Hello, future CPAs!!

My name is Nisha, and I started this journey of becoming a CPA back in 2010 because I followed my audit professor’s advice, “get it done as soon as you possibly can.” Two years later, here I still am.

I started out late September 2010 not really knowing what I was embarking on. And boy was it a surprise. I totally underestimated the time, commitment, and the repetition needed to get through one section let alone four.

I’ve taken all the sections once (BEC a few times) missing the passing score by a mere few points. I’ve cried, thrown things, and yelled but that wouldn’t have changed the score because when I came back to look at the screen it was still the same two digits I saw earlier.

What I would have given to get those few points to get the passing scores!!

Back to the drawing board, I have REG coming up in May. Yes 2 months. I decided 2 months would be a good amount of time because I have a wedding to plan. My wedding. In July. I’m in California. The wedding will be Texas. Oh my!!

In my defense, I will say that I had REG planned before there had been plans for a wedding.

I’m really making an effort to follow Jeff’s ELL plan but it becomes difficult with the wedding planning requiring just as much priority.

I’ve read countless blogs and they too have made it to the end of the tunnel and I can’t wait to get there either. Some tips I have discovered from them as well as my fiancé that really help are:

1. Don’t tell people/friends/co-workers, etc when your test is. I felt this was always an added pressure and I put enough pressure on myself that I didn’t need (or want) anyone else’s.

 

1. Take your study materials EVERYWHERE. I take it with me to the grocery store, doctor’s office, or to the post office. You never know when you will come across 5-10 mins. I just pull out some flashcards and brush up on topics.

 

1. Have a daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly goal but be realistic about it. You can’t watch all your lectures, read your book, work MCQs, write your notes, and make flashcards all in one day. It’s possible to do but only if you have a photographic memory.

 

1. No one said this would be easy otherwise the world would’ve been full of CPAs. This takes time just like everything else: committing to a relationship, getting a degree, or aging some wine/cheese. It will be done. Be confident; you can get there.

 

It’s going to be tough and it’s going to get dirty but I am determined to make these two months the most productive. I hope this blog will continue to encourage me and help me get through one of the most stressful, exciting, and happiest time of my life.

There is a new chapter is being written soon. I hope it has the words “REG” and “passed” in it. =D

Good luck to those testing this next window. Till next week – Happy studying!

Nisha