[thechapman]

Hello everyone. I will be graduating with my masters in accounting early May 2014, and wanted to grab some advice from you guys as to what my strategy should be for the exam due to some possibly very favorable circumstances. I will be starting my job sometime in September of 2014, and I would really like to get the exam out of the way before I start work. This effectively gives me 4 months in which to complete all four sections.

The three most important aspects of my situation are…

a) I will have just graduated (I’ve heard this is a plus)

b) My parents own the college house I live in, and I will be able to live there ALONE (read: uninterrupted) from May until I move sometime in September

c) I will not have a job or any other responsibilities whatsoever during that 4 month window

What do you all think would be my best plan of attack given that the exam will be my only commitment and I will be able to live alone? I’ve heard some say that the Becker FastPass can be good if you are straight out of college and can devote 100% of a chunk of time to studying, but I am unsure of whether that is the best plan. Any advice is much appreciated.

Passed - 2014

[jeff]

Why not just pick the review course of your liking and go pedal-to-the-medal at your house?

Why be confined to the class structure when you can just go nuts and rampage on videos/mcqs at your own convenience?

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[jeff]

Why not just pick the review course of your liking and go pedal-to-the-medal at your house?

Why be confined to the class structure when you can just go nuts and rampage on videos/mcqs at your own convenience?

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Meowmix77]

Disclaimer: I have not used the Becker Fast Pass.

With that being said, I certainly think it's possible for you to pass all 4 parts since you will be able to cram all day for a good 4 months. If you're strict on the 4 month window, you'll have May, July, August as testing months. You can easily knock out one at the end of May and shift 3 into the July/August window.

I have heard that FastPass hits all the important topics (as it tries to get you by with a 75) while the regular Becker Review is a complete review of all the material. A little off-topic, but make sure you eat properly and exercise regularly. Getting some exercise in every day is pretty important when you're cramming all day. Good luck!

Becker
AUD: 98 (4/13)
BEC: 84 (5/13)
FAR: 91 (7/13)
REG: 91 (8/13)

[Meowmix77]

Disclaimer: I have not used the Becker Fast Pass.

With that being said, I certainly think it's possible for you to pass all 4 parts since you will be able to cram all day for a good 4 months. If you're strict on the 4 month window, you'll have May, July, August as testing months. You can easily knock out one at the end of May and shift 3 into the July/August window.

I have heard that FastPass hits all the important topics (as it tries to get you by with a 75) while the regular Becker Review is a complete review of all the material. A little off-topic, but make sure you eat properly and exercise regularly. Getting some exercise in every day is pretty important when you're cramming all day. Good luck!

Becker
AUD: 98 (4/13)
BEC: 84 (5/13)
FAR: 91 (7/13)
REG: 91 (8/13)

[tough_kitty]

I'm not sure how effective this new Becker review is, but I LOVE Roger CPA Review! If you really think you can study 8 hrs a day EVERY day, then do it!

With Roger CPA review it took me about 150 hrs for FAR, 130 hrs for REG, 80 hrs for BEC and 80 hrs for AUD, so about 450 hrs total, which included about 100 hrs of Roger lectures, reading textbooks, taking notes (mostly in Excel), and practicing MCQs from Wiley Test Bank about 3-4 times for each topic.

Good Luck!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

I'm not sure how effective this new Becker review is, but I LOVE Roger CPA Review! If you really think you can study 8 hrs a day EVERY day, then do it!

With Roger CPA review it took me about 150 hrs for FAR, 130 hrs for REG, 80 hrs for BEC and 80 hrs for AUD, so about 450 hrs total, which included about 100 hrs of Roger lectures, reading textbooks, taking notes (mostly in Excel), and practicing MCQs from Wiley Test Bank about 3-4 times for each topic.

Good Luck!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[thechapman]

@Jeff – It seems like it might be easier to stay on track if I use their schedule. Do you all think this schedule sounds all right if I use Becker's self study instead of the FastPass? It seems slightly less compressed.

5/30/14 – BEC

7/3/14 – FAR

7/26/14 – AUD

8/29/14 – REG

??

Passed - 2014

[thechapman]

@Jeff – It seems like it might be easier to stay on track if I use their schedule. Do you all think this schedule sounds all right if I use Becker's self study instead of the FastPass? It seems slightly less compressed.

5/30/14 – BEC

7/3/14 – FAR

7/26/14 – AUD

8/29/14 – REG

??

Passed - 2014

[Whopper Warrior]

Becker Fast Pass gives you deadlines for something you normally wouldnt do. Also fast pass starts in may/june/july. so you do fast pass then you have to do all the sections over again because june is closed. that being said, I loved fast pass suplemented with A71, becuase without deadlines; I would not study.

ALL 4 parts passed summer 13
Ethics October 13
Experience (waiting)

Becker Only

[Whopper Warrior]

Becker Fast Pass gives you deadlines for something you normally wouldnt do. Also fast pass starts in may/june/july. so you do fast pass then you have to do all the sections over again because june is closed. that being said, I loved fast pass suplemented with A71, becuase without deadlines; I would not study.

ALL 4 parts passed summer 13
Ethics October 13
Experience (waiting)

Becker Only

[jeff]

So Whopper, time to give A71 some sig love? 🙂

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[jeff]

So Whopper, time to give A71 some sig love? 🙂

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Author]

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