Happy Holidays

I just want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season. A New Year is coming so I hope everyone starts it off right! I believe 2011 will be a good and prosperous year because I won't have it any other way! Thank you to all my readers of my blog. You guys are the best! I really appreciate your support and encouraging words. I wish all of you success and happiness....

Where is the Motivation??

Well the motivation is definitely not over here. Sad to say it but I have no desire to study. Nor have I really been studying. I watched one hour of video last week and it seemed like the longest hour of my life.

I've been enjoying the life that I've been missing. Talking to friends, going shopping, watching movies, pampering myself etc. I haven't done most of those things in a year (literally).

My co worker who is a CPA suggested back in September that I just take time off to regroup. She thought that maybe I was burned out. I told her that I had to keep going I just have to pass. Did that happen??? Um no it didn't. So here I am today a year later with no passing grade. The crazy thing is I don't even know how I'm going to do this. I don't have a good strategy and I don't feel like I know enough to pass.

I'm not giving up. I'm just taking a break.

Atleast another 2-3 weeks. I'm not going to lose my NTS for REG that expires on April 1st so I'll be taking REG before then.

But before I pick those books up I need to have a winning strategy.

I dread taking those practice questions. They are like the devil to me. I get so confused sometimes and I draw a complete blank.

I only have about 7-8 hours left of videos to watch for REG and I wish I had the energy to knock it all out this week. But I would be lying if I said I would. I just want to enjoy life for a little and then get back into it.

I'm going to be a CPA....but just not before my original goal of April.

It's The Determination In Me ....

It's the determination in me that has me thinking how I'm going to pass the exam. I'm already plotting in my head of what to do but I owe myself a break. I will not pick up my REG book until atleast a week and a half to two weeks...I think I have my plan in my head but I'm going to keep it to myself. I'm not going to tell my family that I'm done with my break because although they mean well I just don't want to have to talk about it. Honestly I'm blessed to have such a good family (although when I asked my Mother to keep my grade on the low) my Dad and Sister called right after with their calming words...gotta love them.

Ok no more CPA thoughts for now. I will just continue to lay around and be unproductive (which feels kind of good by the way)

Here we go again

Well after literally feeling good about my new approach and study habits BEC conquered me again. I got a 70... this is the first time I got out the 60's. So in a sense I did improve but I didn't cut it. I already shed my tear but I'm definitely taking some weeks off to regroup. I also pushed REG back to January. There is no sense in rushing now when I don't have the drive or energy to. I will get through this test but right now I don't know when.

BEC Has Come and Gone and Other Thoughts

Well BEC was Saturday. I studied all day Friday and then ended up coming down with a bad cold on Friday night. I took some NyQuil and was determined to get a good nights sleep. I woke up feeling like $10 million dollars. I was so well rested! I woke up at seven and reviewed my notes and did questions. I then went back to sleep at around 10am and woke up at 1pm. I left for my test at 3 and at 4:51 I began.

As far as the test....I really don't know what to think. These tests have you feeling one way and then the results say another. Whatever happens I will accept it but I will always know that I put my all and just didn't go in there arrogant or ignorant. But one funny thing was that I told myself I would take my time and read the question atleast 2-3 times since I know I have a tendency to rush. Well I had about 2 mins on the clock and I knew I knew the answer to this question but I just couldn't get it...and at the last minute I figured it out!! I wanted to jump out my seat and do a dance. (So hopefully thats a good sign) I will not check any scores until after REG

Something else I'm coming to realize...I know you always hear everyone say "If you study you will pass" and I definitely believe this to be true.....HOWEVER, I also believe that this test has some luck included. I mean seriously we all know that there are different versions out there and that some questions are pre test and some sim's are not graded. There is no way that we can be experts on everything and sometimes we may get lucky and get something we are comfortable with and sometimes we will get something that makes us cringe, with that said, I think I'm going to take this into consideration and put this into perspective. Just my thoughts....

Off to REG (by the way I already watched 4 hrs of the ROGER Reg and I'm done with individuals) I learned more in 4hrs with ROGER than in 11hrs with Yaeger) I'm learning that compressed materials is working for me and I need to do questions and read between the lines. For me its better when I can cover an entire section (or most of it) in a shorter study session (i.e. 4-6 hrs).

