In this episode of the CPA Exam Experience Podcast, you’ll hear how Shailja was able to pass the CPA exams by overcoming all the doubt and fear that she wouldn’t be able to pass the exams. Shailja had struggled to get the Indian equivalent of the CPA and so had a lot of self doubt going into getting the CPA.
You’ll hear how Shailja was able to overcome those feelings and those thoughts and pass each exam, first try. She talked a lot about having a positive mindset and believing in yourself. Again, she passed all of her exams first try, so listen closely to her experience so you can believe in yourself too!
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Master your study process by attending one of our free study training workshops:
https://www.superfastcpa.com/study-secrets/
Episode Timestamps
- 00:00 Shailja Interview
- 03:21 Brief Background
- 04:26 Deciding to Pursue the CPA
- 05:39 Work Experience is from India
- 06:55 How Shailja’s Journey Started
- 07:55 Found SuperfastCPA Looking for Bite-Sized Ways to Study
- 08:49 Things Shailja Used After Deciding to Purse the CPA
- 10:47 Why Shailja Got SuperfastCPA
- 13:16 How the Mini Quizzes Helped
- 15:28 CPA Exams Timeline
- 15:56 What Shailja Did Differently Studying with SuperfastCPA
- 19:26 Writing Notes in Your Own WOrds
- 20:28 Do What Makes You Study Consistently
- 21:59 Passed All Four on First Try
- 23:21 Doing the Mock Exams to Learn Time Management
- 25:22 Had Negative Thoughts About Taking the Exams
- 26:25 Shifting to a Positive Mindset
- 27:50 Have Something That Can Keeps You Motivated
- 31:40 One of Shailja’s Motivations
- 33:13 Review Process for the Sims
- 34:25 Kept Track of Which Simulation Question to Practice
- 36:35 Shailja’s Tracker for Sims
- 38:00 Review Course Mentors
- 40:21 How the Podcast Helped Shailja
- 42:28 The Feeling of Relief and Confidence After Passing the CPA Exams
- 44:33 Things Shailja Did Before Taking an Exam
- 47:35 Top Tips for People Still Struggling with the CPA Exams
Interview Transcript
Shailja: [00:00:00] I feel like in review courses there’s a lot of information, so that, that’s when I kind of started doing some self-research that how do I get these bite-sized type of notes or something, some resource that I can do, like, you know, use on the go. Like, it’s not always possible sometimes to sit and study.
Sometimes you’re on vacation, sometimes you’re doing something else, you know you’re not available or you’re traveling, so that’s when, so I started doing some research I came across SuperfastCPA
Logan: Welcome to another episode of the CPA Exam Experience Podcast from Superfast CPA. I am Logan, and in today’s episode you’re going to hear me talking with Shailja.
Now Shailja is from India and I was able to talk to her when it was evening for her and morning for me. Crazy, that time difference, and she had a lot of great tips. She had a great story and I’m excited for you to hear it.
Something that she talked about a lot was the struggle with her [00:01:00] mentality when she was going through these exams. She had tried to get the equivalent of the CPA in India, but the requirements are pretty intense there and it takes a lot of time, more than just taking some exams and she really struggled with that. So when she decided to go for the CPA, she had a lot of mental struggles where she felt like there was no way that she was gonna be able to do it. And she really was her own worst enemy for some of the process because she just kept telling herself she couldn’t do it.
But you’ll hear throughout this interview how she was able to overcome those thoughts and pass her exams. She did really well, if I’m not wrong, she passed all of them first try. Again, she was able to overcome her mind telling her, you can’t do this. There’s no way you can do this. You weren’t able to do the equivalent in India, so why would you think you’re able to do the CPA? And again, she was able to overcome that.
So I think this will be a great episode for overcoming the mental struggles that come along with doing the CPA, which I think most of us have experienced or are experiencing. So make sure you listen throughout the whole episode to hear all of her [00:02:00] comments and all of her advice.
Now before we dive into the episode, I just wanna give another reminder about our SuperfastCPA training webinar on superfastcpa.com. Again, that is a one hour free webinar where we will teach you the key ingredients to passing the CPA exams so you don’t waste months or even years of your time failing exams.
And after you watch that, you’re going to want to learn more, so make sure you also check out becoming a SuperfastCPA PRO member, because PRO members get access to a lot of great stuff, including the PRO course where we go very in depth on how you’re supposed to pass the CPA exams. And we also have multiple choice question walkthrough videos where we walk through multiple choice questions for almost every topic in FAR, almost every topic in audit. A lot of topics in REG and TCP and BAR as well. So that you can get a little bit of extra help and a little bit of extra understanding by watching those. So make sure you check out becoming a SuperfastCPA PRO member. Check out the webinar.
Now, with all that outta the way, let’s dive into the interview with Shailja.
Logan: Alright, well thank you for getting on the call with me, I guess tonight for you, uh, Shailja, uh, it’s Shelly or [00:03:00] how, whichever you prefer.
Um, and, uh, I’m, yeah, I’m excited to talk to you about your CPA journey and everything, um, so let’s just dive in.
So you’re calling in from India tonight, is that right?
Shailja: Yeah, namaste.
Logan: Awesome.
Shailja: Yeah.
Logan: Nice. Uh, and yeah, let’s just kind of dive into your process, your journey.
Brief Background
Logan: So what, where were you in your career or studying when you wanted to start the CPA?
Shailja: So, uh, I had already finished my graduation and I had also done the equivalent of CPA in India, which is called Charter Accountancy. So, and I also worked with, uh, PricewaterhouseCoopers, so I was working in the statutory audit division there.
So, but then, uh, I mean, at that, at that point of time, I was like a trainee. So we have to do three years of training under a chartered accountant in India to, a qualified, you know, to get a, it’s like a CPA, but [00:04:00] of India.
So then, then what happened with me personally was I did that. I was working in PricewaterhouseCoopers. I also worked in a mid-size firm in India where I used to do like accounting, filing, tax returns, I, I mean in India, like individual tax returns, corporate tax returns, all of that.
