chedin wrote:Ha! You're NOT older! I'm also 40 and have had success passing 6 of the exams over the last 10 months (the 7th and hopefully last is a week away). Your work experience is going to help you more than books when taking these exams - as long as you can get past what you "should" do in the office and what they actually want from you in the exams.
I've pushed through all of the exams except this last one in a very short period of time (typically 3.5 weeks). I find that just reading and re-reading the materials and then jumping in to the test has been really helpful. The hard part is making sure you ignore all of the things in life trying to pull you away from studying. You can work through these exams pretty quickly if you are willing to give up a social/family life for a bit, but think about it...3.5 weeks isn't really that long.
Coach wrote:I passed 8 of 9 the first time time I tested when I was 29. For one reason or another, I didn't finish until one month after my 50th birthday.
Red wrote:This conversation thread has been comforting to read. I'm 45 and must admit there have been moments where I've wondered about my geriatric brain as well… But, I think it's more likely I'm just not as ambitious (in terms of career status labels) as I was 10 years ago. You really have to be a true believer in the worthiness of it to demand so much effort from yourself. And, of course, you have to have good resources, habits, and space in your schedule all which I'm struggling with. I taught full-time at a university for the last 5+ years (with classes covering much of the content on the AREs) so I naively thought I had these exams in the bag, but then to my shock, horror and embarrassment, I failed the first two exams (CDS and PPP). I just took SD last week and haven't gotten the results yet. For the most part, I've come to accept (and embrace the challenge presented by) my failures and am determined to keep at it… even if it takes me till I'm 50.
ecp8 wrote: One key is to think of the study material as professional development material rather than just stuff you need to know for a test.
iDefy wrote:For conquering distractions (work can be one of those) I have found it to be useful to lock myself in a place without access to the distraction. For exercise it is the gym and for ARE study it is the library. Through time, I have learnt to set the emails to not ding, and only download when I use the mail app. And set the phone calls to 'ring when someone calls twice' while I am at the library. That way I have peace if mind that I will be found if my husband or kids are looking for me. Unfortunately most libraries don't open early enough in the morning, but if you make it a routine to stop there at some point of the day, it really gets you going. Sometimes, if I am having difficulty getting into what I call the study high, I leave the books in the car knowing that I'll never pick them in the home anyways. In this kind of situation it also helps me to restrain from using my iPad for study.
dc_NYC wrote:Hi guys,
great thread here....
I took my first ARE exam (Building Systems) a couple of weeks before my 40th birthday in October 2012. I had fully intended to complete IDP and finish the exams many years ago, but I went to Australia for what I thought was going to be 6 months and stayed for 8 years!
So, when I returned to the US, I had to start my IDP over and then start studying for the exams. It took a while to get organized with a crazy workload etc but I just buckled down and started the process.
I just received my notification yesterday that I passed my last exam, schematic design. It took about 18 months in total to take all seven and I was able to pass them in the first go.
As we all know, it has taken alot of patience, support and understanding from family, friends and work colleagues to get through these things. BUT, the payoff to have finished is worth it!
Keep on trucking! You can do it!
Thanks,
-dc
Harrye wrote:Just passed all. Glad to see that there are some mature architects/candidates that probably once drafted by hand and know what nice drawings look like. These kids!! Grumble, grumble, grumble.
Arch2bMD wrote:Hey y'all,
This is a great thread, and it is nice to know that I am not alone in this pursuit! Sometimes I get discouraged at the fact that this is taking me so long to complete...I started testing 5 years ago and I just turned 40 one month ago. Originally my goal was to pass all of the exams before my 40th birthday (that hasn't happened). I am three away, including the one that I am losing due to my rolling clock...I have SS, BS and CDS (am losing this one due to clock) left. I am planning to take SS by the middle of August and hope to knock out the rest shortly there after to be done by Thanksgiving.
As my husband often tells me..."if we were able to make it through 5+ years of school, and nights with little to no sleep, we are not afraid of hard work and tough assignments...and these exams are just another tough assignment..."
Good luck to you all!!
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