[75 CPA]

I passed all four exams within the 18th month window. I am now working for a CPA firm.

This is my experience: I bought the entire Becker program in their live mode five years ago. I had also recorded Becker’s lectures for FAR. Additionally, I had the full current Gleim program. I was unaware that other review programs existed until I found Jeff’s forum. I called Dr. Yaeger a month before my FAR exam, and I realized that I would fail FAR, based upon studying out-of-date materials, etc.

Additionally, I was really frustrated with Becker and Gleim. I had wasted a year of my life studying FAR with Gleim and an old version of Becker. I failed FAR with a 68.

I was impressed with Dr. Yaeger’s helpful attitude when I called him a month before my FAR exam. I bought his FAR review 30 days before my FAR exam. However, it was the proverbial too little and too late. I rushed through Yaeger’s program for FAR in 30 days. I was learning something new every hour! That was not a good sign.

I retook FAR using Yaeger as my #1 program on my second attempt, and I passed.

Becker is the way to go IF all you need is a high speed, low drag REVIEW course. Becker is the way to go IF you have a good college background, especially IF you have a MS in accounting. Additionally, IF you passed all four parts of the CPA exam, you will have no issue will Becker. Becker is the way to go IF you have a good college background, especially IF you have a MS in accounting.

I use to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a business. That was how I made the big bucks in my former career. IF you passed all four parts of the CPA exam, you will no issue will Becker. You will also not understand the weaknesses that I bring up about Becker.

I needed a TEACHING course, like Yaeger, before I could hope to understand a fast paced REVIEW course like Becker. I used Becker as my supplementary course for all four parts of the CPA exam. However, a REVIEW course like Becker could never replace a TEACHING course like Yaeger. You cannot replace a good teacher. That may be difficult for some of you to understand, but that is my experience.

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[whitesoxfancpa]

Even though Becker is not a teaching course, I don't fault them one bit because they never claimed to be a teaching course. In fact, they specifically call themself a “review” course.

Becker is great if you have a pretty good foundation or catch onto things quickly.

If you struggled with accounting in school and/or it's been ten years since you had a college accounting class, it may not be the best route. But for me, it was perfect. I'm 3.5 years out of college and got A's in all my accounting and business classes. The things I knew already, Becker reinforced. The things I did not know, I caught on quickly.

AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88

[Manderz]

Ah, I really wish I would have known this before I spent $3700 on Becker review materials…. I am struggling with Becker & I really could have used a more teaching-intensive course structure as opposed to a review. It's frustrating because I did research before and Becker seemed to be the most widely recommended, I barely even heard of Yaeger and now I wish I had because it sounds more like my learning style. I am NOT good at fast pace review!! Too bad I really can't afford to switch :/

[Manderz]

Thank you… that does make me feel better! I think a lot (most) of this stress is just pure anxiety of taking such an important test. Hopefully Becker will get it done for me!

Now back to memorization…

[PSU06]

Becker is too expensive(unless your firm pays for it!) I began studying for the exam in early June this summer and used Gleim. I found Gleim to be very tedious and difficult to follow for FAR. I ordered Yaeger and began their review course exactly one week before my FAR exam. I crammed about 70 hours of watching the Yaeger DVDs and completing the minimum required homework questions into that one week. Somehow, it was enough and I passed FAR. I can tell you without a doubt that Yaeger is a great review course. Gleim is good if you have plenty of time to teach yourself all the material, but Yaeger does a good job pointing out what you need to focus on and know well. If you are in a time crunch, Yaeger is the review course to use. I cannot speak for Becker's material, except to say that it cost 3 times Yaeger's course which I find rather ridiculous.

FAR - 7/7/10 - 94
BEC - 7/24/10 - 77
AUD - 8/17/10 - 97
REG - 8/31/10 - 80

[75 CPA]

whitesoxfancpa

I had a 4.0 GPA in both undergraduate and graduate school. I do not fault Becker either. They are what they are, a high speed review course. However, I had to teach myself most of the material for the CPA exams. Becker, a REVIEW course, made a lot more sense AFTER I took TEACHING courses like Yaeger for FAR, REG, BEC and Lambers for AUD (http://www.Lambers.com). That is why I listed Becker as my #2 course for FAR, REG and AUD. Sorry, but Becker's course for BEC did not make it. Cindy Simpson with Yaeger was far superior for BEC, and a lot less expensive than Becker.

[whitesoxfancpa]

75CPA,

Perhaps you were out of school for a long time before sitting for the exam and that's why you preferred a teaching course. I think a teaching course would have bored me because I had recent exposure to most of it. Becker was perfect for me. It didn't go into great detail on every topic, but by working the questions, I was able to learn or remember what I needed to. A teaching course with super long lectures would have been too boring and time-consuming for me.

Each candidate needs to find his or her own proper review course. I did not have the desire to spend the time it would take to go through a course like Yaeger. Becker suited me well. But each candidate is different.

AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88

[jeff]

A lot of people on here love Becker and a lot of people on here love Yaeger. They are two completely different courses.

Everyone can love their course, pass, and be friends.

-Jeff

[Anonymous]

I think the consistent thought follows exactly what you've said. Becker is a fast-paced review course and Yaeger is a teaching course. Both are great and each person should get the style they need.

How Becker ever managed to cram into 4 hours what they do still amazes me.

[HazeEastwood]

I agree with whitesoxfancpa, its all about what fits you. When I was fresh out of college, I would have probably preferred becker. I haven't had an accounting course since 2003. So Yaeger was more suited for me because it explained why about a lot of concepts I've long forgotten. But I think Becker is good, too many people use it for it not to be

FAR-81
BEC-84
AUD-91
REG-89

[Manderz]

I just wish I would have known about Yaeger before I bought the Becker stuff… I'm sure Becker is great & works for a lot of people, but I need a teaching structure or I get lost! Too late now though, can not afford to switch :/

[FARbehind]

Manderz,

I don't know which part you are doing now but Becker is excellent for sections requiring memorization. A problem can arise only for FAR or BEC where you need more deep understanding before you memorize. This is true especially for FAR. So don't regret, you made a good investment.

If you have time and if you are studying for FAR and if you have trouble understanding, you can order yeager home study. It's about $350 (yeager will give you discount if you had bought becker before). Or you can buy the cram for even less. But if you don't have time forget about it. I am becoming more and more convinced that if you know and understand everything in Becker's book you will pass. There is nothing missing… Good luck!

aud,bec,reg-passed
far-->75 Done!!!!!
ethics-100

[75 CPA]

whitesoxfancpa

I graduated in accounting in 2005, and I went back to school to audit the accounting classes. The CPA exams just cover so much more material than college ever did. I had to teach myself most of the material for the CPA exams. Contrary to my expectations, my college courses were very little help in my exam preparation.

I used Becker for all four exams, and I used Yaeger for FAR, REG and BEC. Additionally, I used Lambers for AUD. With the exception of BEC, I thought that Becker was a nice review course.

If I had to do it all over again, I would buy Becker for AUD, FAR and REG. I would also buy Yaeger for FAR, REG and BEC. Additionally, I would buy Lambers for AUD. Becker was a nice course to have, but a teaching course like Yaeger was more important to me than Becker. I am a “show and tell” guy. Underlining and highlighting a book with Becker just does not do it for me.

[Author]

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