So then that’s when I realized that, okay, I’m more interested in tax and this is what I want to do.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Deciding to Pursue the CPA
Shailja: So then what happened with me personally was I reached my final level. So here we have three levels, entrance, intermediate, and final. So after intermediate, you have three years of training. That’s the process.
So what happened, my finals is I gave, gave it thrice. I couldn’t clear it. Uh, then I went into like this period of depression and kind of didn’t wanna try anything and I thought that, let me pause on this for now.
Then after that I got to know about CPA and I started pursuing CPA, and yeah, now it’s [00:05:00] done and dusted. So I’m really grateful. I’m relieved more than anything, and that was my journey.
So long term, even now, I know that like my interest is tax because I just find it interesting and I want to work in that. So that was my, that’s my background. And right now, after finishing CPA, I’ve been putting my resume out, you know, uh, giving interviews, connecting with people.
So I’m like right now looking for work because I wanted to do my CPA, get qualified and upgrade myself, and then. Like, you know, look for something better. So this is, uh, what’s going on with me right now. So yeah, that’s my story.
Work Experience is from India
Logan: So, so you, just to make sure I’m understanding you there, so you were kind of trying for the chartered accountant in India, but then decided that you were more interested in tax, so, so you decided to do the CPA instead, and does that mean that you’re doing tax work for the US or are you [00:06:00] doing tax work in like for India residents?
Does that make sense?
Shailja: Yeah, so I have work experience with India Tax. Uh, but I’m, I also, like, I got exposed to US tax while starting for CPA, so I found that also interesting. So I’m open, I’m not, uh, you know, at this stage of career having a lot of specifications to be very honest, I feel like I need to learn the work and make connections and build a network right now.
But long term, that’s my interest, like I find it more interesting. So that’s, um, also, uh, I feel like if you work in audit, it helps a lot with the CPA audit exam. That’s not to say that if you haven’t done it, that you won’t pass, but, or you can’t pass, but it’s just ma, it, it helps a bit. So I think that helped me personally for when I was preparing for CPA.
So that’s my, like, my journey, my story.
How Shailja’s Journey Started
Logan: So, I actually kind of wanna ask how you [00:07:00] started with studying. So when you decided you wanted to study for the CPA, how did you start? Did you purchase a review course? Like how did that look?
Shailja: So I don’t know if, uh, you can decide whether you wanna keep this on the podcast or not. My story is a little funny in the sense that it was a YouTube targeted ad, and, uh, it, I was just like scrolling and they’re like, okay, do CPA and whatever It’s like uh, US CPA and all that. And I was like, okay, let’s try. And it was my review provider is, the name is Miles Education.
They’re based in India and UAE and also they have, uh, presence in US. So I joined Miles and uh, the thing is, uh, then I, I, I kind of attended their webinars, got interested, got to know how many exams are there, what do we need to do, and then from there, the journey started. So that’s what happened.
Logan: Okay.
Found SuperfastCPA Looking for Bite-Sized Ways to Study
Logan: Okay, and so you found Miles and what? Like [00:08:00] how, how did it go at the beginning with just using Miles? Like how did, how did studying feel and how did the exams go?
Shailja: So I felt that though Miles was good, I felt, feel like in review courses there’s a lot of information. So that, that’s when I kind of started doing some self-research that how do I get these bite-sized type of notes or something, some resource that I can do, like, you know, use on the go. Like, it’s not always possible sometimes to sit and study.
Sometimes you’re on vacation, sometimes you’re doing something else, you’re, you know, you’re not available or you’re traveling. So that’s when, so I started doing some research. I came across SuperfastCPA and uh, I purchased the PRO course. And uh, then what I start, I used the quizzes, the mini quizzes through all four subjects.
Things Shailja Used After Deciding to Purse the CPA
Shailja: I would say that until you become a CPA, like breathe, eat, sleep these things like, even like before sleeping half an hour, like what Nate said in the PRO course videos, [00:09:00] like you spent three hours, one more thing that I did, sorry, I have a lot of information, but one more thing that I did was when I decided I wanted become a CPA, the first thing I did was I’m leaving social media.
I uninstalled Instagram, Facebook. The only thing I kept was YouTube and I, LinkedIn, I used to see sometimes, but not too much, just like professionally. So, uh, that’s the first thing I did. I uninstalled and I downloaded the SuperfastCPA app. I’ve used the mini quizzes.
First, when I started my preparation every subject I’d be like, okay, I’m getting 60, 70 on average. Then when I felt like, yeah, I’m getting closer to giving the exam, go to 80, 90, that’s when I was like, yeah, I’m getting a lot of things in the mini quizzes right. I think now I’m good to go.
Second thing, I really like the audio notes a lot. Like I would listen to it if I’m not able to study, study like, put your phones. We are going on a drive. You are traveling, whatever. Listen to the audio notes. It’s about [00:10:00] being in touch with the subject. Like I would say, don’t even leave one week, two weeks where it’s like, I’m so busy, I can’t, you know, like just be in touch with it somehow.
Like the mini quizzes, you can just do it in five minutes. So I think mini quizzes and the audio notes, these two things were very helpful for me. Also, the notes are there, but I personally did not honestly use that, mini quizzes and audio notes. I really used a lot.
Logan: Okay, so, so you, you got Miles and you were kind of like, how can I get this more into, in like small pieces throughout my day? So you researched, found SuperfastCPA and from, and so you bought the, so you must have bought the total bundle ’cause you had the pro course and the study materials as well.
Why Shailja Got SuperfastCPA
Logan: Um, and what, so you said that the audio notes and the mini quizzes were like your big thing that you used. Uh, was that like a selling point or was that something that interested you when you [00:11:00] found SuperfastCPA? Like is that a part of the reason why you bought it?
Shailja: Yes, because what happens in review courses is that, uh, you need to have like a laptop, a calculator, or book, pen or paper, you need to like your, need to be very present. Whereas when I look at mini quizzes or audio notes, I can just listen to it or do it and something else is going on, so I’m always in touch with it.
