[user13]

Hi everyone, I just graduated with an MS and will be starting work in November. I want to get 2-3 parts complete before then, but I am having trouble deciding what review course to take. I am debating between Becker, Roger’s, and Ninja. Do you think you can use Ninja as a stand alone, and does it have similar lectures like the others?

Thanks so much

[Anonymous]

Step one is to find out how you learn. Do you learn best by watching lectures? Reading? Or working problems? It's kind of hard to give a recommendation on which review course is best because we all learn differently. When it comes to review courses go with the one that will help YOU, not the one that everyone you know is using.

[user13]

Yea thanks, that is what I am trying to figure out. Price is a big factor to but I will pay if i think it will be best for me. I think I will learn best by lectures and doing problems. I don't think I would enjoy just reading very much.

[Anonymous]

Ok now I think I can help. Roger is really good for lectures, but he misses some stuff and sometimes he's kind of hard to watch. I think Jeff has the most reasonably priced review course and I know it's good. I used just about all of them, except Becker, for REG and finally passed it when Jeff came out with the Ninja audio.

[user13]

Is the Ninja audio basically comparable to the lectures of the other 2? I am think about taking auditing first but I noticed there is no book for Ninja. What do you think about just buying the AUD part for Ninja and having a go at the test with just that the first time?

[Anonymous]

The Ninja audio is a condensed, know this stuff, cram. I'm convinced the only reason I passed REG was because I heard Jeff's voice in my head telling me a particular rule. Regardless of which one you choose, I'd recommend you buy material for one test at a time. I got stuck with a stack of review course material that is literally 5 feet high. Not to mention I wasted a ton of money because outdated review course material is a sure fire way to see a 74.

[stag]

If your employer pays for review course, I'll recommend have them pay for Becker, and you buy Jeff's Ninja 10 point combo to supplement it.

FAR - Aug 2013 Passed
REG - DEC 2013 Passed
BEC - FEB 2014 Passed
AUD - MAY 2014 Passed

BSEE = who needs accounting degree to pass CPA exams?

[RIST]

Becker is the man. I'm still waiting on my last score but every score I got was obtained quickly and it was high. Most people use Becker for a reason. Most firms have arrangements with Becker for a reason.

Becker is the best.

It isn't the best for EVERY student, but it is the best for most. I hear supplementing it with ninja just makes you a godlike CPA killing beast as well.

[user13]

Yea with my employer Becker will be 2400 or so but that is still a large sum. Roger would be 1400.

[RIST]

Ah, sorry man. I loved Becker.

I previewed Roger and found him OK, though. Met the guy too. He is an incredible marketer and his assistants are almost as explosive as he is XD

I hear a bunch of people win with Roger + Ninja.

[Monkey Wrench]

“Becker is the man. I'm still waiting on my last score but every score I got was obtained quickly and it was high. Most people use Becker for a reason. Most firms have arrangements with Becker for a reason.

Becker is the best.”

Becker is the apple products of the CPA industry. does it work? yes. is it overpriced? yes. Do other things have more functionality? yes. I know more people that have had becker and failed and switched and passed than vice versa I think.

I am not saying it is a bad product, let me be clear. I am just saying 3000 is a lot to pay for when you don't know if it will be right for you. I personally went with CPA excel. it NEVER expires, although I know you don't plan on failing—life can happen though. If I recall, CPAexcel has more mcq's more sims, well more everything. and costs basically half as much.

[Monkey Wrench]

I'll agree with what RIST said about, and I'll add. Just about anything you get, if you put the effort in you can pass. And if you add some ninja product to whatever you get you help your chances even more 🙂

[RIST]

I think that Becker works and is the best. I did a comprehensive comparison of 3 systems (I have full products of Becker and two of its top competitors though arrangements with the three providers). Of course it isn't the best for everyone, but I think it is the best for most people.

Is it TWICE as good as its competition, though? Probably not ^-^ But I think the Apple comparison is bad. The Iphone is objectively inferior in every way to its android competitors. A galaxy S2 is nearly as Buff as the Iphone 5 for 1 seventh of the cost lol.

Becker is better, just not twice the cost better.

Also keep in mind that more MCQs isn't always good. We have lives and we want the review provider to focus us. For example, CPA Excel's FAR is a terrifying creature. The FAR section has TWO BOOKS each the size of Becker's!!!!!!! So you pay more for Becker but you study a lot less to pass FAR.

[Monkey Wrench]

believe me i know, I just started far with CPAexcel 🙁 lol

CPAexcel got me with the 1/2 price (basically) and never expires.

[Ganbatte]

@user13: Just throwing it out there in case you would like to look into it, another alternative is Yaeger CPA Review. I am using it to study for FAR (it's my first section) and I like it. Their lectures are more “old school” and they do problems during the lecture on the board. Yaeger focuses on teaching the material to you so you understand it instead of using mnemonics and stuff. They're also about half the price of Becker I believe.

7/14 FAR ☑
8/14 AUD ☑
10/14 REG ☑
1/15 BEC

[John Tucker]

CPA Excel is the best review course. Great price and it's yours with free updates until you pass the exam. So if it takes 10 years until 2024 to pass the exam you only paid that one price.

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

[Author]

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