[Anonymous]

If you can offer advice to the fresh candidate starting the CPA journey, what would you tell them?

I feel confident in the last part of the CPA I took last week. However, If I can look back and give some advice for some candidates starting or 1 part in, I would definitely do some some things differently. I think these all stem from my own combination of complacency, cockiness, and procrastination.

If you can avoid these mistakes I am guilty of, you should be in great shape:

1. Thinking you can still go out and party on a regular basis while still passing (This was very difficult and probably one of the hardest things to do)

2. Thinking you can browse the web, going to the fridge for snacks, taking naps while studying at the same time

3. Thinking you can crack open the book and cram in 2 weeks or hardcore studying and still pass

4. Thinking you can still go to the gym for 2 hours every day and chat on the phone with friends and still have the energy to pass

5. Thinking you can squeeze in some Playstation 3/Xbox/PC MMORPG gaming time while studying

6. An addition to #5 (You cannot mine ore, make gold, and level your alt in World of Warcraft while doing multiple choice questions)

7. Thinking you can spend countless hours in the office, putting in overtime, and still think you’ll have enough energy to do 3 hours of MCQs

8. Thinking you can master 3 chapters in one weekend

9. Thinking you can just do MCQs and neglect the simulations

10. Spending 5 to 10+ minutes trying to understand every question when I should have answered it in 2 and just moved on

If someone would have told me these tips, I think it would have been a much more efficient test experience.

[Zaq]

1.) Guilty

2.) Guilty

3.) Actually, didn't cram!

4.) Guilty

5.) SUPER guilty. Was so saddening to part away from my gaming.

7.) Guilty, but didn't have much control. Busy season is busy season.

9.) Guilty, lol.

Definitely great tips. Jumped from 50 to 76 on my FAR exam from the first time taking the CPA exams. Reality check hits you like a brick.

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[acamp]

Online poker + MCQs >=)

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[splinter1643]

I'm guilty of #2 and #10 and found it hard not to do #5! Love #6 btw even though I don't play WoW. I know the feeling regardless. 😀

CPA license in progress....

[homerun07]

@d3strukt- what does NS mean in your scores?

[Starlight]

Honestly IMO, it varies from person to person so much. Some of those I am very guilty of and still passed with no problem.

2. Did this with no problem

3. Had to do this for BEC because my 10/15 was way busier at the office than last year

7. Didn't do this, which I why I had to do #3.

8. Definitely have done this

9. I only did two or three SIMs in preparation for each section.

REG: 86
AUD: 92
FAR: 84
BEC: 87
Ethics: Passed!
Licensed 11/20/12

Supporting my husband on his CPA journey: 75% of the way there!

[Da Bears]

1. Thinking you can still go out and party on a regular basis while still passing (This was very difficult and probably one of the hardest things to do)

I still had fun, although I am not working and studying is basically my job. I would live under a rock if I was working and studying though.

2. Thinking you can browse the web, going to the fridge for snacks, taking naps while studying at the same time

Guilty, Just outta college so still living at home and my parents have told me I've become a lot more domesticated because frankly I start cleaning, doing dishes, anything but studying haha

3. Thinking you can crack open the book and cram in 2 weeks or hardcore studying and still pass

Did this for BEC, but I'm studying FT.

4. Thinking you can still go to the gym for 2 hours every day and chat on the phone with friends and still have the energy to pass

I usually study for like 2 hours then hit the gym then try to get in an hour or so after before calling it quits before dinner.

5. Thinking you can squeeze in some Playstation 3/Xbox/PC MMORPG gaming time while studying

I've given up gaming, All my buddies no longer game anymore because frankly, we have stuff to do now haha

9. Thinking you can just do MCQs and neglect the simulations

Ehh don't really agree with this one. I like to do like 90% MCQ, then 10% TBS just to make sure I see how they are asking you to apply the topics in TBS. MCQ does a good job preparing for TBS. If you can answer MCQ you can usually apply to TBS.

10. Spending 5 to 10+ minutes trying to understand every question when I should have answered it in 2 and just moved on

Agree, flag it, move on, and come back at the end to flagged ones. You might learn stuff within the testlet that'll help address the flagged MCQ. Time is money, I mean points.

FAR- 8/14/12 91
AUD- 10/16/12 88
BEC- 11/07/12 92
REG- 01/05/13 86
NIU CPA Review

[HustlinHustlin]

GOALS, GOALS, GOALS! Of course, we all have one big one which is to pass this damn thing – but you have to break it down day by day to keep yourself accountable.

It's easy to say when you have studied enough in the middle of a session. Set a time frame or a certain amount of MCQ and don't stop until you are there.

The biggest thing I have learned is to sacrifice something. When I took these exams at first, I went to every social function, slept in late, was in bed by normal time…and it just didn't work.

Now, I have learned to schedule my time accordingly. I get up 2 hours before I have to so I can get studying in that day. I go into a secluded office at work and study at lunch. Sometimes, if it is quiet enough I will stay an hour after work and study then BAM! I am at four hours that day. Do that 5 days a week and I get my 20 in and can do whatever I want on the weekend or get some bonus hours in.

I hate the guilty feeling when you know you should be studying, but this way is more like a reward. You get to reward yourself for meeting you goals and give yourself some time to watch tv or exercise.

Oh and another thing, make time for exercise. I am a huge believer that it is mind-clearing and helps focus.

I'm not one of those people on here who can be shut out from everything. I have to make allowances for myself when I achieve something I want.

I also take about a week, or until a day or two after scores come out off studying. It is just enough time to get a breather but not fall completely out of routine.

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[Anonymous]

@homerun07

NS = No show. I think I must have spent at least $1K on test postponements making Prometric a lot of dough. I'm the king of pushing back my test 2 days before the actual exam.

You know it's a problem when exam and rescheduling fee offsets any pay increase from work.

[samdiegoCPA]

After my very first exam a few weeks ago which resulted in my first fail… I have to change most of things you listed. Partying #1 and getting up to do other things #2. I went so far as bringing my flashcards and iPod Touch flashcards to the bar to study.

No more.

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[Jzjac]

I'm sorry but I do not agree with any of these…

It is all about priorities. Your keys to success portray a life of misery. As long as your priorities are straight, you can go out every weekend, play video games, browse the web, go to the gym, etc.

Just because you're studying for the CPA doesn't mean you have to give up your life/social interaction.

BEC - Passed!
FAR - Passed!
AUD - Passed!
REG - Passed!

[Author]

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