[Anonymous]

Thought this might be a fun idea. Hope it’s not too much of a distraction since the testing window has closed anyway. Feel free to respond if you want to participate, you will get 5 extra points on exam day if you do!

1. Where is everyone from?

2. What University did you attend?

3. Why are you getting your CPA and what do you plan to accomplish in 5 years? 10 years?

4. What type of experience do you have so far?

5. What is your best advice for anybody planning on taking the CPA exam or entering the accounting profession?

[jeff]

99.3% of CPA candidates don't have blogs…I removed that part because it invites spammers/people who just want to advertise something and not really be part of the forum.

I'm a tyrant, I know. It comes from 8 years of running an anonymous internet forum.

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

[CPYay]

I'll play along.

1) I'm from Southern California.

2) Attended CSUF. Graduated at age 33.

3) Throughout my final year there, I had no intention of getting the CPA. I was working as a Staff Accountant (private) and wasn't sure I was going to continue the financial accounting route. I literally decided to do it a week before graduating. I don't want to go into public because of the salary cut and the hours, but I'm still on the fence because I think it would be great experience. Most likely, I won't. I do plan to be a Controller at some point.

4) As stated above, private experience, currently as a Senior Accountant for a reputable, globally known company. Hoping the name on my resume will help me given the non-public route mentioned above. Prior to that, I worked at a company where I started at entry-level and worked up to Staff Accountant while going to school.

5) Best advice: Be hungry to learn. Be interested in what you do… why you do it… and how to do it better. Accounting is very broad and it's impossible to know everything. But I'll be damned if I'm not learning something every day.

[Peasqueezy]

Hey everyone! I'm looking for anything to distract me from this final score release!

I'm from Tennessee. BS in accounting from Appalachian State University. MS in taxation expected in June from SNHU. Can't imagine anything I want more than being a cpa. My babies are counting on me 🙂

I've been doing some independent bookkeeping for a few years now. Mostly small businesses and startups. My five year plan is to have a small tax firm. My ten year plan is to make sure it's successful. Haha

My best advice is to be humble. Before the exam humbles you. Don't memorize answers but understand the reasons why. Be prepared to make sacrifices; and remember, no one likes a quitter.

Best of luck to all of you. What a long strange trip it's been…

[T Rev]

1. Where is everyone from? SE Kansas

2. What University did you attend? Pittsburg State

3. Why are you getting your CPA and what do you plan to accomplish in 5 years? 10 years? I had a professor that encouraged me to go for it. I took up more than my share of his office hours with questions, so I would like to show him it was worthwhile. Also, I would like to show my daughter that hard work pays off. 5 years- Controller or Senior Financial Analyst 10 years-Director

4. What type of experience do you have so far? 4 years of IT Project Management, 2 years inventory accounting, 2 years AP Management

5. What is your best advice for anybody planning on taking the CPA exam or entering the accounting profession? Have a plan for replenishing your motivation through all the sacrifices.

[D]

1. Where is everyone from?
Texas! (yee-haw)

2. What University did you attend?
New Mexico State University

3. Why are you getting your CPA and what do you plan to accomplish in 5 years? 10 years?
I've wanted it since freshman year when a professor talked about how prestigious it was. // 5 yr – Manager or Senior Manager level // 10 yr – Director level

4. What type of experience do you have so far?
5 years internal audit (risk/ forensics 2 yr, Sarbanes-Oxley 3 yr), 2.5 years cost / manufacturing accounting

5. What is your best advice for anybody planning on taking the CPA exam or entering the accounting profession?
Don't underestimate this beast – and as mentioned above, humble yourself before it humbles you. Before this exam, things seemed to come fairly easy as long as I put in hard work and a bit of sweat. BA & MA in Accounting while working full-time was tough but I did it… hired at Fortune 100 company and promoted quicker than peers…. ENTER CPA Exam.
That was almost 4 years ago. I'm still working at this beast and I feel I've worked at it just as hard, if not harder, as I did for my college degrees. It's defeating, and so trying at times, but you have to make up your mind that you're not going to give up, and don't let it be a measure of your competence or intelligence – because that will wear you down.

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AUD - 74, 77! (1/2016)
BEC - 80! (5/2016)
REG - tbd (8/2016)
FAR - tbd

Study materials: NINJA MCQ/Audio/Notes

"I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!"
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[smoothiezguy]

1. Tennessee

2. Thomas Edison State University – did the double major thing in accounting/finance

3. Because I've wanted to for quite a few years, more job possibilities, higher pay. Plans for 10 years out possibly include going back to school to become a surgeon (to fulfill a lifetime dream).

