For those who came up short

mjp

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For those who may have come up short today, despite having worked hard, I just wanted to say that I am truly sorry for your result. This process is difficult for most people (I failed at two of the three levels before earning the charter). A failing grade may be a new experience for some of you and a rare experience for others, but again, this is a very tough path for most people. Only 1-5 who start the CFA program complete it and it seems to have turned into a real war of attrition in recent years as pass rates have fallen.

My two cents: if you really want the charter---keep going---keep fighting, scratching, and clawing. It can be done by a normal person. It may be embarrassing to have to admit to family, friends, and co-workers that you came up short and it may be frustrating when they "don't really get it" in terms of how challenging this program is. Nevertheless, a person's character is revealed in moments like this---moments of extreme disappointment and frustration. Anybody can celebrate a win---but it takes character to pick yourself off the floor and say that you are going to go for this thing, despite the setback. If you are not passionate about achieving the charter, bag it. It is not worth the "give ups" of weekends and time spent with friends and family. But if this really means something to you---like it did to me---keep going! As I said---IT CAN BE DONE BY NORMAL PEOPLE---if they are dedicated to the process and to doing what it takes to complete it.

Best wishes to those who will "gut it out" despite today's very difficult result.
 
Or you could attribute your failing grades to the India exam situation....
 
Thanks mjp. I really appreciate your words of encouragement. I haven't checked my mark just yet.
 
Good post mjp, and I couldn't agree more. It took three tries and 4 years for me to get through L1 due to a comedy of "life happens" occurances that came up just before exam time. To say I could have passed on my first try, I don't know. I never had a fair shot. But for those who didn't make it and are keen on obtaining the charter the words above couldn't be more true. The toughest thing really is how anyone outside of the program does not really understand how tough it really is for those who aren't of a higher mental capacity. Fight, scratch and claw as mjp said. If you are really into this, keep going, and when you pass that first level, the feeling (to me anyways) was only surpassed by the birth of my children.
Now I go back to waiting on my second attempt results of Level 2.......
Good luck!!
 
Good luck on L2 Big Babbu. A good friend of mine is waiting on L2 also and I think this may be his third "go-round". As I said---it's a "war of attrition" these days------where only the really gifted (either brains or free time) or the really persistent survive.
 
thanks for the kind words...

I failed with a 58% and I feel like I was really close.. but I suppose I need to hit to books hard.. one more time.. and than I can always ketch up with Level II
 
rene01---best wishes---go knock it out in December!
 
Just to add, there's tons of information and I found myself able to understand most all of the material, but forgetting what I had learned as I progressed to new subjects weeks later. My 2c, just have to be persistent and bang the materials over and over until you commit what you learned to memory.
 
mjp Wrote:
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> Good luck on L2 Big Babbu. A good friend of mine
> is waiting on L2 also and I think this may be his
> third "go-round". As I said---it's a "war of
> attrition" these days------where only the really
> gifted (either brains or free time) or the really
> persistent survive.


Thanks for the well wishes, and I agree with that statement. Like many others I wrote L2 with and communicated in AF with, time is a big issue. Full time job which includes an hour commute each way, two kids and a wife that works full time, it gets pretty stressful around here from Jan to Jun. I really hope I passed more for my wife and kids than anything. They sacrificed a lot those last six months, I'd hate to come home and tell them it was all for not....this time. Even if I don't make it, I know they're behind me 100%, especially the wife.
 
BB---totally agree---CFA exam is probably best taken before wives and families come into the picture---but if not---then a supportive wife and family is indispensible. I took all exams as a married person, passed L2 with our first child, and passed L3 with 2 children. Not easy, but it can be done. I definitely can relate to your situation and I am rooting for you---good luck!
 
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