[SomeSomeCPA]

I found out I passed REG which means I have a chance to be done when I take FAR. I’m definitely not even close to ready for this exam. Other than hammering important sections and MCQ for the next 3 weeks I was thinking about getting CPA tutors for a few sessions. Has anyone ever tried this?

FAR: 39,59,TBD
BEC: 74,79
AUD: 77
REG: September

[Tim]

I have talked extensively with counselors. While I think it's great that they will talk to you, even for long periods of time free of charge, I don't think they actually help you learn the material. They are more there to help you with your study plan/method and try to keep you on schedule. Most of my time talking to them has been me giving them feedback on what I like and don't like about their study program.

Also, the counselors keep requesting my score reports after each section and they give me a $25 Amazon gift card every time I provide them so that's a nice bonus.

[Anonymous]

Here is my opinion: CPA tutors are good for some people, tutors are not good for some people. You have to keep in mind there is much more inconsistency with a tutor because really it's just luck of the draw if the one you get is any good. With CPA review courses, there is peer review, quality control, etc.

– I tutor for the CPA exam and ACT/SAT (more so in the past on ACT/SAT).
– I think it is good for people that have a solid foundation, but are lacking in one- a few areas. For some people, they just can not get ‘XYZ' topic until its explained one on one, and then they finally understand it.
– I have people who ask me starting from scratch if I think its a good idea, and I tell them no. It's not cost-effective, and a single person tutor will inevitably leave gaps in learning (even a good one).

[Anonymous]

There are so many study programs out there, but they don't really help when you have some specific questions about the exercises (such as becker) or some knowledge points in the book. With the help of a good CPA tutor, it would really make your study much more efficient.

[Nutcracker2016]

I paid $1500.00 to that guy you are talking about. I too found him on LinkedIn. Not sure, whether I can post his name here. Pretty useless. I was in tight finance but thought I have to pass this exam so hired him. He does nothing but take one topic for ex., he will explain about PEG ratio for one hour . He use power point presentations to explain and have MCQ’s inserted in it. That’s it. If you go to you tube videos it will be more helpful.
For this kind of money he don’t ask what are your study plans?? He will not analyze what are your weak areas?? Gives suggestion etc., I thought he will do all this based on my conversations with him….even if you have doubts he will not stay a second after 55 minutes. He will say to send an email. I don’t know how to get my money back .

[CPASF1]

agree with nutcracker, Have tried it with a very expensive CPA tutor as well and quite honestly it's not that helpful.

[SomeSomeCPA]

Wow @nutcracker2016 that is a pretty damning review. But a very appreciated one. I'm sorry to hear that it's not working for you especially after prepaying that amount of cash.

Sounds like I need to just buckle down and give it my best. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who had a positive experience with a tutor through their CPA journey.

FAR: 39,59,TBD
BEC: 74,79
AUD: 77
REG: September

[livealittle]

if you count asking a co-worker for help on a specific topic/type of calculation question, then yes. But, I knew we were both studying and she offered to be a “study buddy” so we basically just asked “did you study some last night?” and I told her I was struggling with a BEC calculation and we stayed after work for about an hour and she explained it to me differently than the study material and I “got” it.

BEC - 8/8/16
REG - 66, 77
AUD - 81
FAR - 9/8/16

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't recommend a tutor. Pick a good review program and ask questions of their staff. Roger has homework help available and they get back to you right away.
I think Gleim even has personal guidance counselors – that's a big plus, given that their program is like $999 for all four sections and “access our materials until you pass” (and I assume that includes an unlimited amount of “counseling”…although not sure if the counseling services include tutoring-style help.)

I used to tutor – not accounting, but math and chemistry. While I had some students who did well because of my services, most did not, and the reason was because they did not
study correctly and/or just didn't have a good foundation to begin with. Tutors can only do so much for anyone. And with the CPA exam being the unpredictable way it is, and the formats
always changing at least slightly, AND given that the tutor probably took it a long time ago, it's not worth it. I'd venture to say everyone who attempts the CPA exam is already “a good student.” We know how to study. We have half a brain in our heads. We finished school and have a degree. We've learned accounting. If someone was charging like 25-30 bucks an hour and I was completely stuck on some questions, I'd give it to them. But as for that tutor helping me pass these exams? I don't think it would work.

Although, in one of Roger's videos, he mentioned that there once was a guy he “tutored” who was up for CFO or some ultra-high, half-a-million dollars per year position at Big 4 or some firm, and he had no CPA. He paid Roger huge bucks to work one-on-one with him because he was having trouble. I guess it's possible.

[Author]

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