[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) 🙂

[Anonymous]

Exam study tip: Do MC's over and over and over. Review the NINJA notes/re-write in areas you are struggling. The material may seem overwhelming, but push through it.

Career tip: Getting on a larger firm (regional and above) will push you to work at a faster pace, but may limit your exposure to certain niches. Start in public, great learning opportunities.

[Anonymous]

CPA exam tips:

1. Be committed to studying. When you sit down to study, actually study the material. Don't get distracted by other things.

2. After reviewing the material, practice as many MCQs that you can get your hands on. Supplement your questions with MCQs from other CPA review programs (I used Becker with Wiley Test Bank).

3. The NINJA study guides are a great help along the way. They summarize the topics in an easily readable format.

[Amanda L]

Do a MILLION multiple choice! Just keep on doing them over and over (but don't just memorize the answer they expect you to put down- really understand why it is the correct answer)

Don't procrastinate- you really do need weeks of preparation.

Don't give up!!

AUD- 68, 69 (at this rate it's going to take me 8 times to pass...)

[Anonymous]

Accounting Career Advice: Something that everyone has probably heard before but it rings true. Dress for the position you want. If you start out in accounts payable, dress for the position of CFO. Appearance goes a long way when its promotion time.

Exam advice: Take the exam as soon as possible. You will still have a lot of the accounting concepts in your head (hopefully) 🙂

[Anonymous]

Exam tip: Don't procrastinate, I know easier said than done but just stick to your plan and it will pay off.

[Hitemup27]

Accounting career tip: Once you are familiar with using one type of accounting software package, see if you can find classes for another type of software to further hone your technical skills.

A - 93 - 10/25/2011
R - 92 - 1/17/2012
B - 91 - 5/31/2012
F - 93 - 10/1/2012
E - 90 - 11/17/2012

Processing...

[Anonymous]

I am taking my masters at the same time. I am taking my advanced Accounting course while studying the FAR exam. Then next semester I will take my Auditing class while studying for AUD. And of course I am writing out my Ninja notes and listening to the FAR Ninja audio series at work.

Good luck to all!

JAG

[lyamauchi]

You will not pass if you procrastinate. I speak from experience! Set up a daily routine to study and stick to it or exceed your daily work load when you can, so that you can always stay ahead if something comes up. Getting behind is overwhelming!

..MCQ's MCQs MCQs! make sure you understand the explanations behind your answers too!

[ky317]

Advice: Set a study schedule and stick to it! Don't ever give up and give yourself one day off a week!

[Jennifer241]

Exam Tip: Make a “mission” for everyday of the week. Write in in a weekly calendar, and put it where you can see it everyday. Then put post-it notes everywhere you look that read “What is my mission for today”.

Examples of my mission “60 MCQ's on Fixed assets” “Re-read intangible assets, make notes”

I don't go to bed without my mission accomplished. I have a sticky on my alarm clock. “Did you finish your mission?” So I can't turn it on without answering that question.

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]

As you make the sacrifice of another minute and another hour of studying…when every fiber of your being screams “stop” and you reply a resounding “I can do this!”, consider also the sacrifices of those who support you. This exam will provide more for you than credentials… it will provide the potential for a nervous breakdown! Kidding, well kind of! 🙂 Happy studying, test taking, dreaming of Internal Controls, Reports, Present Value etc! Good luck to all of you brilliant people!

[Anonymous]

I would love to save others from my biggest exam misstep. I bought Becker because it was touted as the “gold standard” and though it's a solid course, it's just not the best course for everyone, myself included. I recommend taking advantage of all free previews for review courses and picking the one that works best for you, not the one that's the most popular.

I would also chime in with everyone else encouraging students to take the exam as soon as possible. I did not anticipate how much more difficult it would be to tackle this in my late 30's. It's harder to concentrate and there are more life responsibilities and time conflicts.

[Vidya]

Tip : Stop not till the goal is reached. Its all going to be fine and one day when you look back at things its all going to have some meaning for all the struggle you put up with.

[cypj87]

CPA Exam Motivation: Read forums, talk to coworkers, or colleagues in school to know that you are not alone when taking these CPA exams!

AUD - Passed 2016
REG - Passed 2015
FAR - Passed 2016
BEC -Passed 2014

[MarieElly]

My best advice with respect to the exam is to complete it as soon as you reasonably can after graduation or while in school. I worked 2 jobs through college and graduate school and didn't make time to study for the exam. Huge regret! Once you start a career in public accounting, you will quickly find yourself with copious amounts of demands, work, overtime, expectations etc. Making time for the exam while working in public is a challenge especially the older you get. BUT NEVER GIVE UP. I am determiend to finally reach my goal of passing the exam this year – 2012 is the year! Good luck and best wishes to everyone. Hard work always pays off. May the force be with you!!!!!!!

Follow Jeff's NINJA plan and put that highlighter down and take your NOTES and do your MCQs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Push forward, with you chin up. Success comes from within.

[Author]

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