So I think that, in SuperfastCPA, that’s something that I use that helped me a lot because sometimes what happens is when you think about, oh, I need to study one hour, like practically, life gets in the way. It doesn’t happen. Here, you’re not thinking like that. It’s like throughout the day, like even, like, you know, if you’re taking a break from work, just open the mini quiz, do one quiz, okay. I do like a quiz, and I’d be like, oh, I got 60 today. Then after, kept doing, kept doing. Then it’s like, okay, now I’ve been studying for maybe one month more. Now I’m getting [00:12:00] 80 so, it’s uh, I think these two things are what I used and the audio notes are very helpful.
Like instead of listening to music while you are traveling to work, you can use the audio notes and keep listening to, suppose you are in audit, you’re not getting management assertions, just an example, you go to that topic in the audio notes, you will listen to it and then. It becomes, it’s also very simplified, so I, I like that so I can hear it and then it’s also a different way to look at things.
Sometimes the review course is very theoretical or it’s, it’s very by the book and you need somebody to kind of break down things for you. So I feel that way, the audio notes help a lot, and the quizzes are so easy that you don’t even need a calculator, but it’s also testing you on what’s relevant. So I think these things are very helpful. Like these are really good additional tools that help a lot when you’re preparing.
Logan: Yeah.
I, and that’s the, that, and that’s the hope. That’s the, I I love that you [00:13:00] said that. ’cause that’s the whole reason that we, you know, that we make the mini quiz, the audio notes, the review notes is so that you have that ability to get additional studying and that’s actually still useful without having to sit in front of a computer like you were saying.
How the Mini Quizzes Helped
Logan: Uh, and how, uh, just curious how much of that were you able to fit in to your day? Like, were you listening to the audio notes as much as you possibly could? How, how many mini quizzes were you fitting in in the day? Like how many, how much would you guess that you had?
Shailja: Um, there are days when I do like two, three quizzes and there’d be days when I do like 10 quizzes. So it depends on how much time.
That’s the thing. It’s not, uh, like, uh, like a very set thing. It’s on your routine, it’s on your timing. And that’s what I like about it. That is what something is not available in review courses.
So it, it you, and you don’t have to, like, you do the, suppose you do the [00:14:00] mini quiz, then you’re starting, then you’re like, look, I’ve prepared a little better. Uh, I’m now feeling more comfortable with maybe FAR something bonds, leases or whatever, any topic. So let me try to do a mini quiz now. Now it’s like, okay, now I started getting 90 so it, and also I realize that in the mini quizzes there’s sometimes additional information, which is not then the review course. And I feel like in CPA there’s a blueprint, but it’s different from a college exam or any other professional exam that it’s like, they basically can ask you anything. So it’s relevant, but it’s still not out of syllabus.
So that way I feel like there was some, there have a few additional information, which it’s like a, you go in the exam, they’re testing your knowledge of you’ve been studying this much time. So I feel like that gives you good additional information. Also, like I felt like in theory subjects, like in audit.
Or I, I, then again it was BEC, now it’s BAR, but [00:15:00] that, there, there was some additional information also, which I felt was helpful.
Logan: Right and the, yeah, that, that’s, that’s kind of like, the idea is that we try to make them into something that, you know, is just around the blueprint topics, because that’s, uh, they can be a little bit vague, the, the blueprint topics. So like, you know, I trying to do a whole bunch of different quizzes and questions around that, those subjects.
CPA Exams Timeline
Logan: Um, and, you know, maybe it’s been a little while since you, when did you finish? Because I think it’s been a little bit since you finished studying. Is that right?
Shailja: Uh, I passed in June, so I gave REG in May. I got my results in June. Um, I gave FAR before that, uh, BEC I gave in 2023 and then audit. So that’s how it’s, yeah.
Logan: Okay. Okay. So, uh, you know, like a year and a half or something like that, and overall.
What Shailja Did Differently Studying with SuperfastCPA
Logan: And, when you very first started were, [00:16:00] like, was there very much time where you were studying with just Miles? Were you studying in the evenings and the mornings? How did that look before you got SuperfastCPA?
Shailja: So I would say that I know there’s a lot of debate. Should I study in the morning or evening? My advice study when you are going to be at your best. If you study best at night, do it at night. If you study best, for me, I like doing in the morning. So for me, I, I would say that, uh, it depends on your routine and your circumstances and what you retain best and I would say that, um, for me, one thing that happened when I was, I surely use this a lot, this tool mentoring is very important. I can’t stress it enough because it, it’s not like college where you go to class and you meet people, you make friends. It’s, it’s a, it’s, I don’t have a better word, but it can get a little lonely, so.
Uh, like even if you attend, you know, like I attended classes online, but I didn’t [00:17:00] make those bonds cause at the end of the day it was a Zoom call. So they don’t know what I look like or we didn’t even have a video on. So it can get lonely. So I would say mentoring is a very important tool that I use.
I connected with a lot of people who are CPAs, and it makes you think that, what do you wanna do after you become a CPA? Do you wanna do your own practice, get into public accounting? Do you wanna join industry? Do you wanna be get into academics? Like you can do anything. That’s the thing. Once you become a CPA, the doors are open for you.
So it’s important to connect with a lot of people. And to your question, I would say that the one thing that I did different after getting SuperfastCPA is when Nate said that, you know, we should go back and use flashcards or do re-review. I used to do the whole subject and then come back and do it again.
I changed that approach after, uh, looking at the PRO course videos, I realized that I should kind of focus on what, what are they testing? What’s [00:18:00] important? Get your, like conceptually, get your concepts right? Just doing the whole, that’s, that’s what a lot of people do. They just do the whole portion and this is the review course. The review course gives you so much information, so I don’t think that’s a good way to go about it.
