When studying for the CPA Exams, what was your life like?  (Family, kids, working full time, didn’t work at all, etc.)  And then, how did you juggle it all and still find time to study?

I started studying for the CPA exam the summer before my last semester in college after meeting the required credit hours to sit for the exam. I did not have many responsibilities; however, I did work about 15 hours a week and went to school. This required me to set aside time to study which is a must when you want to stay on schedule.  I had two exams passed by the time I started full-time. Starting full-time I knew that it would slow down my progress. I did not study much during the first 4 months on the job, with it being busier during that time I wanted to focus on getting familiar with the firm. I began studying again in May of 2023 and that worked the best for me.

When did you start studying and when did you pass your final exam?

I began studying June 2022 and got the score to my last exam in December of 2023.

What order did you take the exams in?

I took REG, BEC, AUD, and FAR in that order.

Do you think the order you take the CPA Exams matters?

I believe it does and it depends on your attitude towards the exam. I like snowballing success, so I took the exams I felt the most confident in first. This way once I passed, I knew that I was one step closer. When looking back I believe that is what allowed me to pass all the exams when I did. I had to retake AUD and FAR which had I failed in the beginning it may have been difficult to retain my confidence.  However, I passed the first two and I knew I could pass the rest even after failing because I was halfway there.

What do you think your learning style is?  Did that play into your studying strategies?

I need to set time aside and set a goal of what I want to accomplish that day. This allows me to track my progress over time. I used Becker and they are really good about showing your exam readiness and I relied on this when I was studying.

Did you fail any?  If so, what did failing an exam teach you the most?

I failed AUD and FAR. I was very close to passing both times getting a 73 and 69 respectively. With the scores being so close to passing I knew that with a little more time I would be able to pass and that was the case. I studied an additional 4 more weeks for both exams and that was enough for me to pass the second time around.

How many hours a week did you study?  Do you recommend others do the same?

It varied every week based on my schedule. I focused more on the modules I wanted to complete rather than the time it took to complete them when I could.

Did you make any changes in your lifestyle that made the process easier on you?  (this could be literally anything, so I’ll let you interpret this question)

I needed to sacrifice time with friends now and again, but I tried my best to do things outside of studying all the time. Being able to relax in my opinion will help with morale more than dedicating every day to studying. This worked for me personally and I believe it is something the everyone needs to determine themselves because they will know themselves the best.

How would you do things differently if you had to take the exams again (how could you have made the process easier)?

I am happy with the way I approached the exam and would not change too much. I may have tried to put in a few more hours here and there when I failed the two exams other than that I would not change much.

What do you wish you knew before your CPA journey started?

Completing it as soon as possible is very valuable. It takes up a large amount of time and if you can get it off your plate as soon as possible, you will thank yourself in the end.

Has it been worth it since passing the CPA exams?  If so, why?

It is extremely worth it. Words cannot describe the feeling when passing and its something that you will always be able to carry with you.

What are you most excited about in the future now that you have your CPA License?

The opportunities it brings you is its greatest value.