[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) 🙂

[zerohedge]

Exam tip – Do MCQs effectively. Learn the material and then do the questions, do not learn the material strictly though the questions. This works because you can learn rhe big picture stuff with notes and then learn the little details with the questions.

Also, use NINJA notes. Jeff knows whats up.

Reg - 2/24/12 passed
BEC - 4/3/12 passed
FAR - round 2 7/1/12 passed
AUD - round 2 11/01/12

Using Becker, wiley, and NINJA.

[sierracrane]

CPA study tip:

Hook up your computer to your car speakers so you can listen to CPA lectures during your commute. Even if you don't give it your full attention I think the repetition helps.

[Anonymous]

My best advice is to keep going! Many days I felt like settling, but was able to reach down and keep going…even in the face of “another 71” staring at me on the score report. Keep going and know that it is totally worth it!

[Anonymous]

Career Tip: Tackle and conquer the CPA exam very soon after completing your degree. I got married, got a job, started having miscarriages and fertility treatments and life just got in the way. One thing led to another and here I am 15 years later studying for the exam.

[unDeR]

1. Upon learning of a failing grade, study for the retake as if you had never taken the exam.

2. Make a committed decision to abstain from the enjoyments of life for as long as it takes. However, give yourself one day off per week to recharge, and reward yourself between passing exams. Just don't become complacent.

3. I recommend sandwiching the two harder exams (REG and FAR) with the relatively easier exams (AUD and BEC). Your first pass will give you the confidence needed, while the last one will test your resolve. That's why I suggest the ‘easy sandwich' approach.

4. Take your own notes.

Texas-licensed CPA

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with everyone, sit for exam AS SOON as possible after eligibility. In this order:

FAR, AUD, REG, and BEC.

Realize that 18 month window flies by!

ELL approach rocks as well as NINJA notes.

* If you don't understand something, move on and come back to it during review, there have been so many times when I would spend countless hours on a topic, only to not have any questions on it.

[Mallorina]

Exam Tip:

Don't procrastinate in studying and taking the exams after graduation. It is much easier to build on things fresh in your mind instead of learning everything that you have forgotten after a few years. Also passing the exam can be achieved much quicker if you haven't started working full time yet.

[MJinFL]

1 – Do not wait to take the exam! If you wait until you are working, you get too busy and out of the study mindset. Put everything else aside for those months and knock it our of the way.

2 – Take our own notes from the study materials/classes, then re-read adn re-write over and over until you've got.

Good luck! I'm still working on it while working 50+ hours/week and planning a wedding!

AUD- ?, ?, 62, 73 (Ugh, 2 points!)
FAR- ?, 57
BEC- 2007- 63
REG- 2007- 63

[LanBB]

Just took my AUD Exam today. My advice is that you should put more effort on Chapter 1 and 2. A lot of simple multiple choices questions were from these chapters. I wish I reviewed these one more time before the exam!!!

Simulations were from chapter 3 and 4. I rarely saw any question from governmental auditing.

Good luck to all of us!

FAR - 89 (11/2011)
REG - 84 (2/2012)
AUD - 84 (5/2012)
BEC - 75 (8/2012)Done!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

CPA exam tip…….

Don't go into your first test expecting to fail. It will only waste your time and effort.

An accounting career tipS…….

Ask questions

Stay positive

and no matter what…. NEVER MICROWAVE SMELLY FOOD.

[Anonymous]

So many good tips already!

1. Definitely sit for the exam as soon as possible after graduation.

2.Get an internship. Almost doesn't even matter where

3. Get involved with Beta Alpha Psi at your university. So many networking opportunities here.

4. At your first job or internship ask a lot of questions and don't be afraid to look dumb. You will learn a lot more.

5. Look for volunteer opportunities related to accounting. They're out there and employers love to see that.

[joylynne3]

Career Advice: Work hard, stay positive, and realize that management appreciates your efforts even if they don't always show it!

[Anonymous]

EXAM TIP:

DO NOT freak out! I know from experience that have a meltdown in the middle of an exam is not a good way to pass. If you have tirelessly prepared yourself, there will still be questions that are impossible to know the answer to and that may cause you trouble. Answer it to the best of your ability and move one. Chances are, other people will have the exact same problem! This test is curved for a reason. 🙂 Good luck everyone!

[mavsbustin3s]

Career tip: While in college, get at least one internship. Internships are a great way to network, and get your foot in the door of a company.

Exam tip: Confidence, and practice MCQs.

BEC - 85
REG - 77
AUD - 73, 83
FAR - 68, 89

[Tristan]

Career Tip for current college students:

Make sure you take an internship while you're in college. I never took an internship while in college and it is biting me in the butt now with starting my career. It's making the search a lot harder. It's the one thing I wish I could go back and do different.

Exam Tip:

-NINJA AUDIO has been helping me a lot on REG i think 🙂

-Make sure you read the entire question.

-Also, make sure you fully utilize the research tab in the simulations on the AUD exam, it does wonders even if it gives you an extra few points.

-Reading the entire chapters and reinforcing each section by going through the MCQ's at the same time really helped me, even though it's a slow process.

BEC - 79
FAR - 85
AUD - 81
REG - 91

[Author]

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