[Eileen2004]

Hi everyone!

I am recently engaged (today marks 1 week of being engaged) and just found out that I have failed the 2nd retake of REG today, and I was preparing to retake AUD in Jan before I am heavy in audit and taxes at the CPA firm I work at.

Here is my dilemma: Work full time at CPA firm where if work load allows me to, I can study for about an hour while at work, and the partners all are encouraging me to get my license since I told them I want to become partner or have my own business. My fiancé and I are looking at getting married in September 2016 so considering I’ll be busy Jan – Apr 15, and planning a wedding, I’m not sure how to go about studying, or do I wait? If I wait, I fear I wont ever come back to these again since we are going to try and start a family after we get married.

What do you suggest?

Also, what is an effective self study method to use? Ninja alone doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, and I do not want to pay a fortune for Becker since it’s all CD lecture and material is already in note outline, which I would prefer to read paragraphs and come up with my own notes.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I use Becker and it's not in outline format. There are actual paragraphs and text. Also the material is web-based and while I thought I wouldn't use the lectures, they were a lifesaver for REG and AUD. I do understand that it is very expensive and while I didn't enjoy forking over $4K for it, for me it was worth it – I have passed three parts on the first try but I follow the Becker program to the letter. (I did supplement with Ninja MCQ for REG and I also thought Ninja couldn't be beat for the price.)

In terms of finding the time to study, planning a wedding shouldn't interfere with studying. (I say this as someone who had a large, ‘traditional' wedding so I know what goes into planning a wedding.) I am married with two small children and work full time. Most of my studying happens late at night and on the weekends. As the saying goes, where there is a will there is a way – look at your schedule and carve out 1 – 2 hours/day during the week and at least 4/day during the weekend. I have seen people on here with crazy schedules who have been able to do it and I am sure you can too!

[ohmy]

I would certainly recommend paying the extra money and purchasing Becker Self Study for all parts. I passed all four parts the first time with this program while working full time as an auditor and now a budget analyst. Grant it, I am single with no children and no distractions, however, without the Becker program, there is no way I would have passed. I did not have high scores: FAR-80, REG-78, AUD-75, BEC-79. But it was all first time passes. I am simply not that smart, so a lot of prayer and a whole lot of hours spent with the Becker program pushed me to pass. I hope this helps. Good luck to you. If I can do it, anyone can.

[mtaylo24]

Stick with it. Study at work if you can. In the AM, do some light reading, some audio, or a lecture then MCQs late at night. Make sure you hit those sims hard during the end of your review phase.

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[Anonymous]

Do it now – if you think studying while planning a wedding is difficult, you can't even begin to imagine what it's like with two little ones, a husband and working full time. Trust me, I kicked myself in the ass every day for not doing it while we were engaged.
I found Ninja outlines and MCQ's to be a sufficient supplement. What you need to do is dig deep and dedicate the time to it. Do the 2-3 hours of studying a day, dedicated weekends, and get it done. If you lack attention span (like I have admitted repeatedly I do), the Wiley is great, and the Ninja supplements it wonderfully. I dedicated everything starting mid July of this year and was done by 11/14 of this year. It's worth it to get it out of the way.

[rosecpa]

Why don't you try get some discount from becker through your firm, or by searching online. Also, as a working mom who is studying for the exams as well, I could tell you that it's definitely possible (though it would've been easier before the kids-can't disagree on that point)

[Anonymous]

if your firm pays for the materials- Becker can't be beat.

if you're paying on your own- NINJA can'ts be beat

[Anonymous]

1) I'd highly recommend finishing the exam in 2016…since the 2017 requirements are changing. I, too am engaged and work FT (getting married in June and although I am not in public, it's still 40hrs a week). I come home, eat dinner, and study for 3-4 hours before going to bed. It's awful. I'm always tired and I am so so so sick of studying……but if I want my certification then I have to do it.

So it will suck….but it CAN be done with some extra work. 2) I personally dislike Becker. It doesn't cater to my teaching style at all and for that, it's a major struggle but because my company pays for it, I'm dealing. Look into Wiley. Their self study is cheaper, and they have an even cheaper option if you don't want the lectures. I have a few friends who are using it and seem to like it thus far.

You'll get through it!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like life is happening…life is always happening. There will always be that something in front of you that requires your time and you can put the CPA exam studying 2nd. Do it now, get it done.

Have you looked into CPA Excel? That is what i used instead of becker… I thought it was great and much less expensive

[Eileen2004]

Thank you everyone! I just ordered Wiley CPA study guide so I hope that will help with the NINJA material I already have and then will re-pay for the NINJA bank as I think they are more challenging than most.

[Author]

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