[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

[Poohjure]

Short version: Apply for an internship.

Long version: Beg, cry, scratch and claw you way into an internship program and a firm close to the size you want to spend your career in. There are a zillion benefits to accepting an internship including: networking, training, and experience. In addition, you can get a jumpstart on figuring out a specialty. An internship, most of the time, is a guaranteed job in a frustrating market.

B - 77
A - 72, 74, 74
R - 88
F - 61

[rpoyser]

Exam Tip: Don't ever stop trying, I took this beast 14 times before I finally passed.

Career Tip: When you start your first job understand that no matter what background you had before or how far along you are with this exam, you don't know anything. Take every opportunity you can to absorb and learn everything that your supervisors are trying to teach you.

BEC (74,68,84)
FAR (74,65,74,90)
AUD (63,50,74,88)
REG (74,70,81)

[teamorangeman]

I wished I had enough time to post all the exam tips I would have but let me give you the one that finally got me over that DANG Auditing Test!

Everyone tells you to do MCQ's over and over and over and while that is fine what I did was to break them down. Work every question, and make notes of every question that you really did not know. Then, every one of the MCQ's that I worked though Becker and Wiley tell you why each question is wrong. EVEN IF YOU GOT THE ANSWER RIGHT AND YOU FOUND IT TO BE EASY, DO THE FOLLOWING!!!! Re-read the question, then look at why they are wrong but ALSO look at why the one answer is right. I struggled because I worked EVERY Becker question over and over but I still couldn't pass. That was because by doing them over and over and NOT breaking them down you wind up memorizing key words in answers. This is only good in some situations. By breaking it down, you are training your brain to slow down and look for the “key” in every question. Then your brain will give you an answer, and that is when you go and look at A,B,C, & D to see which of those match with what you know. Trust me, I am a great test taker and barely studied for the first three tests I passed, but the minute I hit something that I was weak at (Auditing) I found myself spinning my wheels like so many of you have done. The CPA exam knows what you are studying, and they say they aren't out to trick you but it is the nature of tests… You are going to run into questions that are similar to the ones you practiced but one word will change it and if you move too fast you miss a word and you answer what you think is right… Train your brain to slow down a little… and Know the answers before you read the selections.

Life/Career – CPA passing is the beginning to a future in accounting. Success comes when you realize that you need something to set you apart from the person who just passed right out of school or something similar. To get ahead, know your stuff… Do not take this exam and try to retain enough just to pass it… by using the technique above you wind up memorizing material and such. I have used the knowledge I retained in my test to help my firms out a few times and what that does is they look to me to solve questions and not someone else who has passed and just works at their desk.

FAR - 75 7/11/10
REG - 81 11/28/10
BEC - 77 10/30/10
AUD - 60 10/01/10, 67 02/11/11, 62 05/31/11, 71 7/15/11, 86 10/24/11

[jcw1503]

Exam Tip:

Like the CPA Exam process as in life…mos of the ime i will no go as you plan. You can plan how you would like to accomplish things in a certain time frame and in a certain way. However, most of the time it will not go that way. Most people probably plan on and want to pass the CPA Exam the first time, everytime, however, from personal experience, it will probably not happen to the most of us. Just remember, to stay motivated and remember that if it was easy then everyone would do it…….Keep pushing on and remember that “You can do all things through Christ….” Keep the faith…

FAR - Attempt 1-(70)...Attempt 2 (Passed Baby)-Praise the Lord-Couldn't have done it without him.
AUD- Attempt 1-Passed!!!!!!!!! )-Praise the Lord-Couldn't have done it without him.
REG-Attempt 1-(73)...Attempt 2 (Passed Baby)-Praise the Lord-Couldn't have done it without him.
BEC-Attempt 1-(71)...Attempt 2 (Passed Baby)-Praise the Lord-Couldn't have done it without him.

****What is one Golden Rule for Passing the Exam? 1) Read the question properly. and 2) Leave yourself enough time to answer all of the....
****Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They makes mistakes, but they don't quit.
****Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.

[kcodyr]

Exam tips: Listen to lectures twice. Do multiple choice until you feel like you want to die. You must schedule your study time and stick to it. Seriously. That's what I had the most trouble with. Even if it's for an hour. Just do it when you've got it scheduled. Rewrite notes. I know this takes a lot of time and you have to budget for it, but it really really works.

REG-84, FAR-78, BEC-88, AUD-Feb 27, 2011

[abacus]

So many awesome tips here. I wish I had known in college what I know now.