Sleepy Quick Update

Ok I'm tired as a mutha and I need some sleep. So I'll try to be detailed...

So basically I took a practice test (a full 90 questions) and got a freaking 67% (dayummmm) can I get out the 60's please??? I took another little test (only 25 questions) and got a 76% (but that is just barely passing)

Anyway, what really pisses me off is that when I go over my wrong questions I just want to kick myself. Most of the time its not that I dont' know it. It's that I read the question wrong or I rushed through it.

I've been making a flash card for those questions that stumped me and for those questions that take me a while to answer. I'm planning on taking atleast two more practice tests before 10-30. These flash cards have really really helped me. I go through them atleast once a day.

The Wiley book said I should be getting 80's on the test.

I'm going to watch the full ROGER Cram again before my test. That's just going to be so that I can pound in the materials and this weekend I'm planning on re writing my notes (old and new) and taking another practice test (probably Sunday)

Anyway I can't think straight now because I'm so beat.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and good luck to everyone taking the test.

My Best Friends Name is Repetition

Repetition...do you know her??


Well I know her....she's with me all the time.

On the train, she is there

In my mind, I'm using repetition over and over again when I'm trying to get a hold on this stuff

At home I have a stack of flash cards and repetition is flowing with me again.

I realized that I can't pass this test without her!

Repetition is big and bulky but its Ok because she always manages to make her way into my bag.

Repetition taught me to use flash cards atleast twice a day and she said to write down everything that I can't explain to someone else.

Repetition said to answer as many questions as you can and make a list of all those that you get wrong.

This is repetition

Getting my BEC on.....

No big update today. I'm still studying for BEC. I ordered the Roger full REG course yesterday (and I got a free Cram with the purchase, and I get to use it for any Cram of my choice)...very excited about that!!!

I'm getting better at my calculations and better at retaining info. I plan on taking a practice test next weekend. Depending on how that goes I'll start my studying for REG. No matter what I'll definitely be studying for REG before 10/30.

Other than that everything is going good!!

I hope everyone is doing well also (hey friends!!)

So Far

(LOL...Just looking at this makes me look like a slob....but when I'm in study mode there are papers everywhere)

So far I'm doing better with BEC. I was about to have a little melt down yesterday because I felt like I couldn't remember jack! I took a break for around 8 hrs and started studying late last night. Finally things started to sink in. It wasn't like I was just reading as before. I also made a ton of my own flash cards. I have the CPA Excel Flashcards, and they are good. But I realize that I need more of my own in my own words.

Tonight I'm going to crack the books open again. I'm realizing that late night studying is doing me justice.

I'm going to watch the last CRAM video tonight! Then I'm going to do atleast 35 cost accounting questions. Honestly this is the only section where calcs make me cringe! But I'm going to work on getting my calcs down to 1min- 1:45min. I'm going to pass this time!!! One page at a time.

Side Eye

You know what the side eye is right??? Well if you don't let me give you a visual.....




















Yup that's the side eye.

Do you want to know when somebody gets the side eye from me? They get the side eye from me when they say

1) "Oh you studying again????? That's boring"....... side eye

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2) "You didn't pass yet?? It shouldn't be that hard"... ("oh no you didn't just say that"... insert double side eye)





3) "It's probably not as hard as your making it seem. You just have to study harder". (Excuse me..like I'm paying thousands to waste on purpose).

You get the gist....right??

I know I'm not the only one giving the side eye....but I just want everyone who's going through the same things to relate. We study and study and study and still sometimes come up short. But for those not in our shoes can you do me a favor and be quiet. If things were so easy ,everyone would be CPA's. So next time somebody says something ridiculous to you about this test...just give them the side eye. They will get the picture.

SMART Goals ( I know I'm SMART)...LOL

Goals

I was reading one of my many favorite blogs here and I read a goal about SMART Goals.

