[jeff]

I will be giving away an iPad 3 Thursday to someone in the forum. Here are the details:

Who: 1 Randomly-selected winner.

You don’t have to be a current candidate to enter – Alums are welcome too!

The selection will be recorded through a screencast.

Note – the winner will be double-checked to make sure they don’t have more than one forum account posting in the giveaway thread, so no shenanigans.

What: iPad 3 – $499 model (winner will have the option to pay for any upgrades/features they want added)

Why: iPads are awesome (I have an iPad 2 … hope I win!) 😉

How:

1. “Like” another71 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/another71)

2. In this thread, post a CPA Exam or Accounting Career tip (or both) that you think would benefit a College Senior or recent graduate. If you work for a Big 4 or Regional Accounting Firm, interview tips or anything making the process easier would be great.

That’s it … Good Luck!

***

New Prizes Added!

– 5 Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Memberships (Online)

– 5 Complete NINJA Audios

– 5 Complete NINJA Notes

– 1 30 Minute Muay Thai training session at Del Mar Beach (CA) in September (you have to get to Del Mar though) 🙂

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Nash2012]

Exam tip: Go through all of the multiple choice questions at least twice. Go through the questions you get wrong on the second try 3 or 4 more times until you fully understand how to arrive at the right question (don’t just remember which question is right).

It is important to go through all the questions more than once. If you are on a 6 week study schedule, you may not remember any of the week one material during week six (even if you scored 95% in week one). By going through the material a few times you can determine what sections you need to devote more time to prior to the exam.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for a job, my tip would be to practice a lot of potential questions before you go to your interview. If you can use your university's career services, definitely do! A lot of schools allow alumnus to forever. I have practiced a lot of behavior questions before interviews and it just make me feel more confident, and ready to take on anything they have to ask me. I also did mock interviews at the school I graduated from.

[Redd]

Exam Tip: Don't underestimate the exam. If you are unable or unwilling to commit, don't start the process. Taking the exam requires a huge commitment of time, attention and patience. It will be one of the hardest things you'll ever accomplish, but well worth it in the end. Study hard!!

[sarah210]

My exam tip is not to be afraid to admit what you're doing is not working for you.

I was determined to make studying with books only work for me. I do not, nor have I ever been able to retain info nearly as well reading as I am listening to someone talk about it. After two awful non-passes, I decided to get video lectures. I'm only two weeks in, but I think I've already learned (and hopefully will retain) more in these two weeks than I did in my entire time studying for a section lest time. Fingers crossed it will begin to pay off in July.

REG- 53, 91
BEC- 88
FAR- 62, 85
AUD- 85

Ethics- 93

[goodluck2everyone]

the only failure is in quitting

career tip

do what you love 🙂

BEC- 80
REG- 68, 71, July
AUD- 61 , 84
FAR- -- 75 🙂

[Anonymous]

When taking the test for the first time don't forget to CRAM! I would come up with a study plan to ensure you get through all your material but leave space open for 3-4 days at the end to go back through all your notes. I actually found it useful using the another71 ninja notes at the end because they were something different to look at from what I already studied, but they captured most of the same information. I actually rewrote all of the another71 ninja notes which really helped me retain information.

If retaking a test you already took, re-study EVERYTHING. I made the mistake of thinking I only needed to brush up on a few areas but failed miserably time.

Good luck everybody, nothing better than seeing 4 passing scores!

[Marivy22]

Exam tip:

1. Take the necessary time to learn the material, but be careful….over studying = time wasted. You do not need to be an expert, just be comfortable with the material.

2. Write your study plan with realistic goals. For example, how many hours are you studying per week.

3. Leave the week before the exam to work lots of MCQ'S and to re-read your notes.

4. On exam date : take as many deep breaths during the exam as you need, if you find a difficult question move forwarark arm the question and come back later)

Interview tips

1. Be on time

2. Dress up – suit for both males and females

3. Don't over do it, take time to thing your response ( just like while you are doing the exam)

4. Don't make lots of questions, just the necessary

5. Don't ask about benefits and salary to the hiring manager, leave those questions to the HR person

Good luck to all!!!!

Done 😉
Class of 2012!!!!
Lots of prayers and hard work....

[lovebugjr84]

Career tip: (I was hired by a Big 4 firm as I was entering my senior year of college)

Networking is key and it is NEVER too early! I believe that the main reason I was the only one from my school to receive an offer from this firm (and only one of three to receive an offer from a Big 4) was because I made sure to connect with the Senior Manager at every on-campus and off-campus event open to our school.

B: 2/25/12 - 74 (retake April 14th)
A: 10/29/11 - 91 (38 weeks pregnant!)
R: July 2012
F: November 2012

"Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent." ~ Marilyn vos Savant
"Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success." ~ Dale Carnegie

[Anonymous]

Career Tips: Take advantage of networking opportunities through your college career center of employer alumni networks. You never know when you will come across someone that shares your background and interests.

Don't be afraid to add an “Interests” caption to your resume. Interviewers will often look at this section as a way to see if you can distinguish yourself from a pool of candidates which can be to your advantage.

[Sandra]

Exam tips:

Which review to use has been discussed a million times and everyone has an opinion. i was in the same boat but just had to suck it up and spend a bit of time deciding what was right. Watch any and all samples and research this carefully. The most expensive is not always the best for everyone. You will be spending a lot of time with the material so make sure that you are happy with how its presented. The content is pretty much all the same so make sure you like the “box”.

MCQs are great but if you don't understand the concept in full do the simulations. I have yet to pass my CPA but doing all the essays for my CMA really helped the concepts sink in.

Understanding concepts is 100% times easier than trying to remember 500+ pages of information.

Lastly there are lots of free and random people on youtube explaining concepts. Youtube is your friend. This lady for example knows a lot about BEC type content and explains it slowly. https://www.youtube.com/user/SusanCrosson?feature=watch

[Anonymous]

CPA Exam Tricks.

Piecemeal is the best approach. Any review course you take towards preparing for your CPA exam. Start with each section and complete the questions/ multiple choice questions. This would help you learn and grasp material quicker and faster.

[Whyme]

Exam Tip – Schedule your exam and then start studying. This will force you to study as exam day draws near. Trying to master every concept before scheduling an exam will be very cumbersome, as nobody every feels 100% ready to take these exams.

Career Advice- If you land an interview with the BIG 4 or a regional firm make the best of it. Practice behavioral interview questions with friends and family, research the company, show a genuine interest and passion for accounting (if you have one!), and most importantly be yourself. The interview is a 2 way street, you are feeling out the firm just as much as they assessing your ability to work for them. Good Luck!!!

AUD- 71, 73, 87 Done!!!!!
BEC- 75
FAR- 72, 77
REG- 77

[Anonymous]

CPA exam tip: When scheduling your test, give yourself enough time to where you aren't spending every waking moment studying. This will go a long way to keeping you sane throughout this process.

[Melissa520]

Do the exam as early as you can in your career. Life just gets busier and busier. So the sooner you can start studying the better!

[SportsNerd]

Exam tip : Believe in yourself. You can't begin studying with the mindset that you might be able to pass. You must know deep down that you are going to get it done no matter what the cost (time, energy, money, etc.). It is not just a monetary commitment. Plan what you are going to have done by a certain day and try to stay on track. If you get behind, then there is a good chance that you will not catch back up. Plan and perform your studies to provide reasonable assurance that you conducted your studying in accordance with the principles generally accepted by Another71 forum users. 🙂

Bec - 66, 71
Aud - 73

Going to enjoy some of the summer and retake both in August since my clock hasn't started ticking yet.

[Author]

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