Khushi, a determined commerce student from KC College, Mumbai, recently cleared CMA Part 2 while completing her B.Com in 2024. On the surface, she looked like any other college student attending lectures, completing assignments and preparing for exams. But behind the scenes, Khushi was chasing something bigger.
Unlike many of her peers who planned to think about professional courses only after graduation, Khushi wanted to start early. Her curiosity about management accounting and how businesses make smarter decisions pushed her to explore the CMA program. She liked that it was globally respected, had high demand and at the same time, allowed her to balance it with her college studies.
But the journey was not simple. Managing college classes, assignments and CMA preparation often left her exhausted. Time management was her biggest hurdle and the pressure of performing well in both academics and CMA sometimes became overwhelming. Yet, Khushi’s persistence and regular effort helped her cross these challenges and reach her goal.
Below is the transcript of our conversation with her:
Q: Congratulations Khushi! How did you feel when you saw your CMA Part 2 result?
Ans. Thank you so much. Well honestly, I can’t even explain the feeling. I was nervous before checking the result because no matter how much you study, you always have that fear in your mind. The moment I saw the word “pass” on the screen, I had to refresh it twice just to be sure. I remember calling my parents immediately. My mom was actually cooking at that time and she left everything to come hug me. That moment made all the late-night studies and sacrifices worth it.
Q: What made you choose CMA while you were still in college?
Ans. I have always been curious about how companies actually take financial decisions, not just how numbers are written in books. During my B.Com classes, we would learn theory, but I wanted something more practical. That’s when I came across CMA. What attracted me the most was the focus on management accounting. I liked the idea that this course actually trains you to help businesses make smarter decisions. Another reason was that CMA is recognized worldwide. I thought, why wait till graduation to start something that can give me an edge? So I decided to balance both together.
Q: Preparing for CMA with college studies must have been tough. What challenges did you face?
Ans. Yes, it was not at all easy. The biggest challenge was managing the time. For example, I had days when I had to attend college in the morning, then rush for project group meetings and by the time I got home, I was already tired. On such days, opening my CMA books felt tiring and impossible. There were times when I even questioned if I had taken the right decision to do both together. But slowly I learned to plan better. Instead of leaving all my CMA prep for weekends, I started studying one or two hours daily. Even if it was just revising one topic or solving a few practice questions, I tried to stay consistent.
Q: How did CMA coaching help you manage both college studies and CMA prep without burning out?
Ans. I’ll share what worked for me. I started breaking my CMA syllabus into small parts. For example, if a chapter had 30 pages, I would divide it into 5–6 pages a day. That way, I didn’t feel stressed about completing the whole thing in one go. On weekdays, when my college work was heavy, I revised theory or watched recorded lectures because they required less energy. On weekends or during holidays, I would focus on solving mock tests and practice papers.
CMA coaching played a big role here. My mentor Shilpi Jain ma’am continuously guided me on how to plan week by week, which reduced a lot of confusion. Whenever I got stuck, she suggested simple ways to manage both college submissions and CMA prep together. Ramesh sir, who actually taught us CMA, also kept checking our progress with regular tests. His doubt-solving sessions were really helpful, especially during exam weeks when I had very little time.
There were still days when I felt lazy or distracted, but I kept reminding myself that skipping even one day would make it harder later. Slowly, this routine, along with the guidance from Shilpi ma’am and Ramesh sir, became a habit and it helped me manage both without burning out.
Q: Now that you’ve cleared CMA Part 2, what does this achievement mean to you?
Ans. For me, it’s a big achievement. Clearing CMA Part 2 has shown me that I can handle multiple things at once if I stay disciplined. I remember there were times when I had back-to-back submissions in college and I thought I wouldn’t be able to prepare well for CMA. But still, by sticking to my routine and not giving up, I managed to pull through. This success has given me the belief that if I can do this now, I can face bigger challenges in my career too.
Want to know what career paths open up after CMA?
Here’s a detailed video from our mentor, Shilpi Jain ma’am, explaining the kind of job opportunities CMA students can explore after clearing the exam.
Q: What advice would you like to give to students who want to start CMA during graduation?
Ans. My advice would be to start early and not overthink. If you keep waiting for the “perfect time,” you’ll never start. Second, don’t try to cover the entire syllabus at once. Take it in small steps. Just like me you can make a habit of solving 10–15 questions every day instead of waiting to do 100 questions in one sitting. That way, you’ll stay consistent without feeling drained. Also, don’t panic if you feel stressed because it’s absolutely normal. There were days when I too didn’t feel like studying at all, but instead of completely skipping, I just revised notes or watched a short lecture. Even small efforts add up over time. Most importantly, remind yourself why you started. For me, it was the idea of building a strong career in management accounting and that thought always pulled me back on track.
Khushi’s journey shows that success is not about having a perfect plan or unlimited time. It’s about consistency, discipline and the will to keep going even on tough days. Her achievement in clearing CMA Part 2 while completing her graduation is proof that with the right mindset, students can achieve much more than they imagine.
You can connect with her on LinkedIn here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/khushisharma08
Khushi’s story really highlights how valuable it can be to start early instead of waiting for the so-called ‘right time.’ Balancing B.Com studies with CMA prep must have been tough, but it shows how consistency can make a huge difference. It’s a great reminder that professional goals don’t always need to be postponed until after graduation.
Absolutely! Starting early builds both discipline and momentum. Khushi’s journey is proof that consistent effort, even alongside academics, can open doors much sooner than expected. Truly inspiring 👏