I know about SMART Goals. I remember one of my classes in my MBA was practically focused around SMART Goals. The whole time I’ve been studying for this test I always say “ I just want to pass, I just want to be a CPA, I just want to get a raise, I just want to get a new job, I just want to be able to start a business and help others” but I never really set a date. Like an actual deadline. The rate I’m going with my statements above could lead me into definitely passing but who knows when?? Just imagine, what if everyone who went to college and said I just want a degree, but they didn't set a goal. That would mean I could take 6 credits a semester and take ....ummmm..... about 10 years to get a Bachelors (insane right!!) Well that's how I feel coming to the realization that I really didn't set a date.

So today I’m setting my SMART goals

Specific- I WILL Pass the CPA. It is important because it will allow me to be a better provider. I also would like to use my designation to educate those less fortunate and also to give back to my community. I would also like a significant pay increase. With the latter being the least important currently.

Measurable- I will measure my progress by practice tests. I will also create blank outlines and fill them in with information related to each topic. I will compare that to the book and gauge my results. I will also take atleast one practice test consisting of 30 questions from the sections that I’ve reviewed so far on Sunday’s. I will utilize my Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree.com and my Wiley text book for questions

Attainable- I will obtain this goal by studying a minimum of 3 hrs a night and a minimum of 4 weeknights. I will allow myself one night off a week (thats only if I've done reasonably well during the week) My real goal is 4hrs a night however I will be realistic and not lie to myself. I will answer atleast 25 questions a day (25-30 questions is being pretty lazy but I want to keep goals realistic) ( That’s 750 questions/ month. If I take 8 weeks per exam that’s 1500 question!!). If for some reason I can not study 3hrs a night I will have to make it up the next day. I will either have to add that on to my study time during my night time studying or forgo going to the gym during lunch or if I don’t go to the gym I will go to the cafeteria and study forgoing my time out with co-workers. I will make flash cards for my weak areas and I will make double flash cards for areas that I’m very weak in (i.e. I will write the same flash card more than once and mix it in so that when I’m reviewing there is more repititon). I will keep a log of all of the questions that I missed.

Realistic- I will study a minimum of 25 hrs a week. I can obtain this if I do 3 hrs a day during the week and 13 hrs during the weekend. On the weekend I can do 4 hrs in the early morning and the remainder spread out during the day. I will allow myself to 45 mins of surfing the internet and tweeting when I get home but that’s it!! If I can do it at work that’s better that will give me more time to study at home ( I know I shouldn’t do it at work but oh well I’m being realistic…LOL) My other free time during the weekday is geared towards studying. On the weekends I will surf the internet for no more than 2 hrs/day (if that). That time is allotted to blogging, tweeting, or whatever else I want to do. Everything else is devoted to studying.

Time- CPA by 4-13-2011 (My Bday). It has to be by this day because I don’t want to have another non traveling nonexciting uneventful boring poor or penniless summer or spring!!! I cannot afford to pay for NTS’s every month!!

Reg 11/29/2010 – Retake

Studying Begins on 10/31

Goal of 100 hrs

24 hrs of video (Roger Lecture)

76-80 hrs of reviewing and answering questions

Study Plan is to be done with videos by 11-18. That leaves me 11 days to review for REG. This give me sufficient time to do atleast 1 practice test (which I plan to take on 11/22 or 11/23 this will leave me enough time to pick my face up off the floor if I do poorly or not to my liking on the test) and MQ’s alteast twice. I will have two weeks off from work from 11-15 thru 11-30. This leaves me with ample time to study. I will take no longer than three days to do MQ’s for each section. I will take two full days to practice sims. I will complete atleast two sims from each section.

Pure Randomness (is that a word?)

Anyway so I know I said I wouldn’t be blogging or tweeting. But you know what I miss my friends that live in the computer!! LOL. I look for my twitter peeps and my online friends for support and I look to give them support as well. So here’s my vow. I will not be blogging or tweeting as much. I mean seriously, I can’t study 24 hrs a day. I need some time to breathe. So with that being said I can squeeze in a tweet here, and blog post there, but nothing excessive. So to all my friends …… hey!!!! (Like I really left for long…LOL).

Anyway I purchased the Roger CRAM and I’m digging it! I’ll tell you one thing. He keeps me entertained. I’ve already watched three hours and it went by so fast. Usually I’m counting down the minutes until the lecture is over or I’m pulling my eyelashes out one by one.

