[Sportiegrl13]

I received a phone called today about Lambers CPA review course…I have never heard of them until today…but now I am interested and torn on which course to use. Does anyone have an opinion on which they liked and didn’t like? I need more of a guided study, rather than a self study. I can’t do the read and do questions approach. I have been doing that with Wiley and it has FAILED me 3 times now…I need to change. The price difference is pretty huge and how Lambers is able to upgrade your software, year in and year out would be a huge benefit too [just in case I wasn’t successful]. With Becker, I loose access to the software after a year, and would have to pay again to gain access again.

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"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy." - Norman Vincent Peale

Starting the CPA journey, again after taking a couple year hiatus!
AUD - 68, retake 7/23/13!
FAR - Early October
REG -
BEC -

[Zizoty]

If you need a teaching style review, YAEGER is a must. I think majority of people here are either BECKER or YAEGER and small number of GLEIM and cpaexcel. GL

AUD - 83 Feb11
REG - 75 May11
BEC - 73 July11 84 Oct11
FAR - 63 Aug11 76 Feb12 I'M DONE!!!!!

[T-rex]

I'm not sure you'll be able to avoid the “read and do questions approach” with any of the programs.

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[Sportiegrl13]

But it looks like it is a lot of the Wiley material wrapped into it?

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy." - Norman Vincent Peale

Starting the CPA journey, again after taking a couple year hiatus!
AUD - 68, retake 7/23/13!
FAR - Early October
REG -
BEC -

[Sportiegrl13]

I don't mind reading and doing questions…but I would like more lectures [not the professor reading from a book…more interactive style]. It is the having to teach myself EVERYTHING approach that is killing me.

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy." - Norman Vincent Peale

Starting the CPA journey, again after taking a couple year hiatus!
AUD - 68, retake 7/23/13!
FAR - Early October
REG -
BEC -

[T-rex]

I see what you mean. Becker definitely takes the teach-yourself-everything-approach, so I wouldn't recommend it for you. I don't love that approach myself, but it's too late for me to switch.

I've read good things on this board about Yeager being good at breaking down the material in the lectures.

You can probably get a free demo of Yaeger from the Yaegar website.

Good luck to you!

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[IwannaBaCPA]

I got the same call from the Lambers rep. I am on my last section, so they reached me a little late in the game…I think Becker is a little over-hyped, BUT I have passed without fail so far using Becker, NINJA and cpareviewforfree. I just don't think now is the time to change my strategy…

Becker is the definition of a “review” course though. I don't think they are great for someone who wants/needs to be “taught” the material. Becker is about practicing the concepts in order to learn them…

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[jrncpa2b]

@Sportiegrl13 — I am currently using the Lambers program and have noticed it's not that popular on here. I went with it because the instructors in the program were my instructors for my undergrad accounting classes. I will tell you that there are parts that are very annoying due to the style of one instructor in particular. However, I haven't taken AUD yet but I have heard that Lambers AUD is great. The instructor is fabulous and is a great teacher ( I know for a fact 🙂 ) I think for the most part, the material is “taught” rather than just read straight from the book. However, I have seen a couple of parts that were straight from the book but there probably isn't any other way to teach that material to be honest. It also has a money back guarantee that helped me make the decision to go with Lambers as well. I'll be glad to answer any more questions that you may have…..

BEC - 69
AUD - NOT SCHEDULED
FAR - NOT SCHEDULED
REG - NOT SCHEDULED

[Sportiegrl13]

@jrncpa2b: I guess my only concern is that the textbooks are extra other than coming on PDF…what do you follow along with while watching the DVD's? I like to be able to read along, per se/take notes/etc. The lady that I got a call from today said that she would recommend not buying the books extra and just use the PDF version, since she was drilling in me me that I wont actually have to read the book front the back [which sounds amazing, because I have read the Wiley books front to back twice…for 2 exams already and I honestly feel like I don't have a life with all the studying I do and I feel like I get NO WHERE with it!!!!]. I just am wondering if I should purchase the books as well, rather than following along on the computer, so I can take notes? How and what do you do during the lectures?

