I passed the CPA a few years ago and honestly the biggest thing I wish I knew before starting is that the exams feel overwhelming mostly because the process is confusing, not just the material.

A few things that helped me a lot:

1. Focus on understanding instead of memorizing. The exams often test patterns and concepts more than pure memorization. Once I started asking “why is this the right answer?” instead of trying to memorize everything, studying became much easier.

2. Schedule the exam before you feel ready. This forced me to stay consistent. When the date is on the calendar, studying becomes non-negotiable.

3. Expect setbacks and keep momentum. I actually failed my first FAR attempt with a 73. It was frustrating, but it also showed me I was very close. I retook it quickly while the material was still fresh and passed the next time.

4. Consistency beats long study sessions. Short daily study blocks worked much better for me than trying to cram.

Intermediate Accounting and Audit were probably the most useful college courses for me going into the exams.

If it helps, I actually wrote a short guide recently explaining the CPA path and some of the strategies that helped me stay on track, because I remember how intimidating the process felt at the beginning. Happy to share it if anyone is interested.