[Topo30]

Hello All,

I am highly considering switching my review course. Why? Well, I am very dissatisfied and frustrated with a major course which is endorsed by the Big 4 firms. These lectures instruct one to ‘highlight this, circle this, and underline that.’ Also, they tend to focus on ‘how to do it’ and instead of ‘why it’ is.’ Hence, leading to a poor understand of the concepts, in my opinion. I have failed AUD 4xs with this famous ‘highlighting’ course and I have had enough!

That said, I would like the input of those who were successful with Northern Illinois University-NIU-review course. More specifically, did the professors actually ‘teach’ the material in their ‘live’ section?

Otherwise, I may just forfeit this CPA thing. Seems like the market is becoming saturated with this ‘prestigious credential’ anyways.

Sacrificed time away from family and friends and this CPA thing is starting to loose its novelty!!

Thank you for your time!

AUD-FAILED X5
FAR-FAILED X1
BEC-FAILED
REG-FAILED

[Anonymous]

I never follow Gearty's highlighting. Sometimes he covers something I've missed in my own highlighting, but that's about as far as I go. I do follow all of his underlining and circling, because that tends to help.

I'm 2 chapters into AUD so far, and I think they're doing a great job. Just use the review course as a review; you're ultimately responsible for what you learn or don't learn. The point isn't for you to follow directions to the teeth and pass, it's to give you an approach that should supplement your own learning method, not substitute it. Don't be afraid to deviate a bit with Becker.

[samdiegoCPA]

I know “everyone” says this, but if I can effing pass these exams, you can too. I am the laziest person who tries to cut corners whenever possible. I like doing the least amount of work ever. I do not have motivation or drive to do anything that I don't want to do. That said, I work my ass off studying and have passed 3 out of 4 exams (have taken it 9 times, so yes, had failures). You have to figure out how you learn. Highlighting, writing notes, flashcards (generally), all don't work for me. I have to type up my notes and do MCQ over and over.

The fact that the market is “becoming saturated” means nothing when the growth rate for CPAs continues to climb. You should LIKE knowing that rather than thinking the opposite. Take a step back and think if you really want this or not cus right now it sounds like you aren't. EVERYONE has to take time away from friends, family, etc, but it's all temporary and will pay off 100x in the future (at least it F(*%&ing better, ha!)

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[samdiegoCPA]

I know “everyone” says this, but if I can effing pass these exams, you can too. I am the laziest person who tries to cut corners whenever possible. I like doing the least amount of work ever. I do not have motivation or drive to do anything that I don't want to do. That said, I work my ass off studying and have passed 3 out of 4 exams (have taken it 9 times, so yes, had failures). You have to figure out how you learn. Highlighting, writing notes, flashcards (generally), all don't work for me. I have to type up my notes and do MCQ over and over.

The fact that the market is “becoming saturated” means nothing when the growth rate for CPAs continues to climb. You should LIKE knowing that rather than thinking the opposite. Take a step back and think if you really want this or not cus right now it sounds like you aren't. EVERYONE has to take time away from friends, family, etc, but it's all temporary and will pay off 100x in the future (at least it F(*%&ing better, ha!)

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[funtiks]

Dont blame the review course for your failures.

FAR - 76*, 73, 85
BEC - 69, 72, 78*, 80
AUD - 72, 71, 90
REG - 71, 74, 85

AFTER 3 YEARS I'M DONE!!!

[funtiks]

Dont blame the review course for your failures.

FAR - 76*, 73, 85
BEC - 69, 72, 78*, 80
AUD - 72, 71, 90
REG - 71, 74, 85

AFTER 3 YEARS I'M DONE!!!

[ssw3809]

It's ok man! i say just listen to the lecture 2 times and do the review until you get 90% correct and then you will be ready for the test. “let's get back to the materials”…

REG 08/27/2013 81
FAR 01/09/2014 88
BEC 02/27/2014 82
AUD 10/08/2014. 86
Just started the CFA Level 1 -let the journey continue!

[ssw3809]

It's ok man! i say just listen to the lecture 2 times and do the review until you get 90% correct and then you will be ready for the test. “let's get back to the materials”…

REG 08/27/2013 81
FAR 01/09/2014 88
BEC 02/27/2014 82
AUD 10/08/2014. 86
Just started the CFA Level 1 -let the journey continue!

