NJSCPA Exam Cram Blog

Work Work Work!

Hello Everyone,

I must confess I have not had time to read my books lately. Work has been very hectic, and family life has it's own role to play. I have major deadlines at work, and I need to be on top of my work so I don't fall behind.

Big challenge for me!!!!, I wake up very early, but too tired to study; I get back from work, and too exhausted to study. On the weekends when I should get some study, I am home with the Kids, and my wife has to work. Ha Ha! (I laugh), but people have done this with crazier schedules and still made it so I can.

On a much brighter note, I am learning a great deal at work, my experience level is increasing everyday. I cannot believe I would be an Audit Senior next year, it was not too long I was a first year.

How is everyone doing on their exams, next month is the last opportunity to take the exam under the old format. My advice is that you all take advantage of this last window (if you can) otherwise get ready for the new format.

Have a splendid week,

Ed

Chaos

Hey everyone!  Haven't posted since I re-took my AUD exam because I've been studying like a mad woman for BEC.  BEC is by far my least favorite of all the parts.  The material on this one test is a mix of all the other "basic" business classes I have ever taken in college.  Everything I am studying now was separated into at least 6 different college classes which I mainly took freshman and sophmore year so remembering all this stuff has been a hastle.   Not to mention how many formulas you have to remember let alone understand how to apply them.  I have been focusing my attention on B5 which  includes alot of the budgeting variances (luckily i just finished a Grad class where all we did were variances).  I also plan to focus on the IT section (B4) and financial management (B3).  But, today is my official last day off as I start my job with Sax Macy Fromm on Monday.  This next week will be pretty insane as I attempt to thoroughly review for my BEC exam by next friday, while working full-time, and while taking grad classes.  It will definitely be a test of my time management skills.  If anyone has some review tips for BEC I would love to hear from you!  I'm off to continue studying.. good luck to everyone trying to finish this exam in 2010.  We will make it!

Missy

Catching up; some exciting news; and a tip all in one small package

Hi everyone,

I’m sorry I’ve been away for a little while; my schedule has been loaded to the max these past two weeks.

As a brief recap, I started work with Deloitte Tax at the beginning of the month and since then I’ve been traveling to and from NYC daily. On my train rides I try to get as much homework and studying done as possible. Any time I board a train I either have my laptop open doing MCQs or flashcards out memorizing the little details. In total, I try to squeeze 3 hours of studying in daily 6 times a week (Monday – Saturday & then take Sundays off). So far I’ve stuck to my schedule, I’ve just had to sacrifice so much in order to do it though. Family, friends, a social life, movies, TV, magazines and periodicals (and if you know anything about me – without those things, I’m pretty much a dud - LOL).

Also, last Tuesday I took my REG exam – let’s just say I’m not too thrilled about with how I performed. I felt as though there were a lot of difficult questions that could have gone in any direction. To help get my spirits up, I decided to go to the first BEC class that night immediately after my exam. (Yes, you did read that correctly, I went to a 4-hour BEC class right after a nearly 4-hour exam! I am completely bonkers, I know.) The fact of the matter is that I need to keep my attention on this next exam. I can feel my emotions running thin and my energy running low. If I can keep all this up for another 3 more weeks, I’m golden.

On a fun note, I am thrilled to announce that in the next few months I will be a published author (again!). A few weeks back Janice Amatucci asked if I’d like to write an article for NJ CPA Magazine about the 2011 changes to the CPA exam and I accepted. I finished my article yesterday and I must say, I’m excited to see it in print. It should be released in Jan/Feb 2011, so be on the look out! (In the meantime, check back from time to time for postings about the 2011 changes. As 2011 draws nearer, I will start to post more frequently on the expected changes so that you can better prepare. If you promise to read, I promise to write. Deal?)

Alright everyone, it’s time to get back to work. Remember, dawn is approaching, just take your time and success is yours. This is not a race; it’s just a lengthy marathon. Taking this exam at your pace is the only way you will triumph.

Good luck everyone!

Jerry

*Jerry’s Tip of the Week: Make a detailed study plan for every day until your exam date.  Write it out and then post it somewhere – your desk, your mirror, your refrigerator, your cubical wall (like mine is right now) and read it every day. If you see your plan every day you will build up your motivation to study daily. Try it out. See what you think and then let me know.*

FAR in a week...

