NJSCPA Exam Cram Blog

Summer Time studying

With Memorial Day Weekend, BBQ's and summer right around the corner, it will be easy to forget to pick up those books to study. So why not combine that trip to the beach and a quick study hour? Bring that ipad or that book to the beach, study for an hour or so while your waiting for the water to warm up and that's it! It could be easier than you think.

Until Next time

LIFE

Dear Colleague Candidates:

Willing to title my post: “Life’s Rants” as I was typing it, I changed my mind to a more positive connotation.    Just: “LIFE!”

Please, all of you, unite with me and together encourage every fellow accounting student to sign up for the examination as soon as possible!

On the graduation day,

When you receive your magic roll,

DO NOT PUT IT DOWN

Unless you sign up for the CPA Exam.

DO NOT WAIT !!!

DO NOT PROCASTINATE !!!

TAKE THE EXAM !!!

LIFE IS COMING !!!

 

Life with all privileges and perks: find a beauty, start a family, give birth to a new accounting student…

Remember every LIFE’s privilege comes with a cost, at least of your precious time.

Once I read somewhere that wine is the god’s beverage,… but I think coffee is the accountant’s beverage.

So: sign up ASAP for the CPA Exam. LIFE is coming, taking your breath away.

Claudio B.

Let the Waiting Begin

Hello everyone and happy May! For those of you who are new to the blog, my name is Alyssa and I am an Audit Associate at WeiserMazars. I graduated from Stockton College last year and have been working toward passing my CPA exams since August. Thankfully, I was able to get two out of the way before my first busy season, namely Regulation and Business. Unfortunately, I tried to squeeze my Audit exam into my crazy schedule in February and missed the mark with a 73!! I spent the last three weeks cramming for FAR nonstop and sat for the exam this past Monday. I feel that I did really well on the simulations, but not so well on the multiple choice. There were many MC questions I could narrow down, but those darn acronyms just kept escaping me! Now I get to wait about 2 weeks in limbo to find out if I passed. My coworkers will definitely see me jumping up and down in my cubicle if I pass; I am so ready to be done with these exams!

My only insights into beating the CPA exam are studying, planning, and more studying. Also, and this is something I have to FORCE myself to recognize during the exam, is pay attention to dates and the last sentence of the MCQ's. During homework, I always assume the question is asking for Year 1 results when sometimes the time frame is only 9 months or the examiners are asking for Year 4 results. Take your time and thoroughly understand what is being asked. I have a tendency to want to rush through MCQ so I can have a lot of time on the simulations, but this strategy scalded me on the Audit exam.

Another little bit of advice I wish I would have known is that timing of the exams is crucial. I wish I would have really sat down with a calendar and scheduled my exams in a more sensible manner. For instance, I just sat for FAR on May 7, which was 2 weeks after my birthday and the day after many of my friends' graduation from Stockton. Needless to say, I spent less time studying over those weekends than I would have liked. I know, I know, Becker says you shouldn't have a life, friends, etc, etc. Let's be real, we all have lives and you can't put them on hold for a year or so, BUT you can plan more efficiently than I did.

I am very excited, in any case, to go on vacation next week with my little sister to the Dominican Republic. Neither of us have ever been before and it will be our first time staying at a resort! Also, taking a whole week of paid days off is definitely a very new "grown up" experience for me (lol), and makes all those long weeks seem so worth it. I know many of you follow "Post Grad Problems", well this is luckily one of the "Post Grad Perks" you can look forward to!!

Hey Ed, I watched Game of Thrones a few nights ago for the first time after seeing how much you love it on the blog. I think I am going to be hooked as well!! Definitely time to get a DVR though, so I can watch it AFTER I start restudying for Audit ..

Until next time,
Alyssa

Last Week..

Hello Everyone,

I did not make much progress last week, I had anticipated 2 chapters in the FARE book each week, as  I plan to sit for the exam by the First week in July. My Regulation classes would start the first week of June.

Last week, I met my gym goals (10 times a week - Monday - Friday) .....O yeah, 1hr in the morning, and 1hr in the evening. My Study goals were 2 chapters a week, but I was able to do one. I had distractions and used some of my free time poorly.... For example, I spent 6 hours on saturday, seeding and working on my lawn.... Some would say - why not hire an expert, but its all about saving a buck here and there, so I do it myself.

This week, I plan to meet my 2 chapter goal. Here is one catch that can affect you when you have this kind of goal. You tend to be more concerned with the number of chapters you read vrs how much you understand; having this in mind, I am not going to force myself to read 3 chapters this week, but would stay consistent with my 2 chapters, and making sure I use my free time well. Time management is very important.

Finally, for those hooked to the series "Game of Thrones" - The series is getting more interesting..... I'll let you all in on how well I performed this week with my studies.

Cheers!!!

EEA

The CPA Exam Challenge !!

Good Morning Everyone,

For those that are new to the blog, I welcome you all, My name is Ed, and I am an Audit Senior with Deloitte. I Have been battling the CPA exam for some time - Since 2009, I have had my share of score night sorrows and excitements. I am Married,- have been since 2006, and I have two children (Ed Jnr. & Eleanor) age 5 & 4.

Enough of myself, I have made a commitment to myself to finish this exam this year, and for those of you out there reading my post, that also feel that 2012 should mark the end of this challenge- "Let's get it done" - I am pumped... (lol).

Busy Season for me, was as usual- long hours.... lot's of coffee and weight gain (hahahaha) yes, I gained like 10 - 12 pounds sitting on my behind everyday for 12- 16 hours eating un-healthy lunch and dinners. Going to the Gym was impossible- I just needed to rest when I had some time.

Busy season is over now, and my second home is the gym- back to the salads, and water, no soda's, no burgers etc. I also have resumed studies. I lost my Regulation credit in January of 2012 - (Yes - I feel very bad), but also had a very tough time before that. My mum passed on late last year, and I tell you- I felt like half of me was chopped off - for real. In her memory, I have decided to work real hard to finish my exams this year, and I am sure she would be smiling down at me saying "Good Joe Eddie".

Enough of my ranting- I want to hear your experiences - How does the exam make you feel? For me I feel like every free time is a time to study, I don't have any more social life. It's a crime to watch TV these days, but - I also need to catch up on my HBO - Game of Thrones - Yessssssssss, I love that show, but have to record and watch later, because I have to study...

Now let's get to work......

Cheers Everyone

EEA