[lwhite76]

I am a full time Accounting Manager and I have a 3 year old child. I graduated SFSU in 2001 and have not taken any formal education since. I have always had the desire to go for my CPA and this year (2009) I jumped in and said I am doing it! I signed up for the Becker review course started a rigorus program with REG and took the exame before Thanksgiving and failed at 53%. I want to jump back on board and start over but I don’t have 5 hours a day to prepare and I have missed the Becker Promise. Any full time working moms out there in my shoes who passed? Can anyone help me set up a new plan to study that will help me stay on track? How about local study/support groups in the San Diego area?

[lwhite76]

Do I have enough time to start over and prep for reg to take at the end of Feb? 7 weeks if I can get a seat that last week? Should I try another topic? I don't know where to begin….again!!!!

[Anonymous]

lwhite76,

In your post, you do not state how many hours you study or how many weeks of study. It is very important to create a realistic study plan and track your hours. I am also using Becker and currently studying REG. Becker recommends a around 100 hours of study time, some candidates can do less and other need more. I would definitely stay with REG and start the Becker program from the beginning. Do you have the CD to go with the review program? If so, I would start by rewatching the lectures and redoing the multiple choice questions. Some candidates would prefer to read the book over watching the lectures, this is a personal preference on your learning style. Be sure to read all the answers on the mutiple choice questions to include the incorrect choices to ensure you learn the concepts the question it is trying to teach you. It is important to learn concepts because it can be easy to memorize practice questions. Many individuals recommend taking your own notes, though I know Becker has prepared notes in their passmaster software. The writing of the material helps ingrain the material. You should continue to do progress test as you go through the material. If you are not getting 80+% on the progress test, you really need to go back to the material.

After going through the Becker course again, you can concentrate on your weaker areas based on your diagnostic report. You do not mention anything about how the exam went. Where you short on time or did you know your written communication topics? Time management during the exam especially REG needs to be considered. Also, did you take the Becker practice Final Exams. I find them helpful in gauging my level of knowledge and also helps prepare me mentally on the time factor. I have also found Becker final exams much more difficult than the real thing, but that is just my experience.

As far as do you have time to take REG in 7 weeks. I would say yes, but that is only if you can dedicate 15-20 hours of studying per week. Less than 15 might not be enough. I took my Becker review course in Nov-Dec and scheduled for Feb 2. Planning on doing 120 hours. If I don't reach the hours, I will do an honest evaluation of my confidence level at least 1 week before exam date and if I feel I cannot be ready, I will spend the $35 and reschedule. I feel it better than paying the re-exam fee for failing.

Sorry for the length of this post, I am sure you will get plenty of suggestions and feedback from this forum. Nobody understands what a CPA candidate is going through unless you have been there. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need to. Someone will always answer on this forum. Good Luck, we are all here to help, support and to become CPAs.

[Anonymous]

lwhite76 – I am a full time working mom of a freshman in college, a 4 y/o, 3 y/o and expecting baby number 4. I have 3 parts passed on the first try and preparing for REG in February. My study schedule has for the most part gone like this with some variations as needed. Using Becker self study, I would watch lecture Sunday and Monday, then a few hours during the week review the chapter and start MC. With all MC & Sims being completed in a 3-5 hour study session Saturday mornings. So I would give one week for each lecture. Then I would go back for 2-3 weeks (2 for Audit & BEC, 3 for FAR and REG) and review the text and all MC's & Sims. A full week before my exam I would schedule a practice exam SAT, spend the next week working on areas I was weak, take final exam again. Then take actual exam. I would also hit the flashcards hard the last 3 weeks. I have been studing pretty much for a year now with a few months off in the summer for my daughters graduation party and vacation. This technique is a long drawn out process, but when you are a working mother your time is much more limited. Like I said, I rarely vary from this schedule unless I had too. I would hit real hard the last 3 weeks going straigt to the libary a few days a week after work, but the rest of the time I studied while my kids were getting ready for bed with the help of my hubby. The other thing I did during this time was hire cleaning help so I didn't have to be concerned with that. hope this helps you. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

As a full-time mom of two young boys and a full-time tax accountant and bookkeeper, I know it's hard. I agree with everything Lee and CPAinPA said.

I am the type of studier that needs a person to stand up in front of me and explain things first, so I tried the Becker review program and had to drive 2 hours to get there. It was not worth it to me, so I decided to crack down and do it myself on my schedule. In hindsight, I think Yaeger would have been a better fit for me because of my learning style.

