Megan shares with us the trials and triumphs of CPA Exam preparation, all from the perspective of a non-accounting major. She currently resides in Pennsylvania, and is loving Roger CPA Review’s acclaimed review course to prepare for the BEC Exam.
Hello! My name is Megan and I’m studying to become a CPA. Over the next few months, Ill be blogging about the trials and triumphs I experience while on my journey to become a Certified Public Accountant. There are plenty of people out there claiming to have all the answers when it comes to the question, How can I pass the CPA exam? While I am not an expert on this, I am certainly able to share with you what works and doesn’t work for me!
Like most CPA hopefuls, I chose not to tackle this challenge alone. With the help of Roger CPA Review, I was able to cover the overwhelming amount of material (much of it new to me) in FAR, and thoroughly understand the topics tested in AUD. I was thrilled when I received passing scores on BOTH on my first attempt! This past weekend, I sat for my third exam, REG. Hopefully, my hard work continues to pay off!
A little bit of background. Unlike most CPAs I know, I did not go to college for Accounting. My B.S. is in Business Administration with concentrations in Management and Communications. I graduated from Elizabethtown College, (Elizabethtown, PA) with intentions of finding ANY job and working my way up the ladder. I worked in the Operations department of a manufacturing facility for about two and a half years before I decided I needed more from life. I wanted to be challenged. There had to be a better career for me, one where I could utilize my strengths while enjoying my work. I brought my love for numbers, structure, and analysis (yes, I’m a nerd) to the local community college. My mission was to pick up the courses necessary to meet the CPA requirements. It wasn’t easy juggling full-time work and classes while looking for another job, so I decided to quit my job. I studied full-time and completed an Associates Degree in Accounting in under a year.
Today, I’m working in Accounting for a private manufacturing company. Its a good stepping stone that affords me the paycheck I need to live and the accounting experience I need on my resume to gain entry into a public accounting firm (Pennsylvania has a work experience requirement). Its not easy to find time to study after long hours at work, commuting, spending time with my wonderful boyfriend, and maintaining my personal health initiatives. Notice, I didn’t say, making time for friends. I pretty much told all my friends I’d see them in a few months. Okay, that’s a little dramatic I do see my friends every now and then, but I made a point of expressing to them how devoted I am to my goals so that they would not take it personally when I frequently turn down plans.
I won’t pretend there aren’t challenges to overcome- time constraints, personal obligations, that urge to get some much-needed SLEEP! I often wonder if the accounting courses I took to supplement my business degree provided me with enough of a knowledge base to conquer the exams. The good news is, all these challenges are manageable with persistence and the right CPA review course. The key to my success, I learned from Roger. He reminds me frequently that you dont have to be a genius to pass the CPAs – you just need to be dedicated, confident, and stick to a plan!