[Nivek]

Hey everyone, I am just beginning my journey towards becoming a CPA and will begin studying for FAR in a few days. I thought it would be interesting to ask:

What is the one thing you wish you knew, or could go back and tell yourself when you first started studying?

Thought it might be a fun question for us newbies to read

I look forward to contributing to this forum,

Thanks

Officially done.

[Anonymous]

Listen to Jeff and everybody else when they say to Re-Write your notes!! Not just mindless copying, but really reading/writing/analyzing them. Might sound like much, but it is so worth it! Beats having to study the material again in a few weeks/months.

I'm working on it now for FAR, and I wish I had done that for AUD. It really brings everything together really nicely.

[Anonymous]

Hmm… That these exams would require more sacrifice than college, but that they're not as unattainable as they may seem. The only thing required to pass these exams is persistence. But if you have guts, you *can* pass these all. And people do pass them all first-try…not everyone, not most people (around 20%), but don't resign yourself to failing until you do. Prepare for it, but don't resign yourself to it. And if you do fail, don't give up – like I said at the start, all it takes to pass is persistence!

Also that any mainline review curriculum is sufficient to pass. I was told at the start that unless I took live classes, I couldn't pass. Looking forward to telling that person in a few months that I passed with no live classes, and not even recorded classes – just Wiley. 😛 The key is to find the curriculum that suits you, not that costs the most or has the most users.

[Zaq]

Don't play video games.

Don't watch TV.

Stay the fuck off Facebook. You have no social life now.

Don't hang out with friends; unless their names are Tim Gearty, Peter Olinto, and Jeff.

If you slack off, even a little bit, you will fucking pay for it.

Reddit is the bane of your existence.

If you're not studying, sleeping, eating, or working… you should be studying anyway.

Follow those rules and you'll be done with all 4. Consistency is the name of the game.

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.

[Anonymous]

The study guides are valuable sources of information but it is practicing the MCQs and SIMs that will get you past the exams.

[Anonymous]

@BaxterCPA's advice is spot-on. I didn't think of that…but if I had, I'd replace everything I said with that right there. Without the MCQs and SIMs practice, I know I wouldn't have passed anything yet. 😐

[Jennifer241]

This is going to be 20 times harder than college, therefore you need to put in 20 times more the effort. Period.

Study away from your distractions.

Unplug from everything

Drink water, curbs hunger, makes you feel full

Caffeine when you can't do anymore

Either ignore your friends or tell them no

Ignore your family, or tell them no

Buy the NINJA notes, Wiley book, anything you don't know look up on youtube or google it

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[Anonymous]

Take the exam on a Monday so you have all weekend to study for it. Don't be afraid to take a week off from work a week or two prior to the exam to cram. Work the mcq ad nauseam and try to get thru all the simulations before the exam. I would wait though and do the simulations after you have gone through the mcq's so that you know how to work them. Study hard and be persistent. The CPA isn't an IQ test. You'll do well if you put in the time and work your butt off!

[Anonymous]

Keeping this up, every single day, for what seems like FOREVER is the worst part for me. It's like the world's nastiest marathon.

I manage a pretty decent test/family/life balance, but my test/food balance is all screwed up. We all have our problems with something, but the important thing is to be committed and keep at it! By keep at it, I mean STICK to the plan, no slacking over the long haul. If you're supposed to study 30 hours this week, but only get 10, you've got problems: But if you manage 25, you at least have the hope of making it up somewhere!

[Anonymous]

Like the saying goes – “Its not how much you study, but how effective your studying is”. Someone should be fucking honest and publish that the CPA Exam is, can, and has been responsible for nervous breakdowns, divorce, loss of friends / social life, Stress Related Shingles, and Depression. That happens when you get smashed by a brick in the face and realize you just voluntarily committed yourself to an insane asylum.

This exam will fuck with your ego, take a toll on your health and overall emotional well being if you are not ready for what is to come.

Sorry.

[Path To CPA]

Sims are only worth 40% but AICPA will never let you pass an exam unless you demonstrated a good mastery of them. It's my opinion based on my own experience. I truly believe that sims are more regarded by AICPA than MCQs. I have yet to see someone on this site who has failed and exam and her/his score report showed stronger on sims. However a stronger on MCQs and weaker in sims leads to failure and is very common. I've had such score report twice with FAR.

A great performance in Sims and MCQs will help you pass. In my opinion, a great performance in the sims guarantees a pass.

Good luck with your journey.

REG: 68, 75
AUD: 80
BEC: 77
FAR: 24, 67, 69, 72, 80 Thank you Lord!!!!

Finally Done! Perseverance is the key to success

NYS Licensed CPA - 2013

[Tncincy]

Do your best but don't worry about not getting a 99. You only need a 75.

Videos do not take the place of actually reading, mcq's and sims. I really learned the most from the mcq's than watching the videos. Please, not dissing videos.

There must be discipline with studying….if not, there are 101 reasons why you will study tomorrow.

Most people really don't care….stop expecting people to understand what this journey will take to finish.

It's nothing wrong with taking a part as many times necessary to pass…….

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader.....time to pass

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[smp73]

This is what I wish I knew from the begging:

Do endless MC, take notes on the ones you get wrong.

NINJA notes and audio are well amazing. Get them

Set a schedule and stick to it

Remember a 75 is just as good as a 99.

Finally, when the studying gets tough and there doesnt seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel remember you can do this, you are smart enough, you have the motivation to get past these. It is a marathon not a sprint. Believe in yourself and you will do it!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[silliepanda]

This will be one of the most difficult things you do. I learned this the first time around. You need to truly want it to get it. As you can see I am still working at it, but never ever ever quit. People will get upset with you for not having enough time, but this is for you and your family so just do it! AND MCQs MCQs MCQs and no more facebook. Give it everything you have and nothing less. GOOD LUCK!

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

[tomq04]

TAKE 1 DAY OFF/ WEEK!!!

You will burn out, and you have to lift your foot off the gas pedal once / week.

If you are studying over 8-12 weeks do not be afraid to do 1 fun thing ( one weekend) over that time period.and DO NOT MAKE A HABIT OF IT. You must stay consistent, you will learn your limits after you are done with the first test.

I ended up in bed sobbing in a ball in my wife's arms, and I found out my limits of helping my father in law every weekend for 5 in a row + getting up at 4:30 am, plus trying to help out with a crying baby at night was too much. Now I just get up, father in law handled his on his own now, and my wife (nearly) takes care of the baby and lets me sleep through.

I did pass that first exam, and i'm onto FAR now.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[2012passtheCPA]

This has been said before, I believe it's worth repeating. DO NOT NEGLECT THE SIMS!!! I did 3 times for REG and failed all three times. For the 3 sections I believe I got incredibly lucky and got by with passing the SIMS, but REG's SIMs will absolutely whip your tail if you aren't careful.

During the exam….BREATHE!!!! I feel like peeps forget this sometimes and they have studied for the last 6 weeks to 2 months and they know the answer, but blank in the exam. If you come across a situation like this…I suggest closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. If nothing comes to you from that, flag it and move on. Chances are it's a test question and you can't let it trip you up for the easy questions coming down the road.

[Author]

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