And also, one more thing that Nate said in the video is make your own notes. Like, I really liked one thing that he said that. Write things in your own words. Like suppose I’ll tell you one thing in, I don’t know if it’s there anymore, but there is costing in BAR subject, BAR, so.
Logan: Cost accounting.
Shailja: Yeah, so process costing or like activity based costing, now write it in your own words. How do you distinguish between absorption method, variable costing, uh, how to go from one to the other, or tax income to book income? What is the difference? LIke the books are very theoretical. You need to get to a level where it’s like, okay, now I can teach you or I can, I know that much that I understand it. I can teach you.
So I think [00:19:00] what needs are in his video writing, making notes in your own words. Not everything, but very, very important or very short notes, like you write down and it, and then you come back to it later and it’s like. Yeah, I get this ’cause it’s, it’s what I’ve written, it’s my understanding, it’s my words.
The books are very theoretical. So I think that, so there were a lot of good things in the PRO course videos that I took away and I used like these tips.
Logan: Right.
Writing Notes in Your Own WOrds
Logan: So you, uh, you know, so you basically are, something that you really liked from it was that he talked about, you know, making flashcards and writing things down in your own words. And what difference did you see in your studying when you started doing that, compared when to, when you weren’t doing that? Did you feel like your understanding improved a lot?
Shailja: Yes, and also, uh, like I feel like conceptually it makes you stronger because you are not just seeing something from a book and then just, that’s what they test you in the exam. They test how much you know. They test, [00:20:00] um, whether you understand it. So I think making flashcards and I, I didn’t do that before seeing the PRO course video.
I didn’t make notes for like, after seeing him say that, okay, you should, you know, kind of make notes and write in your own words. That’s the exact term that stayed with me, and I started doing that. So not just, yeah, not just doing the book or the review course, but yeah, like you’re digging deep into it.
Do What Makes You Study Consistently
Logan: And is there anything else from the PRO course that really stuck out to you when you were watching it? You talked about studying in the mornings, were you studying in the mornings before you watched the PRO course?
Shailja: Yes, because I like mornings. I feel like, uh, my brain is fresh and, uh, uh, I can like, you know, understand and absorb. But there are a lot of people who like studying in the night, so I don’t, I’m not hell bent on morning or night, I think. Like some people go, go early to work. They don’t have time in the morning.
Maybe they come home early from work in the evening and the evening is when they [00:21:00] get time. So I would say, and also I would say one more thing that uh, like the mini quizzes and the audio notes help you in the census. You don’t need to take out one hour to study. That’s what I’m saying. Like you can do 15 minutes mini quizzes, you can do audio notes. Uh, go through your flashcards. So these things are helpful, so it makes it manageable to study every day consistently.
Speaker: All right. Yeah, sorry about that. We, we lost, uh, connection there. So now we’re trying this on Zoom. Thanks for your patience. Uh, so I’ll just kind of say what I was saying before, like with studying in the morning, we typically want people to study in the morning just because, you know, people are busy. They, they’re tired from work, from the day and stuff like that. Uh, so it’s more likely that people will get their studying done if they study in the morning. But, you know, like you were saying, whatever works, as long as you actually get the studying done and you feel like it’s working and you’re passing exams, that’s what we, that’s what we care about in the end.
Passed All Four on First Try
Speaker: Um, [00:22:00] so you were studying in the morning from the start cause that was just, you just knew that that worked best for you. Uh, and from there, so you study in the mornings, you loved the audio notes, you loved the mini quizzes. And how did your exams go? Did you pass them all first try, did you have any struggles? What was that like?
Shailja: Hmm. So I passed them in the first try, but for me personally, what I was overwhelmed with the most was FAR because of the volume of the portion. And the thing is, I was not that familiar with U.S. GAAP. Mm-hmm. I found tax to be manageable, but uh, U.S. GAAP was completely new. What I had exposure to was more of IFRS because that’s what used in, what’s used in India.
Logan: Right.
Shailja: So it was completely new for me. Right now it’s like India is still, most of the accounting standards have become similar but uh, yeah, I had to brush up. So I would [00:23:00] say with FAR, uh, the thing is it’s doable. The volume is what is overwhelming.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Shailja: So I think in that mentoring helps, practicing helps and I would personally.
I know people may think this is, uh, overdoing it, but I would say in every subject, try to do the portion three times at least.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Doing the Mock Exams to Learn Time Management
Shailja: And I would suggest, I know that in the PRO course videos, uh, it’s advised that, you know, it’s practice exam if you wanna do it? Okay.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Shailja: If you don’t, it’s up to you, but I would strongly recommend mock test practice exam because it helps you in time management.
Especially with subjects like FAR where you get simulations, like in the exam, the exhibits, like there are like nine, 10 exhibits almost every sim. So sometimes it’s over and it’s not like you don’t know it, but when you go in the exam and you see it, you’re like, oh, there’s so much information. Like what, where do I start? That’s what happens.
And everything is new, so like, you know, I [00:24:00] think if the practice exam, mock tests, these help a lot to help you manage your time. Like you get this mental roadmap, okay, I should do my MCQs in one hour. Some subjects you would feel that I need more time in MCQs. Some subjects you feel I need more time in simulations so you can, uh, you know, make it according to your pace, your, what’s your strength, so, you can personalize it.
So I really recommend doing mock exam. I did like three mock tests, every subject, and if there were two practice exam, my review course, I did those practice exam. And our review course was new questions and mock tests were from the review course.
So go first, I would say practice with questions you’ve already seen. Then try practice exam, which is new questions. You should try to do both before the exam. That would be my advice.
Logan: Mm-hmm. Yeah, they, the practice exams can be really helpful in that sense because a lot of times they have different questions than what you’ve been seeing throughout your review course.
So [00:25:00] yeah, it is extra practice. A lot of times we leave it up to people because you know, we have re-review built into the day. So hopefully you’ve been been doing a lot of that, practicing a lot of that time management throughout the process. But it is good to have that, like if you wanna practice that four hour feeling it, you know, it can definitely help you be prepared for the exam.