Anyhow, my advice is to map out a study plan, giving yourself plenty of time to cover all the material. As you know, things come up and you will need some time allotted for those unexpected mommy issues. The hardest thing is to stick to the schedule, but it is important, otherwise, you start to feel like you are falling behind and get too overwhelmed, so be realistic with your plan. I would try to schedule a lecture a week. Watch it and do the homework questions as you go. Also I would do an intense review and redo all questions after I finished 3 lectures. I gave myself a week for each 3 lecture review. That helped reinforce what I had learned. Take it piecemeal.

Do you have someone to help with your kids? If so, take full advantage of it. Get a babysitter and go somewhere quiet. My husband cringes everytime I mention the word “study”, but one day he'll thank me.

If you can get, or make, flashcards, do so. I am the weird mom at all the birthday parties and doctors' offices with my colored flashcards.

You can find lots of support on here and know you are not alone in your struggles. Stay in touch 😉

[lwhite76]

Lee_IN = Thank you for taking the time to write a lengthy message. Means a lot that you took the time. The preperation for the first test I have to admit was half hearted. Like I said I was getting back into the swing of things with school and the learning process. I had a good patern going for REG review until I hit chapter 5 and I think I gave up there. I struggled with it and that's when I slacked off. I put the books down then guilt started in and I jumped back in struggling but trying to just get through it istead of putting effort into learning the material. I am not surprised at all I failed. I spent 3 weeks before I took the exam trying to refresh and cram I did the Final Exam with Becker and scored about 60% I knew then I was not ready for the exam but wanted to take the test for the experience. I went into the exam not so confident. I took to long on the MC and did not have enough time to for the simulations. When I did get to the simulations they were on topics I knew nothing about nothing looked familiar at all.

I can devote 20 hours a week and will plan at least 3 hours a day. I started last night with R1 listened to the lecture then after each section I went back and took notes. I found that I half listen to lectures and retain more when I reread and write key points. So I think as long as I stay on track this time and stay focused I will do better.

Thanks again your words helped motivate. Good luck to you as well!

CPA in PA = Thank you and I will stop my complaining! Three kids and one on the way I bet you wish you could be in my shoes instead. I tried the Flashcards but I don't retain the information at all! I spent an hour on flashcards and had maybe 4 or 5 cards down…and that was picking the easiest ones! I don't retain information well I have to be repetitive to really dig it in. I also panic at test time. I have never been a good student barely graduated college. Ok enough with the negative I just wanted to explain my history of education. Like I explained up and as you said if I stick to a schedule and stay on track I think I will have a much better chance. I don't want to take the test again so this time I am out to pass!

I will look for you in March to talk about our passing grades on REG!!! Thanks again.

[lwhite76]

Ok so a little pressure on myself I can do 3 hours a day, I will take my time and really work hard at understanding the information. Should I sign up now to take the test at the end of Feb or give it a couple weeks to see how I am doing?

I have the best support system! My Husband also cringes when I talk about the test but he is a big help I also have two sets of grandparents in the area and a young neighbor girl who loves to come over and watch my son. My company is also very supportive and wants to see me pass!

Ok so all the stars are lined up watch me go!!!

[Anonymous]

lwhite76-

Glad to see you are going to give it your full effort! I really think you have to with these exams. I have 3 kids and it is hard when they need you or want you or you just plain feel guilty. But I try to remember that I'd rather invest the study time now and get it over with than to spread it out longer than I have to.

I think you should go ahead and get your exam scheduled. That's what I did, (scheduled for 2/26/10) so it will motivate me to keep on track with my study plan. I'm finishing up Ch.2 (Becker) tonight. If you stick with your plan you should be prepared and ready to pass REG at the end of this window!!

I also think taking notes helps. When I initially started studying for BEC, I didn't think I'd take notes (to save time), but once I started I realized that taking notes was a great help to remember the concepts.

As far as the flashcards go, I keep them in my purse and when I find myself waiting (like at hockey practice or dance class) I can pull them out and get a little studying in. It's suprising how much this has helped me.

Glad to hear you have a good family support system. They will help you get through this. And so will this forum, there are so many knowledgable, supportive people on here!

[Anonymous]

lwhite76 – Glad to hear you are going to give it another shot. Be sure to track your time and plan accordingly. As far as scheduling your next exam. The last week within a test window usually feels up pretty quick unless that is not a problem in your area. I would go ahead and get your NTS and see what is available. You can cancel an exam up to 30 days in advance without a rescheduling fee. If you schedule for 27 Feb then if you cancel by 27 Jan without paying rescheduling/cancelation fees. If you put in the quality study time you can do this regardless of how long you been out of school. Just remember Becker covers what they think will be on the exam. By the way, I know many individuals say, “I feel like if I can do this anyone can do this.” But, I really believe that, just a note, I work full time, been out of school awhile and have six children. So, hang in there because you can do it.

[Author]

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