[MrMustPass]

Hi all – newbie is here 😀

a little cpa review background about me – I am using Becker (company paid). I didnt realize how boring Tim Gearty could be until I started reviewing AUD and REG. oh my, this guy needs no introduction.

I personally CANNOT take Tim Gearty’s teaching (or “reading”) style anymore. – “HIGHLIGHT THIS” “NOW CIRCLE THAT” “GANGS” “OKAY SCHOLARS” and of course his endless “AGAIN” “AGAIN” “AGAIN” “AGAIN” “AGAIN”.

I am reviewing Reg for three weeks and still stuck in R2. Tim’s teaching is not helping me but wasting my time. Should I switch to Roger? at least Roger is adding value to the material???

Thanks!!!!!!

BEC - 77
FAR - 69, 70, 76
REG - Waiting
AUD - Jan 2015

Just Do It.

[silliepanda]

I used 2 different programs in the past and currently using Roger. I first used Kaplan, then switched the Becker (which was unbelievably boring as you are saying) and now I am using Roger. I love Roger and I am finding I am retaining the information better. I also like that he uses the white board and TEACHES not just reads. This is my personal opinion, but I am soooo happy I switched to Roger.

BEC - TOO MANY FAILS TO LIST! July 2015 I WILL GET IT!
AUD - AUG 2015- NEVER PASSED!
FAR - LOST CREDIT
REG - PASSED

[Anonymous]

“Welcome back scholars” after EVERY single set of lecture questions or “I hope you knocked those out of the ballpark.” I started saying that after I was done with the questions. Painful.

Last year I signed up for Becker, did things the Becker way, failed miserably on each section. Last and worst scoring section (REG) I took last November, decided to attack until I pass. Took a break from studying for holidays, tax season, discouragement, etc., finally put my butt in gear and signed up for REG on memorial day. Right after tax season I received an unexpected call for a job I had been very interested in before. I really liked the current job, so I wasn't sure, but ended up seeing what it was about and accepting the position that started the day after memorial day. I really only studied individual taxation (no lectures, reading ch 1 & 2 twice and hitting mcqs until I knew the concepts), with all the testing that went with accepting the new position I was behind and decided to order Roger CRAM. Went through it, loved his use of the white board, however when my 65, stronger in individual taxation and weaker in everything else except one comparable came in, I realized Roger didn't necessarily help, he didn't hurt, but individual was stronger because I studied differently. This isn't Becker's fault, this isn't Roger's fault, this is me not studying right. I gave Becker one more go and decided I'll study for the entire test like I did for individual, if I don't pass then I'll consider switching. I signed up for 7/19 read every section except business structures (didn't have time), didn't do about 4 sections of the ch. 8 section mcqs (again, no time), wanted to do Roger CRAM again, but didn't have time, ended up with a 77.

It wasn't Becker or Roger or even NINJA (I did listen to audio and rewrite notes), it was what I did with the material that made the difference. Honestly I didn't and don't want to drop another $1k+ on this exam, my Becker material expires in November and I'm determined to have FAR (10/4) and AUD (11/22) done before it expires and cash in on my Becker promise for BEC for first quarter.

Whatever you decide, know it's how you learn best and what you do with the material that makes the difference.

[MrMustPass]

@silliepanda – thank you for sharing!

@cmertes – thank you for sharing your experience. totally agree. I was on the edge of switching to Roger last night because I experienced a serious Reg nuclear meltdown in the afternoon. after cooling down for one night, i thought it is my responsibility to study and review in the right way. yes i also dont want to drop another 700 dollars on review course so i decided to go back to Becker.

i guess after passing FAR at my third attempt, i was in a “hmm-this-is-no-so-hard” mood and not clearly realized that Reg will be a totally different game. now i need to put my butt in gear and start to crank down some mcqs and lectures.

thank you all for those great advise!

BEC - 77
FAR - 69, 70, 76
REG - Waiting
AUD - Jan 2015

Just Do It.