[rfc63]

The market may be saturated with CPAs but it is definitely short on professionals providing value-add services to clients. The two don't necessarily go hand in hand. Blaming a review course for your failures and looking for reasons to mail it in is something a rank amateur does.

[rfc63]

The market may be saturated with CPAs but it is definitely short on professionals providing value-add services to clients. The two don't necessarily go hand in hand. Blaming a review course for your failures and looking for reasons to mail it in is something a rank amateur does.

[Anonymous]

My first reaction to Becker was the highlighting, but after awhile, you can adjust your note-taking techniques and really only highlight or circle what you find useful. I also thought that other sections were less highlighting-intensive than Audit. Once you get into sections with calculations and examples, you'll do more writing and less “reading word-for-word out of the book.” Take advantage of the Becker material but adjust it to fit your learning style. Take additional notes on separate paper to drill the material into your brain. Supplement the book with free YouTube videos on topics you struggle with. Find what works for you – you know your learning style best. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My first reaction to Becker was the highlighting, but after awhile, you can adjust your note-taking techniques and really only highlight or circle what you find useful. I also thought that other sections were less highlighting-intensive than Audit. Once you get into sections with calculations and examples, you'll do more writing and less “reading word-for-word out of the book.” Take advantage of the Becker material but adjust it to fit your learning style. Take additional notes on separate paper to drill the material into your brain. Supplement the book with free YouTube videos on topics you struggle with. Find what works for you – you know your learning style best. Good luck!

[John Tucker]

The market is saturated with CPAs? What market lol? The market is certainly NOT saturated with CPAs. If your review course is covering all of the content areas on the exam, providing you thousands of practice MCQs, hundreds of practice SIMs and a couple practice WCs…..then that's all you need as well as a Replica CPA exam as well.

CPA Excel is excellent for this, so are others, but you have to put the work in to do the comprehension of the content and all of the practicing. This is not college lol, you can't wing this exam or do a little here or there, and get through. You have to actually know the content as well as master the “art” of managing the exam procedure itself.

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[John Tucker]

The market is saturated with CPAs? What market lol? The market is certainly NOT saturated with CPAs. If your review course is covering all of the content areas on the exam, providing you thousands of practice MCQs, hundreds of practice SIMs and a couple practice WCs…..then that's all you need as well as a Replica CPA exam as well.

CPA Excel is excellent for this, so are others, but you have to put the work in to do the comprehension of the content and all of the practicing. This is not college lol, you can't wing this exam or do a little here or there, and get through. You have to actually know the content as well as master the “art” of managing the exam procedure itself.

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[lalap]

@Topo30. I did NIU live review for AUD and FAR. I failed both exams back then, but it's not the review materials fault. I simply half-assed the exam- 100% my fault. I know a lot of my friends actually pass the exam on first try using NIU materials.

My thoughts:

1) NIU review book is amazing. It's not excessive like Becker. It's right to the point and they include a couple of MCQs after each concept. I actually using their FAR book right now instead of Becker.

2) The Live Review. It really depends on your study style. The live review was a mistake for me. I pretty much day dreaming 7 out of 8 hrs I was there. The professors did teach something. We highlighted/underlined the module, took some notes, and answered MCQ questions.

Bottom line: NIU has great review. But, my suggestion is instead of throwing tons of $$$ for new material, just buy ninja notes and Wiley test bank (or Jeff's new NINJA MCQs). and study smart! focus!

Passed

[lalap]

@Topo30. I did NIU live review for AUD and FAR. I failed both exams back then, but it's not the review materials fault. I simply half-assed the exam- 100% my fault. I know a lot of my friends actually pass the exam on first try using NIU materials.

My thoughts:

1) NIU review book is amazing. It's not excessive like Becker. It's right to the point and they include a couple of MCQs after each concept. I actually using their FAR book right now instead of Becker.

2) The Live Review. It really depends on your study style. The live review was a mistake for me. I pretty much day dreaming 7 out of 8 hrs I was there. The professors did teach something. We highlighted/underlined the module, took some notes, and answered MCQ questions.

Bottom line: NIU has great review. But, my suggestion is instead of throwing tons of $$$ for new material, just buy ninja notes and Wiley test bank (or Jeff's new NINJA MCQs). and study smart! focus!

Passed

[Author]

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