Had Negative Thoughts About Taking the Exams
Logan: And when you got into the exam, did you feel like, did you feel prep? I mean, you’ve passed all of them first try, so you were obviously prepared, but did you feel prepared? Did you feel nervous going into the exams?
Shailja: So for me personally, now I coming to what challenges I had, so I’ll tell you honestly when I started doing CPA.
For me, it, it was more of a mental challenge in the sense that I had some negativity in my mind that I couldn’t finish the Indian equivalent of CPA. So somewhere in my mind I felt like maybe I’m not good enough, or, and I was on this high, like, okay, I’m working in big four. I thought my career will go somewhere.
It didn’t [00:26:00] happen for whatever reason. Uh, not that I didn’t try, it just didn’t happen. So, uh, for me, I had some negativity in my mind, so in, I used to like look at my mind, 75% would be negative thoughts, especially with FAR, I would get over and be like, do you think you’re gonna do this? You’re not going to, these are my thoughts in my mind.
You’re not going to pass. You fail before it’s gonna happen again. It’s the same thing again.
Shifting to a Positive Mindset
Shailja: At this time, I remember Nate said that, make a document and that in that document, write down where do, where do you see yourself in five years? What happens if I pass CPA? What happens if I don’t pass CPA?
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Shailja: He gave us this document and it was like a blueprint. And I wrote down in that and I kept that on my desktop, and I used to look at it, what happens if I pass CPA? What happens if I don’t pass it? So then I started trying to focus on that 25% positive in my mind, that small voice in my mind, which would be like, what if I pass?
So one of the reasons why I passed in the first exam was I [00:27:00] used to, I had a fear of failing, to be very honest with you.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Shailja: I had this, I would do the portion three times. I do mini mocks, mocks practice exam. Like in FAR, my mentor was like, you’re over preparing now. Please, please go and get the exam, like that was my situation.
So I, uh, so I think that document also, like these, it’s also a mental and emotional thing, and being consistent, being patient. It’s not just, oh, you study, go and get it. No, it’s different from college. Like I told you before, you’re, you are on your own. Mm-hmm. Mentors help, yes, but it’s not like you’re meeting a professor every day. It’s not like you’re meeting your college friends every day. You are mostly on your own.
So, you know, like, it’s different. I would say it’s different from college. Like, because I’ve also done my graduation from like a college, so I know the college experience versus CPA or professional exam experience.
Have Something That Can Keeps You Motivated
Shailja: So I would say that that document that Nate told me to keep, I used to look at it. I used to, whenever I would feel low, I would be like, oh, why am I [00:28:00] doing CPA? And I would say, find, what Nate said in the video, find a personal reason, which is, there are very generic reasons. I want money, I want career. Mm-hmm.
Everybody wants money like, what’s your personal reason? Which is beyond money, which is beyond career growth. Like I wanna give a good life to my family. Or for me it was, I wanna prove to myself that I can do this, that I can pass. I’m not, I’m capable of this. I have potential, so.
Logan: Right.
Shailja: It’s a, or some, sometimes people are like, yeah, I have a young son or daughter at home. I wanna provide for them. I wanna give them a better life. Like, very, very personally, what does the, where does it money take you? So I think that, uh, apart from the PRO, uh, the mini quizzes and the audio notes, I think, uh, and also the Nate telling me that, you know, you should make flashcards, make your own notes. I think that document, it’s, it’s not always looking at the document. It’s like keeping it in your mind because then there will be hurdles you’ll [00:29:00] think I need to give up. A lot of people give up in the mental game. It’s not about always studying. It’s also like mentally making us a strong, or talking to, like, a lot of people don’t understand.
Your mind plays games with you. Your mind doesn’t wanna exert. It’s coming, like you’re coming from work, it’s tired. It’s like, I’m you, you’re happy where you are or you’re comfortable where you are. So you don’t wanna push yourself,
Logan: right?
Shailja: So you have to push your mind and your mind sometimes, please, this happened to me I, I know it’s very, um, it may be, uh, case to case basis, but this happened. In my mind, would a lot of times look at difficult concepts and give up like, yeah, you fail before you’re gonna fail again. Then I would look at like what Nate said, that think of a reason that is beyond money. That’s very personal.
You don’t need to tell anyone that reason. Keep it in your mind and come back to that reason when you have hurdles or when you feel like or when you fail. I think when people fail. There is you, sometimes you get negative. A lot of people [00:30:00] give up. They’re like, it’s taking too much time. What’s the point?
Is it really even gonna help my career? Like, especially people who are, uh, managers already middle level, like I think a lot of people think start questioning, is this even worth it? Is it worth the effort?
Logan: Yeah.
Shailja: So yeah.
Logan: I, I definitely agree with that. And it, it’s almost, it’s kind of crazy how much of this process is actually a mental game, kind of like you were saying.
Shailja: Yeah.
Logan: That, you know, we talk about the strategies, we talk about the best ways to study and things like that, but in the end, you have to be the one to be able to push yourself through the whole process, you know? And I, I actually talk to people all the time. We have our coaching program. I tell people all the time to, to remember to fill out that motivation sheet, just like you were talking about.
I found the motivation sheet super helpful for me cause I just, like you did, I wrote down a lot of reasons that had nothing to do with money. [00:31:00] Uh, one of the big reasons that I wanted to finish the CPA exam once I started was I knew that if I started it and quit that, that would kind of set a precedent for me, for other things in my life, it would say I would be more likely to quit some other thing that I wanted to do in the future. Whereas if I passed a CPA exam, I had that confidence like, you know, I’ve done that. I can do this. Whatever this other thing is as well. Uh, and I added to mine as time went on.
I don’t know if you did that as well, but like I’ve made it originally, but then as time went on I would write additional things that were motivating to me. So I love that you talked about that.
One of Shailja’s Motivations
Logan: Uh, was there anything that you’d be willing to share? And if not, that’s okay, but is there anything on your personal motivation sheet that you can think of that you would wanna share?
