[jdew]

So glad I found this site – I graduated from college 16 years ago and sat twice for the CPA exam – back when it was a 2 day traumatic event. This summer I decided it was time to grow up and finish what I started. I signed up for Bisk review and am overall pleased, but I am feeling so stupid. Reading this book is like Greek!! It seems like I keep going backward instead of forward and am wondering if anyone has any advice. I am so stressed out about this FAR in Feb – Christmas is coming up, year end for clients, etc. ARGGHHH!

[Anonymous]

There are many people on this site who are not straight out of college – passing the CPA exam later on is definitely possible! I admire you for going back to finish this. Not many people have the courage to do that.

FAR is definitely quite difficult. I can't offer you advice on Bisk, but in my studies so far I have used Becker, Wiley (book and online test bank), NINJA notes and Roger Cram. Everyone has his/her own reviw material s/he likes more than others, but it's not easy or simple for anyone, no matter what review material used (at least, as far as I've heard so far).

Perhaps someone else here who has taken Bisk can give you advice on that, but if you ever want to supplement your studies with another type of review, there are many great (and not necessarily expensive) ones out there! I liked the material I used and have so far passed 3 (waiting on the 4th) exam.

I took FAR last April and although I work in a small accounting firm and did not have to put in really crazy hours, it was a pretty stressful time studying during that tax season. Of course the amount of time spent studying makes a difference, but what's important is the quality of the studying. Some people only spend a couple of weeks studying but really devote themselves to the material then. Other people spread their studying over a couple of months. Although FAR is hard, it is passable!!!

This is a fantastic site and there's loads of information and motivation available. Good luck studying and I hope you find the material making more sense really soon!!

[rgibson3rd]

Keep at it. You may want to purchase the Ninja notes on this site. These provide a great framework for what you need to know. Do as many mcq questions as you can and use as a learning tool. Try to study 2-3 hours a day every day. I graduated in 1996 and sat a few times. I started back at it last November and have passed 3 sections. Definitely commit to doing it and stick to your plan. I hate accounting and studying but I'm almost there. You can do this.

BEC (11/10) 77 (Bisk)
FAR 7/2 - 63 11/5 - 80 (Yeager - Fail, Becker - Pass)
Reg (08/11) - 78 (Yeager)
Aud - 11/29 - 78(Yeager)

[katiekanton]

@jdew

I am using Bisk and love it. I have plenty of tips for you. If you want to, email me (see my profile) and I can give you pointers and ask questions that may help you decide what to do. I'd also like to see if you're having a problem with the software that I'm having. I suspect it's my computer.

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean. I felt so lost and terribly stupid when I started with FAR last year around the same time. Quality studying is all it takes!

I was in a worse shape than you. My background is in Economics and I have only the minimum accounting credits.

Then my English is as good as it can get for the four years I've been practicing it, but still not good enough.

Just give yourself time with FAR. I went through everything 3 times and took notes. And I passed the first time I took it.

If I can do it, you can do it too 🙂

[Anonymous]

jdew – we are in very similar situations. I have been out of school for 10 years and also sat twice for the paper and pencil exam. I just wasn't motivated to become a CPA then and never even really studied for the exam. But like you, I decided to finish what I started. This has been hanging over my head for a while now and finally I said I would start the process. I took my first exam, FAR, this past Monday. I had been studying since July for it b/c I knew it was a lot of material to absorb and plus I have a family – 2 kids and a husband – aka 3 kids 🙂 so knew I wouldn't be able to study every day. Plus I am more of a tax person, so I figured if I can pass FAR and AUD, I should be good to go with BEC and REG. I am not familiar with Bisk, so I am not saying that it's not a good course. But I used Yaeger and really, really liked it. I thought it prepared me well for what I saw on Monday. Yaeger is a true teaching course, and with being out of school for so long, I needed a lot of hand holding along the way. It also took a while for some topics to click. I had to rewatch quite a few lectures.

Good luck with your studying!

[jdew]

Thanks all for the kind words of encouragement. I know I will get through it eventually. Kick myself frequently for not getting it done while I was single and free with loads of time – now the kids & hubby scream (not really the hubby 🙂 ), dinner to make, clothes to wash, house to clean, job demands – really nice to vent!!

Jennifer

[yankeeaccountant]

@jdew

I never sat for the pencil and paper exam, but I have been out of college for 26 years!!!! Yikes, putting that number down is pretty scary. It took me awhile to discover the nuances of the different review software. I started with Becker because it was the software that my firm used. I have finished BEC and FAR, but it took me a few times to pass. I finally realized that even though I had to take classes to bring me up to the 150 before I sat for the exam, a review software wasn't enough. I need more of a teaching software. I used Becker for BEC, but everything else I have had to supplement. I used Yaeger and Becker for FAR. Cindy is great with FAR . Her notes are really a great tool. I used the Roger cram for Audit. I would say that Roger is more of a teaching program. I also used Becker and Roger Cram for REG.

I don't know about Bisk, but if you like it and it is working, then stick with it. It looks like you have had some really good info from other members here–that is what is so great about this forum. Keep tapping it for info–it has been invaluable for me.

Welcome to the craziness ……and best of luck to you!

[Author]

Replies