4. Financial analysis, Business Intelligence and analytics, review of financials at the high level.

5. My advice for taking the exams: put your head down and do it. Hard work will pay off for those of us who aren't brainy and can remember everything just looking at it once.
My advice for entering the accounting profession: be into details. Painstakingly so. A mistake of some of the seemingly smallest things can cause big problems, and being tuned into the details is absolutely essential.

CMA - 430
BEC - 83
FAR - ?
AUD -
REG -

[mckan514w]

Lol I’m like @Peasqueezy I’ll do anything to take my mind off of how slow the calendar is moving towards score release 🙂 and I need all of the extra points on the exam I can take so that promise doesn't hurt in answering 🙂

1. I’m from DC-

2. Did my undergrad at Ole Miss years ago; Masters of Accountancy at University of Maryland- graduated last year

3. At this point I’m not real sure why I’m getting my CPA 🙂 I should have just volunteered to become a test subject for medical research on stress

4. My background is in investment banking I left that because I thought the accountants had more fun than the bankers or the lawyers – not to mention better hours… I currently manage a couple of small portfolios and provide financing and tax guidance- would eventually like to move full time to tax work or perhaps a CFO to a small cap company wishing to grow.

5. Best piece of advice for life in general but especially for CPA exam- have a sense of humor- be able to laugh at yourself and realize that set-backs are inevitable- that what doesn’t kill you actually will make you stronger just don’t let it make you bitter.

and they ask me why I drink...

FAR- 61-next time I'll ask for lube instead of a calculator
REG-75- Never been so happy to see such a low grade
BEC- 8/11
AUD- 9/2

[Yolonge]

1. Where is everyone from? Korea, originally. Moved to Maryland since 2005.

2. What University did you attend? University of Baltimore – B.S. Business Admin – accounting

3. Why are you getting your CPA and what do you plan to accomplish in 5 years? 10 years? More like why not? it is just couple tests and once you are done it is good for life. Why wouldn't anyone take it? I am looking to get into managerial role once I accumulate enough experience and expertise in any field.

4. What type of experience do you have so far? Little over 1 year as part time accounting staff at small manufacturing company while in school. Been working at public accounting firm for little over a year (14 months) as audit staff doing various things (financial audit, single audit, special assignment, etc.) upon graduation.

5. What is your best advice for anybody planning on taking the CPA exam or entering the accounting profession? You do not have to be smart to be in accounting.

Materials: Wiley book + Ninja MCQ

FAR - 83 (Jan 2016)
Study time: 6 weeks
BEC - 87 (April 2016)
Study time: 2 weeks
AUD - 92 (July 2016), (74 Feb 2016), (72 May 2016)
Study time: 4 (Feb) + 2 (May) + 3 (July) = 9 weeks total
REG - (70 April 2016)
Study time: 3 weeks

[smoothiezguy]

@mckan514w – that's some good advice!

CMA - 430
BEC - 83
FAR - ?
AUD -
REG -

[rlarivee01]

1. Where is everyone from?

Boston-ish

2. What University did you attend?

Salem State University

3. Why are you getting your CPA and what do you plan to accomplish in 5 years? 10 years?

Hopefully CPA > Good MSAT program > Big 4 > Good MBA > Profit. I'm 33 now, so I'm behind a lot of people, but I'm accustomed to simple living and working hard, so I've accepted what's ahead of me.

4. What type of experience do you have so far?

Tax prep for a season at Liberty, almost 4 years as a cash applications specialist.

5. What is your best advice for anybody planning on taking the CPA exam or entering the accounting profession?

Seriously, though. I graduated in December 2012, started studying in February 2013, and four years later, I'm not finished. It goes quicker than you think. If I had just done it then, I would have been making a lot more and had great experience. And most importantly, it would all be over!

[tygolfer]

1. Where is everyone from?
Columbus Ohio. OH!!

2. What University did you attend?
Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Played on the golf team. Any other college golfers out there?

3. Why are you getting your CPA and what do you plan to accomplish in 5 years? 10 years?
Because it is the highest certification in the profession, and I like to challenge myself. My short term goal is to pass the exam, and long term I can see myself becoming an accounting professor.

4. What type of experience do you have so far?
Almost 2 years as a General Ledger Analyst for a fortune 500 Logistics Company

5. What is your best advice for anybody planning on taking the CPA exam or entering the accounting profession?
Don't give up. Life life and love what you do.