I know I’ve said this over and over again but I sooooo need to pass BEC and REG this window. I’m willing to put in the hours and I’ve already come to the realization that I will be sleep deprived. My biggest fear is that I will fail AGAIN!! Of course you have to speak positive thoughts but its hard when you don’t have atleast one passing grade to show for it. Yesterday on my way home I kept repeating to myself” I’m going to pass, I’m going to pass and I’m not failing this time around”. I know I should believe it, but I can’t sit here and say 100% that I do. Is this normal? Anyway I’ll keep saying it and one day I will believe it 150%. But until then I’ll be beating BEC and REG down with my study hours and repetitions.

Can anyone relate?

Morning Verse

Proverbs 22:3

A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.

  The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

What a way to start my day!

What to Do What to Do...Advice Needed

Ok my CPA fam (hugs to you all...lol). I was thinking about something this morning, I know a couple of days ago I said that I was going to focus on one exam at a time and that's what I plan to do. But then I read Miss Gina's blog http://missginacpa.blogspot.com and someone left a comment saying that's it better to take tests closer to together so that you retain information better (which is definitely true). I don't want my REG knowledge to slip away so do you think I should take it at the end of November? I'm thinking about taking BEC on 10/30 and then I can take REG on 11/30. And I also have two weeks off from work in November which means I can go to the library everday and really grind it out for 11/30.

Advice please!!!!!

Bye Bye Fun Weekend

My weekend was great! I haven't had this much fun in months. I've been to 4 states in 24 hrs. Clearing your head is a necessity! It's even better when you are around good friends and family.

What I should be doing......

What I should be doing is studying right now. I should be working a ton of MQ’s. I should be taking notes. I should be rewinding lectures and catching that last sentence. I should be nodding my head in agreement with the lecturer. I should also be basking in the glory of passing another exam. But right now I’m doing the exact opposite. I’m actually on my way driving down to Delaware with my boyfriend to a party. I’m not in CPA mode right now. What’s the point of studying if I’m not motivated. It really sucks when you fail by a few points. Like damn you couldn’t find some more points?? But oh well such is life. I don’t plan on being in CPA mode until Monday. On Monday I will be making my purchase for the Roger CPA review BEC cram. I’m also going to push FAR to 2011. I’m kicking myself in the face because I will be wasting money and letting my FAR NTS expire. For my own sanity I have to do this. I need to focus on ONE test at a time. My life will become BEC. I will wake up with formula’s and BEC questions on the brain. I just received my REG NTS a couple of days ago. Guess what? That’s going to be in 2011 too. I know 2011 in the CPA world is like your crazy uncle, (you just don’t’ want him around). But my crazy uncle will be there in 2011 so I’m just going to have to deal with it. I’m also thinking about switching programs totally and trying a live review. We’ll see how that goes. So that’s my plan. But right now…I’m going to chill with friends and drop it like its hot!!

If plan A fails then go to plan B.

How To Deal with Disappointments?

I guess I'm writing this post to everyone who's struggling with test. Because I'm not lying...I am!!

We can all learn from each other and I think its important to be open and honest. When I first discovered that I failed BEC by 6 stupid points I had to leave work early. I remember leaving work early, it was hot as hell that day and my eyes kept welling up with tears. I remember that day meeting my cousin for lunch. I really wanted to cancel our lunch date but I couldn't because he was already on his way. I just randomly checked my score and low and behold 69!!!

I called my Mom and the cracking in my voice said it all. I then told my cousin and he said don't worry you will pass just don't give up.

Then there's REG. I studied hard for that one too. But looking back I should have done more multiple choice questions in individual taxes. Well anyway that was a 63!!!

Enough rambling....

So how do I deal with disappointment?

I just think of the end result. How will feel when my initials are accompanied by CPA?
I will feel like the ish..( I know I know...I have to be humble...but I will feel like the ish...lol)

I was listening to some Kanye West song ( I don't remember the song because he's not my favorite person to talk about) and one verse said " Too whom much is given much is tested". If that ain't the TRUTH!!! Because I'm being tested right now. But you know what? I'll never forget this test. I constantly remind myself that this journey will lead me to the gold.

