The bottom line is this. I got angry. Where my motto was once "Keep Calm and Study On" it became this:
F Calm and Get Angry
I started to believe in myself. Instead of saying (or thinking) I hope I pass. I said I will pass. AUD doesn't have a chance. Instead of looking at my score report showing a 73 with some Stronger, Comparable, and Weakers... I printed it out, changed everything to STRONGER and told myself “I'm stronger than a 73.”
I scratched out the 73 and replaced it with an 82. Instead of saying "Don't score another 73" in an effort to stay positive I reworded that inner voice to say "Score in the EIGHTIES"
I kid you not. This stuff was everywhere. My computer wallpaper, screen saver, printouts I carried in my computer bag and set out while I studied. I changed the way I thought. And my family and coworkers noticed. One coworker told me I was obsessive. And I told her I had to be. Because when I was balanced, I lost. And this time I plan to win. I felt like the CPA exam was personally attacking me.
But in reality, I just hadn't attacked it. This time, I was daring to be great.
https://www.youdrivethesuccess.com/inspirational/dare-to-be-great/
For AUD: I got the YAEGER cram. I watched every video and took notes. It's no secret; people on here have said it before. If you get a 73 you don't need 2 more points, you need 75 more points. And I was studying like I needed 82. I did every homework problem assigned. I carried 4 spirals to study.
1. Lecture notes
2. scratch paper for practice questions
3. FACT NUGGETS - this is where I write out any question that I had a hard time translating, answering or flat out got wrong.
4. mnemonics, formulas, ratios, journal entries, or my own little "tricks " which usually include pictures
When I did the homework, I didn't only write what I missed, I wrote what I didn't understand. Then, I would read about it. I would Google it or look for advice on A71. I would email Yaeger or use their forum. Whatever it took for me to "get it". Hell, I went to Barnes & Noble and sat there reading Auditing for Dummies, because I wanted to read some of this in layman's terms.
Once it clicked, I wrote it out in my own words as if I were explaining it to my best friend.... she's a model (you get what I'm saying).
I did that for every. single. topic.
I took so many practice sessions I lost count. I took exams like it was the real thing, at least 3 of them. I did the practice test in the Wiley appendix. I practiced using the Wiley test bank until all of my averages were 75 or above.... (my overall average was 81).
I listened to NINJA audio in my car until my daughter was talking along with Jeff. I downloaded the flash cards and the Ninja notes to my phone and I really did read them. I had my mom take my phone and quiz me on the flash cards.
Over Christmas vacation, in Hawaii, I woke up in the morning before everyone else and I would work questions and rewrite my notes.
I left 3 weeks of nothing but review, review, review. MCQ, SIMS, MCQ, SIMS. Over and over and over. I learned the "question language”. No longer would I read them and feel like I needed a translator. I finally got it. BUT IT WAS SO HARD. And exhausting, boring, frustrating.
But I was MAD. I was determined.
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I'm greater than a 73. That's what I tell myself.
"Cause if you're willing to go through all the battling you got to go through to get where you want to get, who's got the right to stop you? I mean maybe some of you guys got something you never finished, something you really want to do, something you never said to someone, something... and you're told no, even after you paid your dues? Who's got the right to tell you that, who? Nobody! It's your right to listen to your gut, it ain't nobody's right to say no after you earned the right to be where you want to be and do what you want to do!"
And sure enough 97 > 73 :)
PS: single mom, full time job, 9 years out of college
F Calm and Get Angry
I started to believe in myself. Instead of saying (or thinking) I hope I pass. I said I will pass. AUD doesn't have a chance. Instead of looking at my score report showing a 73 with some Stronger, Comparable, and Weakers... I printed it out, changed everything to STRONGER and told myself “I'm stronger than a 73.”
I scratched out the 73 and replaced it with an 82. Instead of saying "Don't score another 73" in an effort to stay positive I reworded that inner voice to say "Score in the EIGHTIES"
I kid you not. This stuff was everywhere. My computer wallpaper, screen saver, printouts I carried in my computer bag and set out while I studied. I changed the way I thought. And my family and coworkers noticed. One coworker told me I was obsessive. And I told her I had to be. Because when I was balanced, I lost. And this time I plan to win. I felt like the CPA exam was personally attacking me.
But in reality, I just hadn't attacked it. This time, I was daring to be great.
https://www.youdrivethesuccess.com/inspirational/dare-to-be-great/
For AUD: I got the YAEGER cram. I watched every video and took notes. It's no secret; people on here have said it before. If you get a 73 you don't need 2 more points, you need 75 more points. And I was studying like I needed 82. I did every homework problem assigned. I carried 4 spirals to study.
1. Lecture notes
2. scratch paper for practice questions
3. FACT NUGGETS - this is where I write out any question that I had a hard time translating, answering or flat out got wrong.
4. mnemonics, formulas, ratios, journal entries, or my own little "tricks " which usually include pictures
When I did the homework, I didn't only write what I missed, I wrote what I didn't understand. Then, I would read about it. I would Google it or look for advice on A71. I would email Yaeger or use their forum. Whatever it took for me to "get it". Hell, I went to Barnes & Noble and sat there reading Auditing for Dummies, because I wanted to read some of this in layman's terms.
Once it clicked, I wrote it out in my own words as if I were explaining it to my best friend.... she's a model (you get what I'm saying).
I did that for every. single. topic.
I took so many practice sessions I lost count. I took exams like it was the real thing, at least 3 of them. I did the practice test in the Wiley appendix. I practiced using the Wiley test bank until all of my averages were 75 or above.... (my overall average was 81).
I listened to NINJA audio in my car until my daughter was talking along with Jeff. I downloaded the flash cards and the Ninja notes to my phone and I really did read them. I had my mom take my phone and quiz me on the flash cards.
Over Christmas vacation, in Hawaii, I woke up in the morning before everyone else and I would work questions and rewrite my notes.
I left 3 weeks of nothing but review, review, review. MCQ, SIMS, MCQ, SIMS. Over and over and over. I learned the "question language”. No longer would I read them and feel like I needed a translator. I finally got it. BUT IT WAS SO HARD. And exhausting, boring, frustrating.
But I was MAD. I was determined.
I'm greater than a 73. That's what I tell myself.
"Cause if you're willing to go through all the battling you got to go through to get where you want to get, who's got the right to stop you? I mean maybe some of you guys got something you never finished, something you really want to do, something you never said to someone, something... and you're told no, even after you paid your dues? Who's got the right to tell you that, who? Nobody! It's your right to listen to your gut, it ain't nobody's right to say no after you earned the right to be where you want to be and do what you want to do!"
And sure enough 97 > 73 :)
PS: single mom, full time job, 9 years out of college