Exam tip: Don't drag it out. Half ass studying equals half ass exam scores. There is an inverse relationship to your misery and the likelihood of passing. Instead of absent mindedly taking the occasional 10 question quiz while watching tv and reading the great forums here, let your dvr fill up and grind out dedicated study time. Trust me, “a year from now, you will wish you had started today”.

Career tip: Must definitely +1 the internship suggestions. I could not afford to quit my full time, non-accounting job to take an internship and ended up in corporate accounting making less than many first years. If you are interested in public, make those connections in college before graduating.

BEC 81
AUD 76
FAR 70, 76
REG 58, 78! DONE!

"I am not my intentions. I am my actions."

[sjerman]

EXAM TIP: If this is something that is extremely important to you, try and complete the Exam before you have a family. I am recently divorced with a 4 year old, and finding study time is difficult. IT CAN BE DONE….but it's not easy! Plan out your study schedule and stick with it!

AUD - 86
REG - 80
BEC - 76

[madiblair89]

Exam tip: On the day/morning of the exam, do not try to learn new material. However, it is helpful to “warm up”, so go through a few practice problems/questions you feel confident you already know. Not only will this boost your confidence, it will get your brain in the right mindset!

Big 4/Recruiting tip: I'd like to reiterate what I've seen already in this forum. Be yourself! Don't be afraid to let your personality shine through. If the recruiters take you out to eat, don't feel like you need to regurgitate your resume over dinner. Tell a funny story, or share your interests! People want to hire someone they can picture themselves working with late on a Saturday night in the midst of busy season. Professionals like to laugh, too!

And remember, a little bit of stress is a GOOD thing… but it's also good to balance that stress with confidence!

BEC - Passed 🙂
AUD - May 28
REG - July
FAR - August

[tmpotter]

Attack the exams in the order that you perceive will be most difficult for you. Whatever one you think will be hardest and take the longest to prepare for, take first. That way, once your 18month window will only include the three “easier” of the exams for you to tackle. For me it meant AUD, BEC, FAR, REG since a majority of my experience is in tax and I have none in auditing. So far so good.

AUD - 90
BEC - 84
FAR - Oct 2012
REG - Jan 2013

[Anonymous]

CPA Exam Tip: Adjust your study habits to your learning style. I work best with reading the Becker books and taking notes, not listening to lectures. Do tons of MCQs and make sure to utilize practice tests two weeks before your exam. It helps!

[Anonymous]

Studying Tips:

1. Spend very little time on reading the material and more time on working out the multiple choice questions! Reading through the material is passive and you'll tend to forget the material quickly.

2. In the beginning you'll find yourself making a lot of mistakes but do NOT allow it to put you down! Mistakes are an integral part of the learning process; Once you're able to change your paradigm about mistakes, you'll feel much more motivated as you go through the material.

[LL]

College student/ grad: If you have the time while you are almost done with school before you start working study for the exam while the information is still fresh in your brains. Don't wait until you work and get ‘applied' experience to study because even though it can help to be in the field, you will never have the same amount of time as you do when you are finishing up in school or before you start working. Don't go partying it up and taking the sweet life before working. The key is MODERATION.

More work and some play. Not all play no work, otherwise you will never have time to pass.

[nc11]

Hi!!!

Exam tip!! No exam is a short cut! you have to put in an effort to know all the concepts, practice MCQs and go though everything in the course you are referring to!!!

And then the most impt thing!! Do all of this with a CooL mind!! Cos only then the concepts enter your head, only then are you able to think clearly!! Go to the exam hall with a cool mind!!! this helped me a lot!! During my very first exam, I was damn nervous and thought I was doing the most difficult thing in this world!! lol!! and I dint clear it!! The next exams went really well cos I had decided if others can do it I too can do it!! I put in the same effort but all with a calm n composed mind!! N there was nothing that could stop me!! I started clearing my exams!!! 🙂

[rezaking]

do not underestimate any of these exams. ive made that mistake. pick a study method that works and stick with it. another important thing to remember is: study until you understand the material. for some this might take weeks.. for some it might take months. there are no set hours that one needs to put in for each exam. each person is different. This exam has helped me grow up and make more informed decisions even in areas unrelated to it. Use it to your advantage. good luck.

BEC - Passed
REG - 7/21/2012
AUD - 8/18/2012
FAR - 11/10/2012

[Anonymous]

RE: The Exam –

1. I know it's been said multiple times, but MCQs, MCQs, MCQs!

2. Rewriting notes is also especially helpful as it forces you to think about the material as you write it.

3. Finally, keep a positive attitude! So many people get down when they don't pass, but don't let that scare you off. If the exam was easy, everyone would take it. When you start to feel frustrated, read a few posts on the forum and it will remind you that everyone is struggling with it.

[Author]

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