Shailja: Yeah. For me, I would say it’s about the principle of deciding to start something and finishing it.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Shailja: It’s like, it’s yourself, principle. Like [00:32:00] it’s the money will come. I, I mean, yes, money, career growth, like that, that is a very general reason. That’s not what’s going to take you to the finish line when you feel like I wanna give up or this is too hard.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Shailja: And this happens a lot. I would say FAR is like the most challenging for most people.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Shailja: And for me personally, exam experience was, I also think FAR was the most difficult exam for me, considering the volume, the exhibits, and you know, I think it’s certified public accountant, it’s there in the name.
So accounting is going to be at a I, I personally feel like it’s at a little bit higher level, so I would say yes. The principle of starting and finishing something, realizing your own potential and capabilities. That was also there on my sheet. Yeah, so you don’t know what you can do til you do it.
Logan: Right.
Yeah, you, and, and the only way you, and you know, you hear people say this all the time, and it might sound a little cliche, but the only way you can truly fail the CPA exam is if you stop trying. Uh, so as long as you are [00:33:00] willing to keep trying and keep doing exams until you pass, then you’ll eventually pass.
And so with your, you know, you’ve had a lot of great tips, you know, about the audio notes, the mini quizzes about motivation.
Review Process for the Sims
Logan: Uh, one thing that I know a lot of people like me to ask about is the sims. How was, what was your experience with the sims? How did you study those? What was working for you?
Shailja: Yeah, so initially when I started before, uh, looking at the PRO course, when I started, I used to just, uh, like I told you, just go through the review course.
Do the portion once again, then second time, I felt like I was going nowhere. I was like drowning in a sea of material. So what happened is I also, this was a tip given by one of the mentors who I’m still in touch with. Um, so, uh, he was a mentor in Mild. So anyway, what he told me is. Make an Excel sheet in that you make a few columns, serial number, the write the ID of the simulation it, which is in your review [00:34:00] code so you can come back to it later. How much you scored, like suppose some you got 30, 40, 80, whatever. Just write it and commence. Like, do I wanna discuss this sim with my mentor in the next call we have or yes, look at, uh, internal controls here, if it’s an audit or FAR look at the leases calculation or capital budgeting.
I need to look at the present values, how, how it’s computed.
Kept Track of Which Simulation Question to Practice
Shailja: So I would say make that, I use this in every subject. Make a tracker, uh, and suppose you got 80, 90 in a few sims, you’re doing great. Next, second time you’re doing, ignore. You already got 80, 90, don’t go back to that, where you got 30, 40. Focus on that. So I, this helped me a lot, uh, making a tracker.
Uh, also what I personally did was I would make Word documents. So if I’d find extra information I’d, which was not in the review course, not in my textbook, uh, make word documents and write that text down. [00:35:00] Like sometimes you come across new things while you’re studying and those are, those are also important.
Sometimes those are tested as well. It’s like a holistic, uh, tool, like you’re creating tools for yourself that you pass. So I would say maintaining that Excel sheet was really helpful for me.
Then you get to know what your progress is. So initially when I started studying, I too struggle at I’m 30, 40, why am I not getting to 80?
So when you make this tracker, you’re like, okay, now I’m improving cause you’re focusing on what you are not good at, what you need to improve rather than just doing the whole review, your review course again, which is not to help you and it’s time consuming.
Logan: Right? Yeah. The, that’s actually kind of goes along with a lot of the, of what we say in the, in SuperfastCPA, you know, focusing on what is important and with the MCQs, you know, it’s, it getting good at those and understanding the material. But what then with the sims, very similar to what you’re saying there. You wanna focus on the things that you, that are difficult for you. Because if you can [00:36:00] already figure out a sim or do a sim then, then you don’t need to practice anymore.
Because specifically with sims, they’re gonna be completely different on exam day, you have no idea what you’re going to be seeing. So you need to be good at, figuring out how to work your way through a sim and figuring out how to tackle difficult subjects, the things that are hard for you.
Um, so I like that you said that. So you had a daily, you had a tracker for your sims, and you would like keep track of how you did on, uh, a certain subject or a certain sim is the, that’s what you’re saying, right?
Shailja: Yeah.
Logan: Okay. Okay.
Shailja’s Tracker for Sims
Logan: And so did you, and was this, uh, an idea that you had or because I do wanna ask you about your mentors.
Was that an idea that your mentor came up with?
Shailja: Yeah, uh, my mentor, uh, uh, came up with that idea. And, uh, he told, when I started my first subject, he told me, do this because I told him I’m drowning like, I’m not understanding the challenges. There’s so much information. You’re like, what should I focus on and how do [00:37:00] I improve in a way that I pass?
So he told me about this making a tracker thing, and, uh, for MCQs, I did not make a tracker, but yes, I think flagging questions while you go, uh, and solve them is helpful. And even for M MCQs, I made like a Word document, uh, where I’d write down extra things. And also, like Nate said, making a, I’d make like, I would say like 10 pages, like just very, very important things that writing in your own words, or even con, like one thing Nate said in the video, if you’re struggling in something, try to understand it. Do mentoring and then try to write it down in your own words. And then you get to know, do I even understand or is the mentor just explaining it to me again and again and I’m not getting it.
That happens a lot when you’re starting. So I think like writing in your own words. That also helps cause a lot of people struggle with MCQs, some people struggle with sims. So it’s like different, depends on the person.
Logan: [00:38:00] Right.
Review Course Mentors
Logan: And so I, yeah. I wanna ask you a bit more about your mentor. So what, uh, what was that like?
Is that somebody that you, like paid for or somebody that you’ve found to kind of like, talk through the process? Like what, uh, was it a tutor? Like, I’m just curious what that was like?
Shailja: So in my review course, um, we, we would, we would have like Google meet calls and there would be like three or four. They were the same people who taught you on your webinars.
