[Jaimcpa]

Becker Question –

What was your experience like (or the people you know who did this)?

Beneficial?

Created with Compare Ninja

FAR- 73, 10/07/2013
REG- 8/31/2013
AUD- TBD
BEC- TBD

MAcc
Main: Becker Self-Study 2013. Supplements: Ninja / Wiley TB / CPAExcel (Bought before I received an offer).

[SammyJ]

I do know of one person, but his situation is in all liklihood different from yorus in that he ended up even taking the exam yet and he took the course last summer. It was really tiring and he ended up not even going to the lectures afterwards. He just watched the lectures on the disks to get the attendance so he can re-enroll for the Becker Promise.

I personally, wouldnt do it. I dont think its very beneficial unless you absolutely have to be in a classroom environment to learn. I took the 9-hour live course on Saturdays. And after hour 2, I was highlighting my book like a zombie. I wasn't soaking in anything.

FAR-81!!
AUD-69, Retake: 84!!
REG-86!!
BEC-81!!
Education- Done
Ethics- August 2013
Experience- 7 Months of CPA Experience and counting!

[Anonymous]

Like a zombie, LOL!

[Keely]

There is only so much information your brain can soak in in a day. Trying to do it quickly, nine hours at a time, sounds horrible. I'm sure it's possible, but I think if you can do it another way, you should. Also, I don't know what the live classes offer that the self-study doesn't. Isn't just going to a classroom and watching the lectures? You can do that at home. I took the self-study course and didn't regret it one bit.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[LSNYC]

I didn't do the fast pass but I did do the live classes once. For me I thought it helped I passed both sections I took live classes for. But everyone learns different and if I am not mistaken the fast pass is every day for a week? The live classes I took were twice a week for 4 hours.

I should say now I'm studying on my own and passing sections you need to find the method that works for you, everyone is different.

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[J]

I am always skeptical of those people who claim that they effectively study for six hours, eight hours, or more a day. My objective here is certainly not to criticize, but I believe that the law of diminishing returns comes into play. Personally, I can't go for more than a couple of hours before I recognize that my brain is starting to want to do other things and a significant break is needed. Up until last November, I worked at a small CPA firm. The lady who owned it claimed that she studied 11 hours a day, 7 days a week, for three months straight to pass the exam. In my opinion, the last six hours each day would have been the equivalent in return to one real good hour of studying.

I couldn't imagine sitting in a class for nine hours a day, even if substantial breaks are allotted throughout the class.

This is one of the reasons that I think counting studying hours is a waste of time as well (no pun intended); it is the qualitative properties of studying that are important, not the quantitative amount of studying.

[soxfan866]

Just do self-study. Everyone says the classroom lectures and online are pointless because they just play the videos. It's going to be impossible to get the Fastpass course to line up with when you want to take the tests anyway. Is there any reason why you think it would be better for you?

[Jaimcpa]

View post on imgur.com

That's the schedule I made so far with this.

I'm finishing up my master's (MAcc) in a few weeks so the amount of studying I would do on a daily basis wouldn't bother me as I've been doing it for 9 months. It's how long I am able to study straight that's challenging. I can do 3 hour intervals and the Becker classes are 4 hours daily (Mon-Fri). I hear they give a 5 min break so I'm sure I can manage. My self study (seen in the schedule) has me studying in 2 hour 3 hour intervals throughout the day. If there is a long study day in there, I'll know I need a break.

I am current finishing up my 2 year internship at a small CPA CFO firm (finishes when I finish my MAcc). I've received an offer from a National firm and I start in October. I just want to have this done by then.

Also my boss wants to keep me until I start at the new firm. I only work 12-15 hour weeks.

Oh and yes, live courses will keep me awake. I was told the instructor I'm getting will do a little more than just play videos. Plus you are around people with similar interests (some of my classmates are doing this).

FAR- 73, 10/07/2013
REG- 8/31/2013
AUD- TBD
BEC- TBD

MAcc
Main: Becker Self-Study 2013. Supplements: Ninja / Wiley TB / CPAExcel (Bought before I received an offer).

[soxfan866]

If you're dead set on Fastpass because you need to have a classroom experience, then by all means go for it. However, I really want to stress that self-study is more than enough to pass the exam especially right out of school. I had to choose which format of the Becker course I wanted to do a couple months ago and I asked people who recently took the exam what they recommended. Everyone said self-study, one person I talked to who did live said they just stopped going to the classes because they saw it as a waste of time.

The materials are pretty easy to understand. The exam is not like a college exam at all. There's a ton of material, it's mostly high level. Is it challenging? Sure, but I've never found myself feeling like I need to ask someone a question. And even then, people on the boards are really good about answering questions people have and helping out.

