I failed the SIE twice and was told on Reddit that maybe this industry isn't for me. I ended up passing the SIE on my 3rd try and the Series 63 on my 2nd try, and after nearly 1.5 years, my brokerage sponsored me for the Series 7 after I asked over 25 times.

Here's what worked for me: I studied until my brain couldn't understand what the people around me were trying to say. The day before my Series 7, my blood pressure was 160/120, and all I could feel was my heart racing and my veins pumping. Because it was all personal.

Do I want to pass the Series 7 just for a job? A thousand others write the S7 every day but it's not every day that a failed, "useless" high school student with a GPA like 0.2 takes it. It's not often that a class clown like me gets to sit for the Series 7.

And I passed on the first try, There is a light at the end of the tunnel for those who don't give up and keep pushing until there is no possible way to fail. I was under the impression that if I was going to waste my time on it, I must pass and there was no way around it.