[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

[Anonymous]

CPA Exam tip: Hit the MCQs for EVERY lecture the day/night before the test. This ensures that all of the topics are fresh in your mind. Also, skim over all of the Sims (may not be best use of time to work them all the night before).

[NECain]

Career tip: Clean up your social networking sites. Should be common sense by now, but unfortunately it is still biting a lot of new job seekers. Also, make sure to dress and act professionally during your interviews. First impressions still have a big impact.

REG - 79
BEC - 75
AUD - 84
FAR - 75
Done...Thank you Wiley Books, Wiley Test Bank, and the NINJA Notes

[SleepyCPAwannabe]

Exam tip: Use your fellow coworkers, friends, and Another71 followers to help you through the process. Learning the multiple options and the best way to study takes time and recommendations from others – this website will be one of your biggest resources!! Make sure that you aren't just jamming through material – read the question, and go answer by answer to determine which one is correct. If you force yourself to learn the concepts, anything that is thrown at you on the exam is possible. Download your notes onto your iPad, Kindle, smart phone, whatever – a good sign is if studying has taken over your house – flashcards on the nightstand, books on the kitchen counter, notes and pens piled on the table…once it takes over your life you should be passing. The CPA exam is ALL or NOTHING. It's worth it to spend the time figuring out how to do it right rather than continue to fail and retake over and over.

Oh, and do endless MCQ's. Until they make you sick. The more questions you see, the more familiar with the wording and the more quickly you can identify what the question is asking for.

F - 53, 78
B - 71, 75
R - 73, 84
A - August 2012

[Anonymous]

TIPS: I would suggest to have a study group for each sections. Otherwise, I would say to use read Becker book, and do Becker homework and Wiley homework. Do not just memorize the MC answer, make sure you know WHY it is wrong or right.

[Anonymous]

Exam Tip: Make a plan and stick to it! Do not make a plan and then jump around it because you are feeling lazy or tired one day. If you are supposed to do 200 multiple choice questions, but you feel like watching 2 hours of lecture instead because it is easier, then your study plan becomes a sloppy, unfocused mess. Stick to your plan and theses exams are manageable.

[kat-pgh]

Exam Tip: I've passed 3 for 3 with this, waiting on score 4.

Every MCQ 3 times.

Don't worry, stress, or get frustrated first time thru the book. It all makes more sense once you've been through the whole thing. Regardless of a question being in Chpt 2, you may really need Chpt 8 for it to all fall into place for you to have it make sense.

Put in the time, watch your time, plan your time. I've never been good with saying “I'll do 50 questions” because I could get hung up somewhere for too long and get frustrated. But if you generally know YOUR timing over the long haul, you'll know how it averages out for you.

I'm with Jeff, rewrite it for you if you need a formula to make sense. Rewrite repeatedly if you just need to memorize like Law and AUD.

B - Passed 10/10
A - (4/12 with 18 months expiring...fingers crossed!)
R - Passed 02/12
F - Passed 08/11

[roy]

DE-FACEBOOK! I had a close friend change my Facebook password when I realized that I had two weeks to get through 5 audit lectures. I got so much more done when I knew that I couldn't get on Facebook. Passed AUD with a 75. Not pretty, but I'll take it!

[sbruce810]

Exam Tip: Make your own flash cards using your own terminology.

AUD - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
REG - Passed

Done

[Anonymous]

My tip would be, take FAR first. I think it's the hardest as far as material, and it covers the most, so when you get to the other parts you would have some basic idea of the concepts. Also do NOT underestimate any one part, you need to study for all. And for AUDIT especially pay close attention to the MC questions they are not hard but they are tricky!!!

[Anonymous]

I think it's important to be consistent. Do some form of studying every day even if it's just for 30 mins. At least you are seeing the information daily and the material will stay fresh in your mind.

Also, the ninja strategy really works. Actually taking the time to write your notes and then rewriting them does wonders. You'd be surprised how much you know after that.

Just took Far yesterday, it's my last test and if I didn't pass I lose credit for Audit. I am hoping to be done!!! Good luck everybody.

[vanadium3]

Exam tip: Don't get discouraged! You need that motivation to carry through. It's just a matter of time =)

CPA

[Anonymous]

As I've been anxiously awaiting my REG scores, might as well participate! 🙂

I liked on Facebook.

Tip for interviewing with the Big Four:

-When you're asked of your weaknesses, I would certainly be sure to have some great ways you turn your weaknesses into strengths.

It's definitely not a great way to bash yourself in an interview being TOO honest without backing yourself up. I landed my internship with the Big Four going into the interview with my ammunition of strengths and weaknesses.

Hope this helps!

[0506597]

Exam Tips

1) Map out your plan. Get a calendar, plan your study plan taking into account family, work, other demands. You should be clear on when you can devote the necessary amount of time to study to each part. Once you have a plan, decide on which part to tackle first. Given the additional complexities and information regarding IFRS, I would highly suggest getting FAR and AUD over ASAP.

2) Get your study materials. I highly suggest the NINJA notes, audio, flash cards, Becker and Wiley test bank. I listen to the NINJA audio every time I have a break during the day as well as my morning and evening commute. Very concise points to remember.

3) Put in the hours. If this were easy, and for a few it is, the pass rates would be higher! Lots of material, but your brain is like a sponge if you train it right. Practice, practice, practice. I have learned so much more by working MCQ's and taking notes and rewriting them!!!!! Thanks Jeff. Don't underestimate short-term memory.

4) Most importantly, know you can do it. Have confidence in yourself. Be determined to be the percentage of the folks that do pass. And prayer always helps for me 🙂

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
FAR-PASS
REG-PASS
I'm done!

Yeager-AUD; Rogers-FAR, BEC, REG; Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Notes, Audio and Flashcards

[jperkins11]

Job Tip:

Work experience is the greatest asset one could possess. Soak up the experience and gain wisdom in the specialty you choose. Find a good mentor, or someone who can “show you the ropes”. The most useful thing I've learned since graduating college is that almost all public accounting is cash basis. Another good tip is to learn the way your employer works before attempting to implement change. Accountants don't like change, literally.

[MBTexasCPA]

Exam Tip: Allow yourself a small break (a week or two) in between sections. I took FAR and then immediately began studying AUD without a break; I didn't think I would make it through AUD. I took a two week break between AUD and BEC and it made it easier to make it through without getting burnt out.

[Author]

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