I also keep positive people around me. Its so much better to have positive reinforcements when you sometimes doubt yourself. I've never been a person who did bad in academics. I wasn't an A+ student but I made the Deans list frequently and I received scholarships. So this right here...is not like me. But I'll tell you one thing...it's humbling. Everyday I come home and I'm putting this test at the top of my list. I'm working MQ's on the train on the way to work. I'm reading on the way home and still doing MQ's. I make sure to take good notes and I make sure I know why I got a question wrong. I'm not a failure and I've never gave up on anything in my life and I won't start now!

So for everyone trying to make it through how do you keep going?

Headache

Ok so I just did a ton of multiple choice for FAR and I have headache. I once heard via twitter or somewhere that if your not miserable your not passing. Well guess what??...I'm miserable. But it will be worth it.

In other news....BEC was released today, and guess what I'm not checking it. After checking my REG score and failing by 12 pts that really affected my BEC studying so I'm not taking the risk. I have come to the conclusion that I won't be moving on to Audit until I get these three under my belt but I'm still not brave enough to check my score. Call me a chicken but it works....

Oh Man...

This test is no joke! As much as I hear from other people that its draining and its a lot of work I never really imagined that it would take this much out of me. I've been plugging away since 9:35am this morning and right now its 5:16pm. But I really feel good about my studying. As you know I'm using Yaeger but one thing I'm doing different now is that I'm definitely doing more than the minimum questions and I'm thoroughly righting out solutions. I'm putting the solutions in my own words because when it is time to review I will easily be able to go back and quickly remember. I'm honestly just pretty stressed about this test but I'm trying to not let it totally wear me out. I just want one passing grade and then I will feel even more confident. I will definitely say that the second time around is much better than the first. I'm picking up on so much more.

My biggest fear is that I will keep taking and taking and taking and won't pass. I'm determined not to make that a reality though.

I have come up with a strategy. My strategy is to not move on to Audit until I pass REG and BEC. I took BEC on 8/30 and I have yet to check my score and honestly I'm not checking it. I won't check it until after October 29th. That's when I take FAR.

After getting my test results back two days before BEC I can't run the risk of my score messing with my head. Of course I hope I passed and I feel like I did prepare for it but I just can't run that same risk again. If I get a score report in the mail I will know why. But if I don't then I will know that there's good news. Until then I'll just be plugging away and on my way to those pretty three letters.

EPIC FAIL

0 for 2. I checked my REG score when I was at the library yesterday and I got a 63. I really thought I had it down to a tee. But I guess not. I had my pity party yesterday and my feelings of inadequacy but I'm back to the old me and ready to grind it out. I just need to get my score report back and figure out where I went wrong. I've been really trying to focus on studying so I've been neglecting the blog, but I'll try to get better. So now I have BEC tomorrow. I'm feeling good. But I said the same thing about REG. So I'm going to bed at a reasonable time tonight and then I'm going to get up at 4 or 4:30 tomorrow and try to get some more studying in. I'm so determined to tackle the beast but can I atleast get one passing score for some confidence................??????

Still At IT

I know its been some days since my last post, but I've been kinda busy. Work has been busy (well kind of) and I've also been studying. I've been making good progress and I feel like I'm still on schedule. Some days I've been waking up before work to study. My new goal is to identify my weaknesses and build upon them. I'm currently doing business law and my goal is to be done by the end of the week. Then I'm going to do my CRAM. I'm also going to take atleast 3 practice exams before my test. I'm so determined to pass this. Ok back to studying (but a nap first) I've been up since 7am this morning studying off and on. It's actually working.

Reviewing REG

Ok so I'm officially done with watching the videos for REG tax. I actually have about a hour and half of videos on sims left but I'm planning on finishing that by weeks end. The beginning of the weeks focus is to review individual taxation, transaction in property, partnerships, and some corporate tax. I'm going to master liquidating and non liquidating distributions, and basis questions. When I'm done with that I'll start the business law section. My goal is to knock business law out in one week to a week and a half tops. With this schedule I will have between 2.5 to 3 weeks for a final review. Along with my Yaeger Cram that I bought I really feel confident. I think that's pretty good. I'm also practicing answering my questions in 2 mins tops. If I don't know the answer I just make a educated guess. The funny thing is that I'm realizing that I need to stop second guessing myself, when I do I usually guess wrong and my first choice was usually right. If I stick to this schedule I think I'll be able to get some BEC studying into this plan. I won't go full force into BEC until after 7-31 but I will start with cost accounting and budgets first.