Like, we have Zoom calls, like how you and me are having, they would share their screen, uh, go through the concepts, do a few MCQs and simulations with us, not all. Uh, and, uh, if, if after that, after that we study on our own, so that was our process. And then if we were stuck on a sim or an MCQ, uh, we would have like these, yes, it was paid, we would.
On our review course, we could schedule calls with our mentors, and then we’d connect on Google Meet. So we’d [00:39:00] get like maybe 15 minutes. Sometimes you want half an hour, you need more time. So I’d, like suppose you and me, I’d schedule a call with you like 3:00 PM, three to three 15, then I’d connect with you.
I’d ask you to guide me to understand the concepts and also how to prepare. So I, these are people, the, uh, people who are qualified CPAs. So I would say connecting with them is very important. It’s a very big tool that helped me pass.
Logan: Okay. So they would like walk through some problems with you and kind of give you additional strategies to, on how to pass and things like that.
And at what, did you have that from the start of your process or was there a certain point where you felt like that was necessary?
Shailja: I had it from the start because it was there, yeah, in our review course, but I started using it I think, more effectively when I started, when I changed my strategy, when I started, uh, re-reviewing, when I started looking at, uh, mini quizzes, audio notes, sparing a tracker, [00:40:00] uh, understanding where I’m lacking. And so it also depends how you use it.
So I think this is, because the thing is in CPA, nobody tells you how to prepare, which is why I have listened to, by the way, a lot of podcasts of, uh, SuperfastCPA. It is like my dream to be like I was, I used to imagine one day I’ll be on the podcast.
I’m very happy.
Logan: I’m so,
Shailja: yeah.
Logan: That’s awesome.
How the Podcast Helped Shailja
Logan: So, so with, so with the podcast, so you, you were saying that you listened to a whole bunch of different podcasts and what, what was helpful from that? Cause, you know, you were like, I, I would love to be on the podcast someday. So I’m glad that you’re on here today.
So what was, what was motivating about that? What was helpful about listening to the podcast?
Shailja: I like how people share their challenges here because I don’t know how the cultures in us have never been, but uh, at least in India, people don’t talk about challenges. It’s like an Asian thing, right? Like they just wanna share the good things of their life. I think now in social media, that’s the case everywhere, so I like that in the podcast, people talk about their [00:41:00] challenges.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Shailja: You know, their life circumstances. Sometimes things happen, they come in the way why they can’t pass or like nobody comes and ask why, how did you go through this mentally?
How did you overcome this hurdle? So I think that way the podcast is helpful. And I also feel like I really liked how a lot of people talked about failing. A lot of times people don’t talk about failing. So when it, when I would listen to the podcast, like some people would say that like, I couldn’t pass FAR. I gave it three tries and this happened and that happened, so I really like that about the podcast.
Like you, it’s, it’s, it’s, it’s really good because this helps with your mental health a lot, especially when you do CPA and then if you failed once and you hear about other people failing. It, it’s really like, it’s like, okay, I can do it. It’s just that. Maybe it’ll be next time, so it’s motivating that way.
Logan: Right. So, so you liked that, you know, we just talked about like the, the real process, you know, and talked about the failures, [00:42:00] the, the successes, everything altogether, okay.
So I, and I, I, I find that helpful too. Like I’m the kind of person just in life that I don’t like, uh, there’s a saying in the U.S. like beating around the bush. I don’t like, uh, being fake. I like things to be real and to be, uh, actually helpful and actually useful. So I, like, I, it’s, it’s good to hear that that kind of like resonated with you.
The Feeling of Relief and Confidence After Passing the CPA Exams
Logan: Uh, and when you, so you passed the CPA in June, right? This, you just fairly finished in June. Uh, well, how did that feel? I mean, you, because you had been taking it, you’d been kind of studying and things for like almost a year and a half or something like that. Uh, how did that feel when you finished?
Shailja: I felt relieved. Like I realized how much negativity I had in my mind because like I told you, like I was always not sure, and I’ve become more confident. I think people look at you [00:43:00] differently and you look at yourself differently. You, like you, you don’t need to tell anybody when you go out there, what you can do.
It’s like, yeah, you’re a CPA like, you know it. So I think it makes you confident and, um, yeah, like I’ve, I am honestly relieved. I’m still relieved. I, I don’t have to study anymore.
Logan: Yep. You don’t have to do it ever again. Uh, and just curious, like, probably not, but does this make you feel like you would ever want to do the chartered accountancy again, or do you feel like CPA is like, you can use that instead of chartered accountancy? Does that make sense?
Shailja: Oh, yeah. I, I always say never say never, but not right now. And right now I wanna, uh, I want to work, so I’m, I’m connecting with people. I’ve been giving interviews, like I wanna get practical experience more in work, yeah.
Logan: Right, yeah. And that makes sense.
Shailja: Actually, after doing CPA I feel like I can do more, like, I feel like I’ve become more confident, so, yeah.
Logan: Yeah. It, it definitely boosts your confidence, like you were saying. [00:44:00] I, I definitely felt like that, you know, I was, I felt like I could do anything. After I had finished the CPA exam, I’m like, I could just, anything I wanna learn, anything I want to do, I could just set it aside, set aside some time in the morning and I could do anything. Uh, I, I, I love that feeling.
And have you done anything to celebrate or, uh, is there anything that you’ve done after passing to kind of like congratulate yourself?
Shailja: Uh, not really, but I’m thinking of taking a vacation, so maybe that.
Logan: Yes, I think you should, you should definitely should.
Things Shailja Did Before Taking an Exam
Logan: Uh, yeah, the, and oh, and actually, I always liked, I haven’t asked this question in a while, but did you have any, uh, exam day traditions, like things that you did every time you took the exam or did you wear the same shirt?
I’m just curious if you had anything like that.
Shailja: Uh, so one thing that Nate said, uh, coming back to the PRO course videos, actually talking to, I’m realizing how much I took away from the PRO course videos.
Logan: Yeah, you did? Yeah.
