[Anonymous]

I am graduating at the end of this month and will have 10 weeks off before I start my summer internship at a big 4 firm. When the internship ends I am jumping head first into a full-time graduate degree program. I initially planned to take 1 or 2 of the tests in the 10 week window, but have been recently plotting to go for all 4.

I want to make the most of my time off, and I am generally a good test taker. I work best under pressure, so I think this might be a good plan for me. I just wanted to get some other opinions on this plan. Is this crazy? Has anyone else done something similar? What would be the best way to divide up the 10 weeks for the tests?

[Anonymous]

I think it's definitely doable, but you need to decide for yourself how realistic it is. For me, slow and steady wins the race. I am taking 1 per testing window, b/c I'd rather get 1 pass each window than to try and go for 2 and get 0. If you are just out of school and highly motivated, go for it. The worst that's going to happen is you won't pass and be out testing fees. You have 18 months to pass, so even if you only get 1 pass out of 4, you will still have plenty of time.

[Minimorty]

I'm not a fan of budgets for the CPA exam. You are making an investment in yourself and you need to have the materials that will best prepare you for the exam. That being said, there are definitely people who pass on a tight budget. I just think it makes it harder.

[Anonymous]

@mla1169 – Totally OK to be a downer. I want to be realistic. It's good to know these things! What state are you in? Does anyone know what the deal is for PA?

It seems like the best plan is to just see how quickly I can get this thing rolling and judge from there.

[Anonymous]

@Adele, I live in MI and I graduate in a week. You don't have to have official transcripts yet you just need them before you actually sit. NASBA had my college fill out a Certificate of Enrollment, which shows what classes I'm enrolled in, my expected finish date of those classes and degree conferral date. This way you can apply and get your NTS while still finishing up your degree. Gook luck on the 10 weeks! I've actually been thinking about getting them all done in 2 testing windows but don't think I can afford to not work for that long! :/

[Anonymous]

@EELCPA – Oh wow…I will look into that. Goodluck. Which review are you using?

[Anonymous]

The credential evaluation takes a few weeks too. And you say PA NTS takes another 2 weeks.

I don't think you'd be able to take more than 2 exams in this window.

[Anonymous]

@Adele: The only real decision I've made about study materials is Ninja Notes and Wiley Test Bank. I'm debating on whether or not buying all for sections of the Roger Cram or if I should just pick up a Wiley Book to reference. I'll be fresh out of college so my study habits are good right now and I'm hoping that I'll be fairly quick at picking up these topics/concepts again. How about you, do you know what you're going to purchase yet?

[Anonymous]

@EELCPA – I am thinking similarly. I have been checking out CPAexcel a lot. Ninja Notes and the Wiley test bank seem to be a must. I am trying to figure out the best way without spending too much money that I don't have..

[LongJourney]

Here is a piece of advice from someone who did just that and actually passed from his first try (starting studying at the end of November, got my NTS in December, took all four parts at the beginning of February). Why do you want to do that? You are still young and you do not have to push yourself that far. You will not be treated better than someone who took 18 months to pass all four parts. I understood that you didn't complete the 150-hour requirement yet so it's not like you would get your license faster that way, it's possible that you might not be able to set for the exam depending on the state you are applying to.

I don't want to demotivate you, but I want you to stay realistic. I had my own reasons to do so but I still think it was a terrible idea. If you are still planning to go through this, here are my two cents on the subject:

1- Look for a study approach that would work with you. Check courses demos for Roger, Yaeger, CPAExcel, or Becker and see what is more suitable for your studying style.

2- Create a study schedule that would actually work with you. Do not expect to double your normal studying capacity just because you have more free time. Also, get ready to forget that you had a social life in the process. Also consider that you WILL face some unexpected thins that might screw up your whole plan.

3- Consider your own weaknesses while planning. I had zero experience with taxation so I decided to start with Regulation.

Feel free to ask me more about my experience.

REG: 80 (02/02/2012)
FAR: 91 (02/06/2012)
AUD: 89 (02/09/2012)
BEC: 79 (02/12/2012)

Ethics: 90 (02/11/2012)

[Anonymous]

All the education requirements have to be met before you can sit for the exam. Maybe they will let you send in your application, but they wont process it until they have official transcripts. The process might be different for a NASBA state, but for CA, the process is 1) send in application, fee, and transcripts. Once the application is complete with all materials (which can take weeks for you to send in and the Board to assemble together), it takes about 4-6 weeks to be reviewed, you'll get a notice saying you have to select your exam sections, send back the form and a few days later then they send you a notice saying what you have to pay, send in payment and wait a few more days, then they send you the actual NTS which is the authorization to sit for the exam. Thats when you contact prometric and schedule your exams.

You might be able to get into the April/May window, the biggest hang up is going to be getting your official transcripts from your school. Not just grades, but the school has to post your degree too which can take longer because they have to go through the degree evaluation process to make sure you've fulfilled all the requirements. If you do get into the April/May window, it might not be until mid-late May.

Maybe plan on using your 10 weeks off to study your butt off, then plan on taking the exams at the beginning of the July/Aug window. You might have already started your internship by then, but you'll have already studied the material and can knock out the exams quicker.

[Minimorty]

@Journey – Nicely done. What do you do for a living?

[Minimorty]

@CalCPASoon – Some states let you sit before you have graduated. No clue is he/she is in one of them. California, as you know, does things a little bit differently.

[perniva]

Adele: I have passed AUD, FAR & REG (waiting on BEC score). Each time I prepared in about 150-200 hours but I work Full-Time and commute. I think you can definitely knock out 1 exam every 3 weeks if you study 7 days a week and give up your social life. And I really mean GIVE UP your social life.

I recommend going for 3 sections in this order: FAR > AUD > BEC.

FAR will help you on AUD and AUD will help you on BEC.

I think Becker had some Corporate Governance material in their REG book, which will help ou on BEC. But everything is running together now so i cannot remember for sure.

Good luck!

YOU, can do it!!!

FAR 05/29/11 #82
AUD 08/31/11 #86
REG 11/29/11 #72
REG 01/17/12 #89
BEC 02/29/12 #75

Becker 2011
TEXAS

[LongJourney]

@Minimorty – Thank you for your remarks, I used to work as an accountant in a private company (zero public accounting experience) but I left it due to personal reasons and disagreement with my boss. I'm almost 30 years old so I wanted to get the CPA as soon as possible to compensate for my career delay.

REG: 80 (02/02/2012)
FAR: 91 (02/06/2012)
AUD: 89 (02/09/2012)
BEC: 79 (02/12/2012)

Ethics: 90 (02/11/2012)

[Minimorty]

@Journey – Interesting. Are you going to get into public accounting or stay in private?

[Author]

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