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy." - Norman Vincent Peale

Starting the CPA journey, again after taking a couple year hiatus!
AUD - 68, retake 7/23/13!
FAR - Early October
REG -
BEC -

[jrncpa2b]

I am using the PDF version for the books. I just printed them all out and put them in a three ring binder along with the NINJA notes I purchased. I use the PDF notes while watching the lectures to take additional notes and then I re-write everything a chapter at a time. This helps me to re-write in a way that makes sense to me as well as use examples that were given during the lectures. I honestly feel like I am retaining stuff too because the most random things now bring back parts I've written. It drives my fiance nuts when I start blurting out the material at something I just heard on tv or somewhere! So, then after I watch all the lectures I will start doing the MCQ's that come on a CD. I also plan on supplementing these with Wiley test bank. Hopefully this method works but I won't know until I take my first section (BEC) on Aug 30th!

BEC - 69
AUD - NOT SCHEDULED
FAR - NOT SCHEDULED
REG - NOT SCHEDULED

[Sportiegrl13]

What are the NINJA notes that you have mentioned?

There are so many new programs that I have just heard about today from posting this question…I knew about Bisk, Becker, Wiley, CPAexcel…but there is so many other options out there. I guess I am just hesitant to try others.

I may have to give Lambers a try. I really like how it is cheaper than Becker, but also how their guarantee isn't based on how you did on your “homework” but your tests…and their software doesn't expire. If I wasn't to pass using the Becker software…after a year, I wouldn't be able to have access to the software anymore, which kind of frustrates me but I guess that is motivation in itself to get you to pass…but there is always life circumstances that come up between now and then too.

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy." - Norman Vincent Peale

Starting the CPA journey, again after taking a couple year hiatus!
AUD - 68, retake 7/23/13!
FAR - Early October
REG -
BEC -

[PASSED]

I only used Lambers for AUD. The instructor, Garland, was very, very good. Garland covered material that was not in Becker.

I spent a total of $15,000 for the CPA exams. I used many CPA review courses. These courses were the best for each exam:

FAR #1 Yaeger, #2 Becker

REG #1 Yaeger, #2 Bisk Hot Spots on taxes by Bob Monette

BEC #1 Yaeger (Cindy Simpson)

AUD #1 Becker, #2 Lambers (Garland)

Every exam is difficult in its own right.

FAR: The amount of material is too much! I failed on the first try with Becker, but Yaeger came to my rescue and I passed on the second try. I studied FAR for 5 months on my second try. However, I completed both Yaeger and Becker for my second try.

REG: REG will kill you on corporate and estate taxes with complicated tax problems. I only studied taxes with Yaeger and Bisk Hot Spots, and I passed! I only spent a few days with Becker on commercial law. I found Becker inadequate for taxes.

BEC: BEC will kill you with so many subjects and complicated problems. Cindy Simpson with Yaeger was awesome. I passed on the first try. Becker was terrible for BEC.

AUD: AUD was so easy to study. It was 100% memorization. However, AUD was very, very tricky and difficult to pass. Becker did the best job with all of their memorization tools. Becker is very good for memorization! Additionally, if you like teachers, you just have to listen to Garland with Lambers!

[jrncpa2b]

The fact that the Lambers software doesn't expire is wonderful. Hopefully, we won't have to worry about having to get updates though. 🙂 The NINJA notes are for sale through this site. They are pretty much a condensed version of Lambers notes but easy to follow. Check out all the resources on this site. There is a ton of useful info!

BEC - 69
AUD - NOT SCHEDULED
FAR - NOT SCHEDULED
REG - NOT SCHEDULED

[Sportiegrl13]

I will have to look into the NINJA flashcards and maybe skip out on purchasing the Lamber ones. Or did you get both? There are so many choices! : )

How many hours a day do you typically study using Lambers?

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy." - Norman Vincent Peale

Starting the CPA journey, again after taking a couple year hiatus!
AUD - 68, retake 7/23/13!
FAR - Early October
REG -
BEC -

[jrncpa2b]

I didn't get the flashcards from Lambers. I am hoping the method I'm using is going to work but only time will tell! I study most days around 2 or 3 hours. Luckily, my job is really slow right now as I work in public accounting. This is going to get hectic soon though with audit season gearing up. And I certainly have my days where I get nothing done….yesterday was one of them. I've read on here from others that when they are doing something besides studying that they can't enjoy it because they feel guilty and I can certainly relate to that. I hope I can pull off a productive weekend! I have too much going on….work, grad school, 2 kids, and CPA. I'm either going to end up in a really great place at the end of this or in a padded room. 🙂

BEC - 69
AUD - NOT SCHEDULED
FAR - NOT SCHEDULED
REG - NOT SCHEDULED

[PASSED]

Kaplan has the best flashcards for BEC and Kaplan also has audio to go with the flashcards. I have not seen Jeff's NINJA notes, but I am willing to bet that those notes are great.

[Author]

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