[Anonymous]

Glad my experience can help! I guess I'm having the exact opposite problem, passing REG on my third attempt and having the “hmm-this-is-not-so-hard” is making it really difficult to dive into FAR. I saw 109 questions for the first section of ch 2 and already gave up. I don't know if I liked REG better or what, but it seemed easier to get through 109 questions with REG than FAR. I'm trying to take 10 at a time, come on here, go back. Some days it's hard to study and some days you're a ninja – I demolished ch 1 like a ninja, ch 2 I just want to punch in the face and it doesn't help that ch 3 looks just as bad. Let me know if you need any specific encouragement with REG – I'm glad to help.

[Anonymous]

Another option for you to consider, especially since you're already a couple weeks into your study time, would be to read the Becker book and ditch the lectures. If I'd have gotten lectures, I would've gotten Roger, so I think that Roger is a very solid option…but, from what I've heard the Becker book is pretty decent, so you could try studying from the book and see if the book + MCQs would be enough for you to learn with the free materials instead of having to buy Roger on your own dime.

[litzd2]

I used Wiley for my Reg Exam. REG gets tricky depending on if there is alot of calculation questions or just basic questions. What helped me alot was the hands on experience I gained from actually preparing tax returns at my job. Make sure to focus on the simulations just as much as the mcqs.

FAR- 74,70,73,69, [75] 5TH TIME WAS THE CHARM TO FINISH THIS LONG JOURNEY
AUD- 73,[81]
REG- 72,70,[78]
BEC- [78]

[jm962011]

I am using Becker for FAR and supplementing with Roger CRAM because Roger had a capital lease video on youtube and I really liked it and it really helped me figure out leases. I wish the CRAM was a bit better but I take my exam tomorrow so we will see!!

[Kimboroni]

Definitely watch some of Roger's videos on YouTube before plunking down another couple thousand dollars on more review materials. He's very energetic, and one of the AUD videos had a comment like “I couldn't handle more than about 5 minutes of this guy”– so it would be well worth the time to make sure you don't fall into that camp. But if I had videos, that's the one I would get. Roger's energy is great, and his little songs stick in your head (TT BPO 75 and 90).

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[sunlessC]

personally I do not think videos are worth $1500 or however much Roger charges. for a complete package, sure, but if you already have Becker…I could never justify the expense just for an entertaining lecturer (to some people anyways, I found him entertaining when I watched his demos but I think I'd end up finding him incredibly grating after a few more hours).

I got sick of wasting my time watching the horribly slow lecturers of CPAexcel so I just dropped them altogether. still doing fine. I never learned from reading textbooks in school, but I find CPA study books to be far more conducive to actually learning. I really don't need someone telling me what to highlight or write down.

[MrMustPass]

well I decided to stay with Becker by doing the following

1. listen to the lecture and try to get a basic idea about what is going on + what the main topics are

2. do becker mcqs + go back to textbook and read + make flashcard (this takes LOTSSSS of time but worth it)

3. memorize flashcards whenever i have time (commute to work/home etc.)

4. do more mcqs and progress tests

Repeat step 3 and 4 until the exam day.

@jm962011 Good Luck!!!

BEC - 77
FAR - 69, 70, 76
REG - Waiting
AUD - Jan 2015

Just Do It.

[Anonymous]

i think roger does a great job with audit.. clear as day with him… i switched from becker to roger and im really happy i did

[lmorgan0788]

I use Roger and I love him. I find the questions and practice sims a little lacking and use other sources for practice questions. I use NINJA of course and the gleim books as well.

AUD - 07/05/14 - 90 - one down 3 to go
REG - 08/25/14 - 87 - half way!
FAR - 10/20/14 - 86 - Almost Done!!
BEC - 11/22/14 - 70, 85!!! Done!Mission complete!

Eth - 12/08/14 - 95

[Author]

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