http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/ Accounting News for Accountants & CFOs Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:07:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3384 guest Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:37:47 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3384 Becker does sometimes emphasize things that don't need to be used. But I would recommend Becker anyway. I don't particularly care for Wiley. I've heard good things about Gleim (which is still around). And Yeager isn't bad either, I had a friend who used it with success. Becker does sometimes emphasize things that don’t need to be used. But I would recommend Becker anyway. I don’t particularly care for Wiley. I’ve heard good things about Gleim (which is still around). And Yeager isn’t bad either, I had a friend who used it with success.

]]> http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3383 guest Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:38:40 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3383 Agree 100% with @11. Becker is expensive, but if you do all the assignments (every lecture, read, answer the questions) you will absolutely get your money's worth. Also, the way the Becker curriculum is organized, you won't be wasting any time. It is very structured so that you get the most out of the time you spend on it. Agree 100% with @11. Becker is expensive, but if you do all the assignments (every lecture, read, answer the questions) you will absolutely get your money’s worth. Also, the way the Becker curriculum is organized, you won’t be wasting any time. It is very structured so that you get the most out of the time you spend on it.

]]> http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3382 guest Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:36:29 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3382 Test of discipline. I was lucky to take it while in my last quarter at school, but that is almost as hard...getting up at 6am on a weekday, forgoing friday nights to be fresh for class on saturday. Becker was my class. Worth every penny. Do what they proscribe (tests, flash cards, review it all again during the time up to the exam) and you should be fine. Test of discipline. I was lucky to take it while in my last quarter at school, but that is almost as hard…getting up at 6am on a weekday, forgoing friday nights to be fresh for class on saturday.
Becker was my class. Worth every penny. Do what they proscribe (tests, flash cards, review it all again during the time up to the exam) and you should be fine.

]]> http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3381 guest Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:29:13 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3381 I agree with #6. MDS is a great program. I compared programs that friends of mine were using. All of the programs use the same questions released by the AICPA from former exams (with some additional questions written in-house by the program). I found MDS to be structured enough to force me to study but significantly more flexible than Becker (and a lot less expensive). After much discussion over the past few years with friends and co-workers, we have come to the conclusion that you can pass with any program, but the key is to a) put in the time studying and b) focus less on the lectures and more on answering the questions and working the problems. I agree with #6. MDS is a great program. I compared programs that friends of mine were using. All of the programs use the same questions released by the AICPA from former exams (with some additional questions written in-house by the program). I found MDS to be structured enough to force me to study but significantly more flexible than Becker (and a lot less expensive). After much discussion over the past few years with friends and co-workers, we have come to the conclusion that you can pass with any program, but the key is to a) put in the time studying and b) focus less on the lectures and more on answering the questions and working the problems.

]]> http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3380 AG Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:39:39 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3380 @8 I have to admit I always laugh when people ask us if we have an ethics course review. Um it's open book. And everyone just copies each other anyway, wtf? @8 I have to admit I always laugh when people ask us if we have an ethics course review. Um it’s open book. And everyone just copies each other anyway, wtf?

]]> http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3379 homie Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:29:26 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3379 pay me $2,500 and i'll give you the answers to the ethics exam. pay me $2,500 and i’ll give you the answers to the ethics exam.

]]> http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3378 nomobillables Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:19:02 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3378 I landed an in-house counsel position w/a Fortune 500 Company. Being in-house, you want to know as much as you can about a business, and I work on matters of importance to the CFO and Treasury folks. So having the CPA credential might be worth getting. Not to mention, down the road, if I want to go in-house somewhere else, it may differentiate me from my competition, or if I want to jump to the business-side w/in my current company, a CPA may better my chances. Every legal decision has a financial impact, and having that mindset will make you a better attorney and will help you make practical decisions when assisting your clients. I landed an in-house counsel position w/a Fortune 500 Company. Being in-house, you want to know as much as you can about a business, and I work on matters of importance to the CFO and Treasury folks. So having the CPA credential might be worth getting. Not to mention, down the road, if I want to go in-house somewhere else, it may differentiate me from my competition, or if I want to jump to the business-side w/in my current company, a CPA may better my chances. Every legal decision has a financial impact, and having that mindset will make you a better attorney and will help you make practical decisions when assisting your clients.