Bottom line is that I want you to be informed. Self-study will give you flexibility and, in my opinion, is the most painless option. Fastpass will give you structure and someone to ask questions, but be mindful that there may be times you're studying for two sections at a time given your accelerated schedule. I'm so glad that I didn't choose the live class option. I was worried because I thought I wouldn't be motivated and I might not understand things, but that's really not the case at all. It really doesn't seem like motivation will be an issue for you given that you took the time to put together that schedule.

Had I not asked around I would have definitely chosen the live class option and regretted it, but it's just preference I guess. Good luck!

[Jaimcpa]

Thanks!

I do still have all the self study materials so worse case scenario, if I don't find live lecture to be valuable, I'll resort to self study (all of this is free to me also I haven't registered my dates). Becker's promise works with attendance or completion of videos (90% on hw etc..), that's really the only difference I'm faced with (don't plan on using it but who knows).

Thanks for the responses everyone, I'll post my experiences with this!

FAR- 73, 10/07/2013
REG- 8/31/2013
AUD- TBD
BEC- TBD

MAcc
Main: Becker Self-Study 2013. Supplements: Ninja / Wiley TB / CPAExcel (Bought before I received an offer).

[soxfan866]

Seems like you're a little unsure of your testing schedule as well. FYI, a lot of people here would say you're crazy. I think it can be done, but man, I'd be worried about AUD and REG within a week. That will be rough.

Personally, I spent 4 weeks on FAR, 3 weeks on AUD and 3 weeks on BEC. I scored in the 90s on all my exams so far. I'm studying for REG right now and I was supposed to take 4 weeks for that (it's going to be more like 3 because I've been slacking pretty hard). I honestly believe I could have done FAR in 3 weeks, AUD and BEC in 2 weeks (being reasonably sure that I'd pass). Generally, I've been able to get through 1 chapter every 2 days for each section. However, there are some chapters (especially in AUD and BEC) that you probably can get through faster. FAR has 10 chapters, REG has 8, AUD and BEC have 6.

Not knowing anything about your background, but seeing as you're right out of school, I think this would be a reasonably safe plan assuming you're disciplined:

5/31 – FAR/REG

7/1 – FAR/REG

7/15 – AUD/BEC

7/31 – AUD/BEC

I don't know how that lines up with the course schedule, but that's what I'd do. Just trying to help, I wish I knew these things before I started because if I had I'm pretty sure I would have been done on 2/28 rather than 4/1 (hopefully).

[Jaimcpa]

Yea I'd prefer that schedule, believe me. However if you notice in the excel I made, those dates conflict with my courses (but I'm gonna double check).

I'm thinking its possible with what I have but given the responses I've been getting I think I'm gonna rework my dates a bit. I'm gonna rework the timing when I get home to be more in line with what your recommending.

I'll get back to you!

Thanks for sticking with me on this btw, you're awesome.

FAR- 73, 10/07/2013
REG- 8/31/2013
AUD- TBD
BEC- TBD

MAcc
Main: Becker Self-Study 2013. Supplements: Ninja / Wiley TB / CPAExcel (Bought before I received an offer).

[Jaimcpa]

Well with my current setup this is how long I have to study for each section (based on schedule/excel):

FAR: 19 Days (I'm okay with this one).

AUD: 15 Days/2 weeks

REG: 21 Days/3 weeks

BEC: 13 Days/About 2 weeks

^ This is without any section overlap

What I'm gonna do it this:

1. I'll know how these classes are going for me after I complete the FAR section (even a few days into the FAR section).

2. If I don't like live lecture, or I think it's pointless, I won't do it for the other exams.

3. This will let me schedule REG and BEC in a more flexible manner.

I do know that I want to take FAR on 05/31/13 and AUD on 07/01/12. So, like you said, the other 2 are the only possible issue.

Here is a waayyyyyy better image of my schedule (updated too):

View post on imgur.com

Of course this schedule is assuming I pass each section the first time.

FAR- 73, 10/07/2013
REG- 8/31/2013
AUD- TBD
BEC- TBD

MAcc
Main: Becker Self-Study 2013. Supplements: Ninja / Wiley TB / CPAExcel (Bought before I received an offer).

[Jaimcpa]

Welp,

I've done more research/asked around and it is just not looking like the FastPass program is the way to go. Too many people saying they literally just play the video in class.

So here are my final dates (and order):

FAR-5/31/2013

REG-7/1/2013

AUD-7/23/2013

BEC-8/15/2013

Here is my updated attack plan/schedule:

View post on imgur.com

Thanks for all the help everyone!

FAR- 73, 10/07/2013
REG- 8/31/2013
AUD- TBD
BEC- TBD

MAcc
Main: Becker Self-Study 2013. Supplements: Ninja / Wiley TB / CPAExcel (Bought before I received an offer).

[soxfan866]

The new plan sounds a lot less painful. I'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck!

[SeePeeAyy]

Good luck with that schedule, I would get burnt out so fast.

[Author]

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