2015 CPA Study Thread - Post status, questions, tips, words of encouragement

Been on it for a year and I'm using Wiley CPAExcel. Wiley has worked well for me (Becker was too expensive) and I would recommend it to anyone as a cheaper alternative. I passed REG and FAR on the first tries but I had to take AUD a second time to pass. I'm taking BEC in a week so hopefully I'll be done soon.

I finished the tests months back; just waiting on the year of professional experience. Glad I'm done studying.

FAR takes a ton more time than the other 3, but I found it a lot more enjoyable than the other material sans the economics & blaw portions of BEC & REG.

ETA: F2 is a piece of shite. It's the single worst lesson in Becker. FAR was the first section I took, so that lesson made me want to douse my book in gasoline and set it ablaze.

Just wanted to say good luck to everyone studying. While the number of students graduating with accounting degrees is rising, exam takers numbers are flat or even slightly down, so, glad to see y'all taking the exam.

I will say the same thing I tell our young staff and I tell groups of students whenever I speak to them - take the exam as soon as you are eligible. Yes, you will be busy, but, you will always be busy, and as you get older, you also have kids/wife/other stuff to deal with. Knock it out when you can.

Also, if you went to a halfway decent school, and spend 70-100 hours of actual real studying for each exam, you should pass.

Don't get too caught up on any one topic, the exams are like a river 8 miles wide and 3 inches deep - it govers lots of material but not very much into any particular issue.

Oh, and I used Gleim, cause I was cheap and our firm offered a bonus at the end rather than paid materials.

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what happened to accounting curricula teaching the exam? Back in the dark ages LSU students had to take classes that were designed to prepare them for the CPA exam. The AICPA tells you what will be on the exam, so I don't understand the need to pay for review courses.

It's going to be extremely difficult. The test isn't as hard as becker but as many have said its a mile wide and an inch deep. Your score will likely depend on the SIMs and if you're lucky enough to get ones you know. I passed all four parts on the first try in about six months while working full time so its 100% attainable but you have to put in the time. Becker was absolutely worth it as was the stress and time you have to put in to get it. I would wake up at 5, study for an hour and a half leave for work, work from 7-4:30 and study from 5 until 7-8. Fast forward two years after passing and my pay is up 40% and I am instantly taken seriously even though my skills have marginally improved due to experience.

You will feel the urge to give up but you can absolutely do it. Get it over with and never think about it again.

Scores released today so did anyone get good news?

I got my BEC score and passed so that's all 4 parts for me! Glad to finally have it done

Just signed up for a couple more exams. I've been putting this shite off for a while now, time to finally break through.

Bump

Anyone trying to fit an exam in before Thanksgiving? I take AUD the first week of Nov. Will be hitting the test bank after this weekend.