[Needs Advice]

1. Where is everyone from?
A: Michigan

2. What University did you attend?
A: Baker College (Didn't start college till 26 and graduated working full time at 29)

3. Why are you getting your CPA and what do you plan to accomplish in 5 years? 10 years?
A: I don't feel as though I will be able to call myself an accountant without it. My standard for myself is that without this cert I am merely a form of a bookkeeper or tax preparer. Also I am always seeking to advanced my career. Hopefully this can help with that.

4. What type of experience do you have so far?
A: This is my second busy season at a small CPA firm. I LOVE it! While I don't much care for individual returns and the long hours, I love entity based work (i.e. businesses). The monthly, quarterly, and annual process of compiling information and performing either a compilation or review (i.e. see the process from general input all the way through to the tax return) is very fulfilling.

5. What is your best advice for anybody planning on taking the CPA exam or entering the accounting profession?
A: Try to decide what type of work you want to be in (i.e. CPA firm or Industry). Try and get an internship at a firm and/or at an industry job to see what everything entails before jumping in head first. When it comes to studying, it really is like learning another language. For me I treat the material as an everyday part of my life and try to revolve everything I do around studying in different ways. While I have had limited success wit the exam, I am learning more now thanks to the Ninja series of products. I tried Wiley and it wasn't for me.

BEC: 7/31/16 (Awaiting Results)
AUD: 9/8/16
REG: 10/22/16
FAR: 12/3/16

[HoldMyBeerCPA]

1. Where is everyone from? Los Angeles, CA

2. What University did you attend? Cal State Fullerton. CSUF stand up.

3. Why are you getting your CPA and what do you plan to accomplish in 5 years? 10 years? I am getting my CPA because I want to continue to progress in this field of accounting. While I don't hate my career, I wish I was in a different field. However, I do like most aspects of my career. The CPA is generally required for where I want to be in 5-10 years. Working at a casino in Vegas in Financial Reporting.

4. What type of experience do you have so far? 2 years of general accounting and XBRL experience and 1.75 years as an external auditor.

5. What is your best advice for anybody planning on taking the CPA exam or entering the accounting profession? Have patience and don't be afraid to ask questions. I think that no matter what level you are at in the field, there's always something new to learn, and in order to learn those things, you can't be afraid to communicate with those around your work or in your professional network. Also, I think face-to-face communication or communication over the phone is something that is fading in this generation which needs to be restored.

I haven't taken the CPA exam myself yet, so I don't have much advice there :p

[CJC14]

I'll take more points any way I can get them! 🙂 I'm waiting to find out if I passed my LAST exam on Tuesday.

1. Where is everyone from? Maryland

2. What University did you attend? Towson State University – degree in business management, University of Maryland University College for accounting prerequisites.

3. Why are you getting your CPA and what do you plan to accomplish in 5 years? 10 years? I always wanted to get my CPA, but I lacked the confidence. I finally challenged myself when I turned 40. It's funny how things that seemed so scary when you're young aren't as scary later in life. I'm not sure where I'd like to be in 5-10 years. I'm still figuring that out. Once I've passed the exams I will feel like I can do anything!!!

4. What type of experience do you have so far? I've been working in accounting for 20 years mostly in non-profit.

5. What is your best advice for anybody planning on taking the CPA exam or entering the accounting profession? Put your head down and get it done. Life is good on the other side of the exam.

[startupcfo]

Gonna swap the order here for readability:

1. Where is everyone from?
USA

2. What University did you attend?
Johns Hopkins

4. What type of experience do you have so far?
I lead the finances and accounting for a tech startup (VC-funded , not Kickstarter funded lol). After raising a multi-million dollar Series A round, I now represent the company in audits, due diligence, and guide the CEO with stats.

3. Why are you getting your CPA and what do you plan to accomplish in 5 years? 10 years?

I am getting my CPA so that I can do the corporate finances better and don't look like a total clown in front of the Venture Capitalists, Private Equity, and angel investors who gave us $10 million.

I hope to grow this startup to a $100M – $300M exit over the next 5 years. If it exits, I might end up as a with a title as an F500 and I'll negotiate for EMBA tuition. If it tanks, I'll probably join another early-stage startup.

5. What is your best advice for anybody planning on taking the CPA exam or entering the accounting profession?

Nobody would trust a surgeon without a medical degree. Do the right thing and learn the material through the CPA exams, instead of playing with your investors' money and your employees' careers.

BEC - 87 | 02/28
REG - 70 | 06/10, REMATCH | 08/30
AUD - XX | 09/10
FAR - XX | 12/10

[Author]

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