Shailja: [00:45:00] Uh, what Nate said is in his video is that when you, like, suppose you’re giving the exam tomorrow or day after is like 1, 48 hours.
He told us to make a kind of, like, when we talk about those really short notes in your own words, so just about to give the exam, right? Don’t go to your review course. Don’t look at new, new material, whatever you know, you know, if you don’t feel prepared, it’s fine, just roll with it. Don’t put new information in your mind just before the exam.
So in his video, Nate said that 48 hours before, you have to do, I don’t remember the exact word. I think it was, uh,
Logan: Cram session
Shailja: 48, yeah, cram session. So that what I, I followed that. I would only look at my notes like, tomorrow’s my exam today.
I’m just looking at the things I’ve written, the things I’ve seen before. The things I, it’s nothing new, yes, like when you look at it, you should get confidence and you should get like a comfort level like, yeah, I, i, I am ready for the [00:46:00] exam. I’m gonna go and give it. A lot of people try to do like this last minute revision and get overwhelmed and stressed.
Whatever you’ve prepared you, you’re good to go. Like you kind of, I don’t know if, uh, this will become religious, but you kind of have to have some faith in God also. Like, yes, just now I’ve done, now I’ll just go and get the exam. So that’s one more thing I took away from Nate’s video, 48 hours before the exam, I would only look at things I have written or like formulas or top of the mind things that I need to remember for the exam, and that was my exam day tradition. No new material.
And the day of the exam, uh, I usually used to, uh, do my, so we have two slots in India, 8:00 AM or 12 noon. So that day morning, I’d never like, revise. I just like, go and get it, that’s it.
So I think, not putting too much new information and being very calm and being like, like when you are going there, being fully present and not overthinking at that moment is, is very important. Yeah.
Logan: Yeah. I, I, I [00:47:00] would agree with that. As far as like the, like, just try to be there.
Like, once you, you’ve prepared, just, just give it your best shot and do the very best you can. Um. I, I like, I like a lot of the things that you’ve said with that.
And I mean, honestly, you’ve given some fantastic tips throughout this, uh, this call and I kind of want to, you know, I think that we can start kinda wrapping up, especially ’cause we had that interruption in the middle where we, we got, we lost the call so I don’t want to keep you too much later cause I think it’s probably almost like 11 o’clock or past 11 for you.
Top Tips for People Still Struggling with the CPA Exams
Logan: Um, what, uh, what would be your top two or three tips that you would give to somebody who’s still going through the CPA exam? To help them through this?
Shailja: Hmm, I would say that have a lot of different resources like your review course is one I use the Superfast, uh, CPA, mini quizzes and audio notes.
Um, and I would say for [00:48:00] people who are getting the exam in this year or next year, or planning to do CPA, now that there is BAR subject B-A-R, I would give a lot of emphasis to tech, whatever tech related. We can’t escape tech. We need to embrace it. I know finance people are like, I don’t understand, forget about it, just try to pass the exam.
I tell you one thing I did, go to Investopedia, search for the or or do a Google search, but go for credible sources. Try to understand what is this term. Not very deeply, but I would say embrace tech. It is, it’s very important, like
Logan: mm-hmm.
Shailja: If you are getting B-A-R subject, BAR as they call it here, I don’t know, uh, that you need to, uh, focus on, it’s important.
They, they, it, it’s, it’s, it’s like we need to make it like, it’s not like FinTech. It’s not just finance so, focus on that. And I also, personally, me, I used a lot of YouTube, uh, while preparing. So I [00:49:00] also use Professor Farha, F-A-R-H-A-T, so he has like these really concise five, 10 minute videos. Uh, so make sure that when you’re doing yourself research, don’t go too deep into it, just enough for passing the exam but,
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Shailja: Embrace tech and, uh, a lot of people, uh, like I used to actually speak to my mentors, like, tell me when do we use this in tech? Why do we use this? Uh, so try to like embrace it. Like try to accept it. A lot of finance people are like, I’m gonna do costing, or I’m gonna do accounting now.
You can’t be like that like in today’s time, I don’t think that works. So this is, this is important. This is what I would say people doing CPA now and in future should focus on.
Logan: Okay. So focus, I mean embrace having tech and also like having that be a part of the exam. Oh, And have lots of different resources, like you were saying, right?
Um, so, I mean, yeah, you’ve had some fantastic advice and tips and [00:50:00] thank you so much for being on the call today. I’m glad that you were excited to be on the call that you had been like wanting to be on the podcast, so that’s awesome that we were able to have you do that today. Uh, yeah, thank you for sharing your story.
Congrats on being done.
Shailja: Thank you so much. It’s my dream come true.
Logan: All right. That was the end of the interview with Shailja, and sorry about that weird connection issue we had. You probably didn’t really hear it, but we had to switch from Riverside to Zoom, but in the end it still worked out and I think you’ll still be able to hear everything that we talked about.
I think it was an awesome interview with Shailja, and she was able to give a lot of great tips and advice for how to stay true to yourself. How to stay confident. Not let yourself get overwhelmed by the thoughts of, I can’t do this, or there’s no way that I’ll ever be able to pass these exams. She was able to overcome those, and I hope that by listening to this episode, you are able to think of some ways that you can implement that in your own life so that you can overcome any mental difficulties you’re having with the CPA exams [00:51:00] specifically so that you can start passing them.
Because that is something that happens frequently where somebody will have the knowledge or the know-how, but they struggle with believing that they can do it, and a lot of times, having that confidence can change the results because you are more confident in the answers you’re giving, you second guess yourself less. So again, I hope this episode was helpful.
Now, before you go, make sure you check out our SuperfastCPA training webinar on superfastcpa.com. Again, it’s one hour, it is free, and we will teach you the key ingredients to passing the CPA exam. After that, make sure you check out becoming a SuperfastCPA PRO member.
Now if you liked this episode, make sure to like it and leave a comment in the YouTube video or leave a rating in your favorite podcast app. Thank you for watching or listening, and we will see you in the next episode.
[00:52:00]
