never being so motivated to study now. I just want to prove to her that it was a big mistake to leave me. So, just to answer the question, did the exam “ruin” my life? I would say to some degree, but I would never regret my decision to studying for the CPA exam.

FAR(61,73,73,74,76) REG-81 AUD(61,64,58) BEC(71,77)

[posty]

I am lucky in that my wife is every bit as busy as I am. I am studying hard for the CPA Exam (20+ hrs a week), working 40+ hrs a week, and taking an easy elective college class in order to wrap up my 2nd degree. My wife is pursuing a Masters in Geology so she is writing a thesis. She also works 40+ hrs a week for a natural gas company.

We are both busy all the time. We keep each other motivated to accomplishing our respective goals. Our lives will be so much sweeter when we are both finished!

FAR - 78 (10/3/11)
AUD - 83 (11/28/11)
REG - 70 (4/7/12), 84 (7/31/12)
BEC - 75! (5/31/12)
Ethics - 98

DONE

[Anonymous]

Studying for CPA definitely gives me a different perspective in life. A friend of mine stop talking to me because I am pursuing a career path as a CPA. I feel constantly discouraged by her comments. I am kind of out of my normal social circle after I took the exams. However, this experience help me to filter out who my true friends are. I still have many good friends still show me their supports. I appreciate my life and free time more than before.

[T-rex]

The exam didn't ruin my life, but it was brutal. I took my last section on 8/29, and I still haven't recovered. I can see how the exam could rip apart a relationship or marriage. I imagine that it would be very hard for someone who hasn't gone through this process to really understand the huge price that must be paid for the privilege of having a CPA license.

All in all, I'm glad I pushed through and completed the exam. I just wouldn't ever want to do it again.

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[See Pee A]

Couldn't agree more. This process is definitely very difficult. It's a huge time commitment, and the pressure before and after each part can be crippling. What makes it even tougher is if you are moving directly onto another section, or for candidates who are studying while working or having a family. It sure requires everyone to be on board and to take some sacrifices in the short term in order to increase the chances that the process will be as short as possible. Best of luck to everyone!

BEC 86 (08/30/11)
FAR 84 (10/13/11)
REG 88 (11/08/11)
AUD 86 (11/29/11)

Exam prep - Becker self-study

[Yvonne570]

It's really challenging that my employer will not reimburse my costs until I pass the first 2 exams. LOL. Very hard to take a debt and accumulate interest along with studying.

AUD - Passed:)
FAR - Passed:)
REG - Retake TBD
BEC - Missed by 3 points Retake TBD

[goodluck2everyone]

what life? The cpa exam IS your life

BEC- 80
REG- 68, 71, July
AUD- 61 , 84
FAR- -- 75 🙂

[Anonymous]

At least you have these sites for support. Back in the early 90's when i was studying, I went out drinking…:)

Darius

CPAexamTutoring

[Anonymous]

I think it can cause *a lot* of stress on relationships especially with someone like me who lashes out when they are stressed. I think it's important to put yourself and your loved ones before the exam to a point. Of course missing a bday here and there or a family outing is fine, but if you totally ignore your family and your own well being and health that is a bad sign and you WILL get burned out.

You need to take *me* time and spend time with your love ones to refresh your mind and body. It will help your studies as well because if you stick your nose to the book too much you may get burnt out and frustrated with studying, especially if you are having trouble passing.

[Author]

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