[hoopsfan1985]

Hi guys, I have been out of college for some time now (about 7 years). Registering for FAR and purchasing my study materials. My plan is to take FAR first. I haven’t passed any parts yet and my goal is to pass within next 18 months.

I have been working in tax (personal and trusts) ever since graduating and feel SUPER rusty with the material in FAR. My daily work is in 1040’s, trust and planning so I really do not engage in any “accounting” type of work since graduating. I do not remember much from the accounting courses in college, does anyone reccommend taking a brush up course in basic accounting or going through old intermiedate/advanced accounting text books from college days before sitting for FAR?

Will the material in FAR be too advanced or overwhelming going in cold? Am I just worrying too much LOL. I know the available study materials out there are great and should be sufficient but i was just curious if anyone felt this way. Thanks!

I just don’t want to waste any more time!

Any suggestions greatly appreciated thanks!

[Anonymous]

hoopsfan1985 – You are making the smart move of doing FAR first in my opinion.

Yes it will look overwhelming but if you follow your review courses study plan you should be able to pick up a lot in good time.

I would say – listen to the lectures on that chapter – do practice Mcq's – hand write notes on what you learnt.

Pay attention to ensuring you learn the journals and the reasons or concepts on why we are debiting X and instead of Y.

Keeping building your knowledge as you go chapter by chapter and keep doing lots of MCq's – can't stress enough that is the key to passing CPA exams /Practice/Practice/Practice.

The material provided by your review course will be enough to give you the knowledge but the hard work is on you to study and practice.

Lastly – don't plan on having a social life until after your exams are done. Your Dedication to use every single spare moment you have to studying will be your number 1 priority.

PS there are people that are taking the CPA exams after being out of college after 11 yrs or more. So if they can do it . So can you!! It just is a uphill battle and you have to want it really bad to come out a winner!

[Anonymous]

I would go through the study materials and see what seems familiar and what does not. I highly recommend the NINJA products as well. The videos, audios, and flashcards were godsends for me!

[HeartsMimiCPA]

When I started studying for far I found my intermediate and advanced accounting books for reference. Found that I never needed them. It's like riding a bike, it comes back to you.

AUD - 65, 89!
REG - 70, 89!
FAR - 78!
BEC - 77!

Finally!
Experience 06/30/15
Ethics-Done

VA Licensed 09/15/15

[jsblamer]

I would strongly recommend you get yourself a review course ( I personally use Rogers, but there are many) and get the information fresh in your head – If you try to brush up on this exam with material 7 years old you are going to be screwed. Many changes have happened in the accounting world in the last 7 years and the examiners love to throw in old answers that would have been correct years ago. You are definitely going to want to familiarize yourself with IFRS, this was not even on the exam until 2011 and there is significant material in this area on the exam.

B -
A - passed
R - passed
F - passed

[Anonymous]

My former co-worker, who just started her CPA journey this Q2 (out of college since 2009) said she wished she took down notes as she went through the FAR materials. She was overwhelmed during the last days of her final review. She scored low in 50's. On her next attempt now after receiving her score, she is writing important notes big time.

We have to write down (type or handwrite) all the things we learn so that during the final review, we don't have to keep digging our encyclopedic book.

Good luck to all of us!

[Author]

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