]]> http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3377 guest Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:38:31 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3377 MDS CPA review out of Columbus Ohio is similar to Becker and a little bit cheaper as well. They give you DVD's of the lectures as well so you never really have to attend class. Their questions are similar to the CPA exam as well. It is also taught by three former Becker Professors who started their own company after Devry bought out Becker. Wiley is good to have a variety of questions after you have finished the regular CPA exam review books, but I think the best is taking the lectures and disciplining yourself. I also agree test of discipline. - Current CPA and 3L MDS CPA review out of Columbus Ohio is similar to Becker and a little bit cheaper as well. They give you DVD’s of the lectures as well so you never really have to attend class. Their questions are similar to the CPA exam as well.
It is also taught by three former Becker Professors who started their own company after Devry bought out Becker.
Wiley is good to have a variety of questions after you have finished the regular CPA exam review books, but I think the best is taking the lectures and disciplining yourself.
I also agree test of discipline.
- Current CPA and 3L

]]> http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3376 Justme Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:54:50 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3376 I have a question for you. What law are you practicing where you are working only 45-50 hrs and you think a CPA license is warranted? :) I'm actually in law school now with a CPA license. I agree with No. 1: Becker is the best. If you complete all the assignments, you will be successful. I took it during busy season at PwC, so we were definitely putting in more than 45-50 hrs of work. You may have to sacrifice a lot of social time, but it'll be worth it. I worked on assignments whenever I had a free moment, i.e. after work, before work, holidays and weekends. It wasn't fun by any means, but I agree with Adrienne that it is a test of discipline. I decided to take them back-to-back, so I didn't have to worry about the time slowly creeping up on me, and the burden would be there for a small period. Obviously, your timing will depend on the type of law you're practicing. If it is cyclical or somewhat predictable, you might want to consider taking the more difficult sections on the lulls. Becker is expensive, but it is very good. I would definitely get on it soon because I understand that in a year or two, IFRS will be implemented in the curriculum. I'm assuming your degree was heavy on the FASB/GAAP side, so it would probably be an added inconvenience to have to brush up on IASB/IFRS too. Becker is also organized as a quick reference guide. I still refer to my books for high level reviews. Best of luck in your pursuit I have a question for you. What law are you practicing where you are working only 45-50 hrs and you think a CPA license is warranted? :) I’m actually in law school now with a CPA license. I agree with No. 1: Becker is the best. If you complete all the assignments, you will be successful. I took it during busy season at PwC, so we were definitely putting in more than 45-50 hrs of work. You may have to sacrifice a lot of social time, but it’ll be worth it. I worked on assignments whenever I had a free moment, i.e. after work, before work, holidays and weekends. It wasn’t fun by any means, but I agree with Adrienne that it is a test of discipline.
I decided to take them back-to-back, so I didn’t have to worry about the time slowly creeping up on me, and the burden would be there for a small period. Obviously, your timing will depend on the type of law you’re practicing. If it is cyclical or somewhat predictable, you might want to consider taking the more difficult sections on the lulls.
Becker is expensive, but it is very good. I would definitely get on it soon because I understand that in a year or two, IFRS will be implemented in the curriculum. I’m assuming your degree was heavy on the FASB/GAAP side, so it would probably be an added inconvenience to have to brush up on IASB/IFRS too. Becker is also organized as a quick reference guide. I still refer to my books for high level reviews.
Best of luck in your pursuit

]]> http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3375 guest Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:26:44 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3375 #3, I am not sure the Gleim exists anymore. I only say that because the courses I took used the Wiley books but in some of the suppliemental class material, the poorly edited documents sometimes referenced Gleim vs. Wiley. #3, I am not sure the Gleim exists anymore. I only say that because the courses I took used the Wiley books but in some of the suppliemental class material, the poorly edited documents sometimes referenced Gleim vs. Wiley.

]]> http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3374 guest Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:14:34 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3374 I passed back in 2004. I think if you are fresh out of school, I would use Gleim. They had a CD with +7,000 questions. Work on those and study their lecture guides. If I remember well it was quite affordable. If you do need a refresher because you either did not do well at school or was a while ago, Becker might be good with all the videos and other jazz. Specially if your firm pays for it. Having a good study plan and scheduling the exams properly is key. A motivated person could pass it in 5 months in the offseason May to September. I passed back in 2004. I think if you are fresh out of school, I would use Gleim. They had a CD with +7,000 questions. Work on those and study their lecture guides. If I remember well it was quite affordable. If you do need a refresher because you either did not do well at school or was a while ago, Becker might be good with all the videos and other jazz. Specially if your firm pays for it. Having a good study plan and scheduling the exams properly is key. A motivated person could pass it in 5 months in the offseason May to September.

]]> http://goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/comment-page-1/#comment-3373 guest Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:03:17 +0000 http://wp.goingconcern.com/2009/10/cpa-exam-question-of-the-week-review-courses-for-the-working-stiff/#comment-3373 I've used Becker, Bisk (sp?), and Wiley's or something like that...Becker is the best. I recommend the self-study cd courses, can use them at your own leisure. Only down side is they expire after a year, and cost approx $1200 or so, so make sure and use them while you get them, i found that out the hard way. I’ve used Becker, Bisk (sp?), and Wiley’s or something like that…Becker is the best. I recommend the self-study cd courses, can use them at your own leisure. Only down side is they expire after a year, and cost approx $1200 or so, so make sure and use them while you get them, i found that out the hard way.

]]>