Hey all, I understand this is a bit weird asking advice from strangers, but would appreciate any suggestions as I just found out I have bladder cancer…
I’m 25 years old and a Level 3 candidate, I passed Levels 1 & 2 on the first times. My plan for 6 weeks before the exam was to work and then study crunch time on nights/weekends to fully focus on the exam.
However, I had to get some medical testing done beginning last week and I just found out that I have bladder cancer - its treatable, likely the early stages but I don’t know yet, and I don’t have any of the risk factors for bladder cancer. Obviously, my focus for the last 2 weeks has been on health/cancer stuff and have completely neglected my job and done 0 work for my job and 0 CFA stuff.
Any advice on whether I should try to work my butt off to somehow study, take the exam unprepared or give up completely and not go to take the exam this year? I have read the L3 curriculum but I have not yet begun the practice exams due to this 2 week interruption… I know my health is most important but I feel totally healthy physically, just a lot mentally with family/friends/doctors/seeing people/eventually starting treatment! I don’t need the CFA for my job in private equity, although everyone knows I am supposed to take the exam and it would be a waste of money and time if I failed. I also am a Type A/I never fail anything type of person.
Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated… Thank you!
I’m of the opinion that you already paid, so you might as well give it a go. What’s the worst that can happen? You fail, and you take the test next year. That’s the exact same situation you’re in if you decide not to take the test.
There’s also still time to bang out a lot of practice (depending on how busy you are at your job). Since you’ve already read the curriculum, I’d certainly give it a shot.
The other school of thought? I’ll let Former Trader tell you.
Totally agree, but I think the prognosis is very good and I will be going to a top hospital
I think I’m maybe just freaking out about the possibility of being under prepared and failing… not sure if I should buckle down to study or see friends/family more
Health comes first, always. If your time on earth is cut short, you do not want to spend it studying. If your time here is not going to be affected, there’s always next year to do the exam. I’m pretty sure this qualifies as an extenuating circumstance and CFAI should give you/your employer a refund. Look after yourself and do what you need to do.
Would you rather spend time with friends and family knowing you may fail CFA (but may not) and have the world know that - and the world may cut you SOME slack if they know you have cancer OR
you enjoy studying and think you will definitely pass and family and friends can wait till CFA is done - but with a small, tiny possibility that you will fail?
The biggest weighting is, is your cancer is treatable and under control? If not, family and friends first; and take your chances at the exam.
FWIW, don’t freak out at the possibility of failing - it’s not YOUR failing, you have genuine extenuating circumstances.
If you never fail, you are clearly underachieving It’s like the project teams that always complete on time - that just means they wildly overestimated the time needed. A realistic project always ends up in a time crunch.
You already received devastating news about your health. No need to compound that with a fail. Take the exam when you’re ready. The last thing you need is another setback, regardless of how minor it is.
If the prognosis is promising, you might even use that as motivation to pass the CFA. Another thing to consider is that perhaps engaging your mind in other activities (e.g. the CFA) can take some focus away from the hardships of undergoing something like bladder cancer. However, if it ends up just being a stressful experience, you can deal with the CFA some other time.
You know yourself best, but do whatever’s best for your health.
Will studying/stress worsen your condition? If so, do not go for the exam.
You are 26, this is pretty early to be diagnoised with any type of cancer. If rest will aid in your ST recovery and LT wellbeing, you shouldn’t write it.
The other part of me says if it’s manageable, go for it and live in glory forever. Afterall, Lance did it. But then again I don’t have a mortality crisis - so don’t ever let anyone persuade you with that argument.
I’d say to stop studying now and focus on your health and to also sit the for exam with the knowledge gained so far. Since you already paid for it, you have nothing to lose. Don’t really expect to pass, but expect to gain valuable experience with the Level 3 format. Then, when you take it the next time, you will have a major leg up.
Focus on your treatment. you can apply for deferment.CFAI does consider such extenuating circumstances.Take care and Good luck with whatever you decide.
Do what will make you happy. If studying for CFA makes you happy do it but if you would rather focus on friends and family, do it. Good luck with your treatment.
F the CFA. U got cancer bro. Who cares if you already paid the measley exam fee. U do not want the additional stress of the exam while ur trying to get cured. Relax and enjoy ur family and friends.
if i were you, i’d probably write it. i agree with numi that for some folks, studying for the cfa may keep your mind occupied enough to not dwell on the negative possibilities. as someone said, i doubt you’ll kick yourself too much if you fail as you have extenuating circumstances. if the outlook of treatment remains positive, go for the exam, cuz why not, chances of living to 70 are high. if it turns negative, bail on everything, including work, etc. the best thing you can do is keep on keeping on the way you have been, with minor changes to accomodate health needs. there’s no right answer so don’t regret your decision either way. best of luck with everything!
As with nearly all things cancer, it’s a personal choice. No right or wrong.
It looks like the prognosis is good, and if you find that studying helps keep your mind off of things, so much the better. It’s also true that it will sound pretty badass in an interview saying “I passed L3 while I was fighting off cancer.” And if you have to say “I had to retake L3 because it was just too hard to do while fighting cancer,” few people will ding you for that (not that they should ding you at all).
But if you are truly worried about your cancer prognosis, then make sure you make the most of your life right now. Since you are likely to recover, there’s always next year. Having cancer is stressful enough, additional stress tends to sap your immune system.
It’s not clear to me whether your treatment is expected to interfere with your studies (most people feel crappy during chemotherapy, so maybe it’s not so great to sit for 6 hours straight, or you might feel nauseous or something), or whether it’s just general stress management.
Anyway, look inside and do what you most want to do. That’s really the answer here.
As I’ve said several times, the CFA has the greatest marketers on the planet. Tens of thousands believe it’s the golden ticket to a great job. Recently, someone here actually debated whether to keep the charter or $1 million. Just when you thought nothing could top that, someone with freakin cancer is feeling guilty for not writing the exam.
I know it seems silly to be considering cancer vs. CFA, but the reason why its a harder decision than choosing just health is that the cancer is treatable at this early stage and fingers crossed, it is looking like I will just have outpatient surgery Monday and then potentially weekly chemical washes!
I haven’t picked up a CFA book in 3 weeks, but I am going to try to throw in a couple weekend days to take practice exams - but will likely wing the exam and take it again next year!
It’s like the project teams that always complete on time - that just means they wildly overestimated the time needed. A realistic project always ends up in a time crunch.