BEC Part 2

I just scheduled BEC round 2 for August 30th. My plan is to start studying financial management and cost accounting first and planning and measurement (since those were my problem areas on my score report). I'll study IT, business structures last. I'm so determined to kill this test!!! I'm actually getting motivated and excited now!! Hopefully I can turn this 69 into a 96 (or atleast a 85).

Message Boards

So this was on my mind today.

I really like using the message boards that are available to get sources of encouragement while trying to tackle the beast. However, I must admit they it can really be s source of distraction. For starters sometimes I find myself reading about everyone’s journey while I could spend that time studying, and also it can be discouraging when I see people who have to retake and retake and retake and retake again parts of the test. I can’t help to think if I’ll be in that same boat as well. I mean I have confidence in myself but then sometimes I get side tracked into thinking if I’ll be the AICPA’s cash cow also. I’m not blaming the message boards at all. I’m taking responsibility and realizing my own weaknesses and determining what is best for me. What’s best for me is to encourage myself (and others) as well as keep positive (and reading about multiple failures is not going to put me in that place).

I’m really thinking about limiting my time on these boards for only a few minutes out the week and only going on there if I have a question or maybe to be a source of motivation. I don’t want to turn a blind eye to the real issues that are evident when trying to pass but seriously I don’t need to have it in my mind that I may take me forever to pass.

I wonder if anyone else has experienced this or going through this now.

Milestone

I think I’ve reached another milestone. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to talk about it because I didn’t want to jinx myself thinking that I discovered something when I actually didn’t. But I decided that I would talk about it because this could potentially help someone else out who is on the CPA boat. Well my milestone is that I think I figured out how to study.
That sounds weird right? Well a lot of people read and read and read and read some more but if you ask them a question they give you that confused look. Well with BEC I think I was still giving that confused look when I went to take the test. I realized that I really understand something if I can basically explain it back to myself (Ummm no I don’t talk to myself…LOL) or somebody else. I should also be able to clearly and concisely explain it without stumbling over words. Because stumbling over words means that I don’t understand it and that means when I’m taking the test I’ll be stumbling over answers which is #nobueno.

So the other day when I was studying for REG I realized that I have to watch the video, do the questions, watch some more video if I can’t explain it and then follow that up with some more questions. I’m also going to start implementing writing my own summary of what I learned. So during the final review and during the test I can quickly reference that in my head and move on to the next question.

Another thing I’m finding useful is to remember key points in my Yaeger video so that I can visually go back and remember something. I also remember Phil Yaeger’s corny jokes…LOL. Anyway I’m proud of my milestone and I’m so determined to knock these tests out. I hope I’ve encouraged someone or enlightened someone else as I’ve done to myself.

Sooo Tired

I'm managing to get out a few words because its been a long day. Despite working 12 hrs I managed to watch one video of Estate Taxes. I'm learning an effective way to study. I'll blog about that later. Goodnight.

All in a days work

I've been studying off and on all day for 12 hrs. I can't study (ok maybe I shouldn't say.can't) I prefer not to study for long periods. of time because I tend to lose focus and forget. I'm proud of myself because I did what I dId I was going to do. So now I'm done for the night. I'm not going to force myself to study when I know I won't retain anything.

YAWN!!!!!!

Well I finished my fourth video today and typed up notes...yayy me. So by Friday I will do the 5th video and review Corp Taxes all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Progress Progress.

Yaeger CRAM

I just ordered the Yaeger Cram for REG and BEC. Next week I'm going to pay for BEC again and reschedule for the end of August. I also have to see what the hell I did with my FAR NTS. That was a dumb move to pay for it before I knew my results. But hey you live and you learn. I think it expires at the end of October. If it does I'm going to have to take it then.

I managed to type up my notes last night for Corp taxes and go over the questions again. I didn't do the 4th video but I will tomorrow. I felt myself losing concentration and I didn't want to torture myself and risk losing the ability to understand just because I'm trying to meet my goal. Atleast I met one goal. So I'm going to give myself a pat on the back for that one.