I feel like time flies by so fast when working.  I have been really behind in studying for FAR, and haven't even reviewed all the material once.  I plan on sleeping only 5-6 hours a day this week to get in as much studying as possible.  My advice to anyone still in school... complete as many parts of the exam before starting work!!

 

This is a very brief update.  If anyone has any questions about anything feel free to email me!

 

-Patrick

T minus 36 hours and counting

Hi everyone,

So 36 hours from now I will be sitting in my testing center about to start my REG exam and I am still feeling worried.

Like I said in my last post, I’m not very comfortable or confident with the material but I must say, I am very proud of myself for studying as hard as I did this week. On both train rides to and from NYC I had my flashcards out studying and trying to learn material I hadn’t mastered and when I got home I took another hour or so doing MC questions to keep the material fresh in my mind. I don’t know how I’m going to do on this exam, but I know that I did the best studying I could have done these last few weeks. I think for the next few hours, I’m going to adopt “Bobby D’s ‘Seton Hall’ way of studying” – by praying… a lot! lol

Alright friends, until we meet again.

Jerry

Relaxing?

Hey everyone.  So I took AUD for the second time around this past Thursday.  As you all know, I failed with a 74 last time so hopefully re-studying for 2 weeks and taking this second shot will get me that 75.  So as Megan mentioned below, we both treated ourselves to a much needed day of shopping (even though all we bought were clothes we need for work).  After that, I went to the Devils game which was fun but disappointing because they're not getting off to a good start this season.  Anyway, we started our new Grad class on Saturday... 8 hours of Adanced Auditing.  Sounds fun right?  Well, thank god I brought my lap top because I ended up writing most of the paper for our Monday night class so I didn't have to stress today while I was pumpkin picking :)  But the weekend is now over and I am moving on to an intensive self-study of BEC which I have scheduled for November 5th.  I plan on watching all the lectures and doing all the homework this next week.  Then I should have another week at least to review.  I paid for it already so mine as well give it a shot.  Have I mentioned that we have a midterm next week and that we start work full-time in 2 weeks!!  It's going to get a little insane but we will push through as always.  I'll check back at the end of the week to update you with my BEC studying.  Good luck to all!

Missy

CPA Exams and Working

Hello Everyone,

I am sure most people that received offers this fall have started work. Most people in public accounting are either doing sox work, planning for year end or quarterly reviews. This is totally different from college life.

Some have passed their CPA exams, and some are in the exam taking process; the next question is "how do I cope with the exams and work?". Its all about proper planning. We all get busy with work (just like me), but work & exams are very important in this profession. You need to learn on the job, and get better at your work by taking a lot of training which takes time.

So the solution to all I have mentioned above is to try and pass all your exams before your second year at work. It only gets busier and busier. Your first year comes with a learning curve [ which means "we understand that your are just from college], by your second year, [ no more "I am just a first year" excuse].

For me I aspire to be the best at the work I do, and this requires a lot of research on my part which takes time, so adding the stress of the CPA exam makes it more difficult, but I am capable of handling the stress. If I could do it again, I would make sure I get the exams out of the way as quick as possible.

Cheers everyone,

Ed Adiele

 

Reg down.. now it's waiting time

Hey everyone! So I took REG yesterday and I do not feel too bad about it so now it is just a waiting game! I am so excited to have this weekend to just relax before I have to start studying for BEC. BUT I do have class on saturday for 8 hours and a like 8 page paper due on Monday! soooo I guess that means I can just enjoy today without school work! So today I am going shopping ALL DAY with my best friend Missy who also blogs on here. We are both doing the waiting game now but at lesat we get to do it together which is awesome! Well good lucky studying everyone :)

Some words of advice for a Friday morning.

To err is human, to bounce back divine.

Getting harder to study...

Hi everyone! As you all know I am working, going to grad school, and studying for the CPA exam.  It is getting soooo hard to study! I am taking my REG exam this coming thursday and  I had a final in my one class this past saturday so I lost studying on friday and saturday for Becker. i have projects due and work is so busy that I dont have time to study during my lunch break like I usually do! Especially since I have hardly been able to take lunches.  I am really hoping that not being able to study AS MUCH is not going to hurt me in the long run! I am so stressed and just hoping I wont have to study for REG again!  I bet everyone else is feeling the same stress. Good luck!

Megan