[Anonymous]

First-Time Applicant for the exam who just graduated college and looking for some advice from people who have been in my shoes…

I’m starting work at a national non big 4 firm in october and would love to get as much of the exam done during my last few free months.

Originally I had hoped to take 3 parts of the exam before work starts, but a friend of mine recently told me that it was unlikely that I would be approved for an exam during the summer session. I already applied and sent over my transcript so there isn’t much more I can do in that regard.

In terms of studying…

If that does happen to be the truth in this case would I be crazy to try and do three Becker live courses over the summer so I could take those exams in that first window? (Audit in June, REG in July-August, and FAR August-September)

For my area they only offer Audit or BEC in June so that’s why I figured I would take audit since i’m going to be an auditor and crushed the class this past semester so why not take it when it’s freshest.

I really have no idea how difficult to expect these exams to be, I was an A- student in college. I don’t want to over or underestimate the exams and wind up signing up for three live courses when I should just have done two and gotten two self study packages.

The classes are only once/twice a week so it would essentially be like going to summer school but teaching straight to the test I need to pass.

I did not like Tax and FAR is the one people tell me to take first. It seems like if anything I should forget my pipe dream of squeezing auditing in there and just study for the two tough ones with all the free time I have right now.

Take 2 or 3? Which ones? How long should it take for me to be able to sit for the first exam?

Any other advice/insight are greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

-Overwhelmed Graduate

[acamp]

Right now I am working with one of our prior summer interns who is starting full time in the fall and trying to figure out the same thing. Much of it will ride on when you're approved.

As June is the off month (maybe your area is different?), we're hoping he gets his paperwork settled by July with the hopes of sitting for three exams, at the beg. of July, end of July and end of August. He started Becker for his first exam now, so he'll be all ready to go beginning of July IF he's approved on time.

Being fresh out of school with a great GPA, I'd imagine that you'll do fine. Just need to do some review to catch any holes in your knowledge. As far as which exam, form your own plan. First, everyone has different strengths, so which exam will be “easiest” depends on the person. Next, choosing to do the easiest first to get an early Win or going for the hardest first to get it out of the way is something you'll need to figure out–really you can't go wrong if you're able to knock out any two of them, you'll be miles ahead of your peers. Also, since you don't start till October, maybe you can squeeze one in before you start?

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Anonymous]

I'm confused. Where are you at that would allow you to take ANY exam in June? June is a black out month unless the AICPA extends the window for a natural disaster.

[jelly]

I'm going to get yelled at for this, but hey, Becker prep classes are expensive.

If you can this week, go to a live Becker class for 20-30 minutes to see what it's like. If they're packed like sardines in a hotel or university like most of them are in NYC, then you'll just be like 1 of 400 people going to class. If anybody asks, you can just say you want to see what it's like before you buy (usually not a big deal).

And if you want a sample of exam questions, just google and try out whatever's offered online.

A warning that audit can be a little abstract until you actually start auditing, b/c there's a lot of terminology that seems vague until you actually start handling it, i.e. permanent files, vouching/tracing b/n different accounts, kiting vs lapping, etc.

Couldn't pass again!

[Author]

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