**Determination IS Key*** without that then what the hell do you have????

Getting into IT

Yup this is my life right now. I'm in Barnes and Nobles and I just got through another video of Corp taxes. I'm really going to make it by business to get through at least half of video 4 tonight. I'm also going to type up my notes and go over the questions in the video. Ambitious huh?? Yeah well these days I have no choice. I'm a bit tired from a long day of work, but you know the saying that it takes 21 days to make something a habit. Well this is my habit.

The Benefits Of Becoming a CPA

Well besides the fact of having those nice three letters I see a number of benefits.

1) Increased marketability
2) More opportunities for growth
3) Ability to educate others from a professional perspective
4) Greater understanding of accounting and finance
5) Sooooo much potential to so many different careers.
6) Opportunity to work anywhere
7) Potential and ability to start own business (i.e. tax/bookeeping business)


I could go on and on....but I feel that these are the most important. I also feel that for me its important because I currently feel stuck at my job. I know that by obtaining my license I will have so many opportunities that will be in reach (atleast I feel close than what they are now).

I wonder what everyone else's motivaiton is?

Progress

Ok so I spoke to Phil Yaeger today. I kinda understand the reasoning behind adding back charitable contributions to Ordinary Income when doing partnership returns but I'm still trying to get the rational down. But I digress.

My new feat is determining how to speed up my study time. It is taking me way to long to get through REG. I still have three parts of Corporate 5 parts of Gifts and Trusts and then I'd say 10 parts of everything else. All of this by July 31st. Plus I still want to give myself time to do a review and take a practice exam.....sigh......big sigh..... but I won't complain I'm just going to own this test. My goal for tomorrow is to watch 2 hrs of video. If I can do that I will feel much better about my study plan. I'm also going to order my CRAM for REG either this week or no later then next week. Ok I'm going to bed now. I know I'll be having dreams of Ordinary Losses, Charitable Contributions and DRD's.

So This is the Plan for This Week

So My goal is to finish Corporate Taxes this week and review partnerships questions.

Saturday night I went out to dinner with two of my coworkers one of whom is a CPA and sometimes it really pays to get out there and see what life is like on the CPA side. Guess what??? It looks pretty good. I needed that extra push and this spark to get me going again. So every week I'm going to make a study schedule and really really really put 110% into not breaking it. I'm also going to do atleast 20 questions a day in addition to my daily studying. My goal is to study atleast 2hrs a day during the week and atleast 4-5 hrs a day on the weekend. I'm realizing that the key is to retain info not so much strive for 1 million hours of study. Because you can study a ton and still fail ( hmmmm yeah I know the feeling).

Ok so let the adventures begin.

The RunDown

Ok so let's just get to it

I decided back in September 2009 that I need to get on top of my game and take the CPA. So I did my research and realized that I was short some credits... (womp womp). I signed up for 6 credits, sent in my app, and I was approved!!

Ok so now I'm all focused and getting my mind right and I study for two months hardcore (or so I thought) for BEC. I took that on 4/9/2010. As soon as I walked into the test center, my emotions started going CRAZY!!!! Sweating non stop, itching, scratching, just a HOT MESS!!! As I clicked through the questions I felt a little confident but some of them were getting the best of me. The test is allotted 2.5 hrs and guess what... I left with 3 mins on the clock. I didn't even get up to go to the bathroom. I needed all my time!!

Ok so fast forward to May 15th. I went to the NASBA website and entered my section ID (and I was at work) and what do I see a BIG FAT69..... you want to talk about pissed and depressed. Yeah that was me! I had to leave work early because I was so upset.

I've decided that I can't continue to have this pity party and if I'm going to do it...I'm going to do it right. I'm taking REG on July 19th and I will retake BEC again before the end of August. My original goal was to take all four parts starting April and be done by August.....ummm yeah so now I've realized that I must have been on something because now that I'm learning my study habits and my ability to retain that isn't happening. So my new goal is to pass two by the end of the summer.


I think this blog will help motivate me as well as help others. I want it to be a form of encouragement to myself and others.


Tests are meant to be passed and this is just another test!!!