NJSCPA Exam Cram Blog

See Ya Later, Social Life

I suppose, as this is my first official Exam Cram post, I should introduce myself:

My name is Lauryn and I am a staff accountant with WithumSmith+Brown in Red Bank, NJ. I graduated May of 2011 from Georgian Court University, on a Friday, and began taking a Becker CPA Exam Review class the following Monday. Needless to say, the lack of break probably wasn't the best move on my part as I did not pass my first round of exams. You see, I am not the type of person who can read something out of a book and memorize it. I need real-world experience in order to really feel comfortable with a concept. So here I am, first tax season behind me (and appropriately documented) and ready to once again jump into the jungle that is studying for the CPA exam. Current task? Audit, with an exam date of July 6th.

I am a little behind on posting as I have been studying for about three weeks now. I gave myself ten weeks to study. I think, during my first round of exams, I rushed myself and sat for tests I wasn't necessarily ready for. This time around, I am giving myself a week-and-a-half per chapter, with plenty of time for a final review.

My strategy this time around is to re-read all of the chapters, watch all of the Becker videos, and answer all of the questions. I read somewhere that if you keep telling yourself, "All I need is a 75%," you won't pass. You have to aim for 100%! That way, if you mess up a little, you still have some wiggle room. If I don't do well on a set of questions (which has only happened once so far, thank God) I plan on skipping that set and coming back to it during final review. I would like to use that time to really dive in to the topics that I don't understand. I also plan on asking my co-workers about these topics. I find that I learn more when I talk something out -- so hopefully I can find someone who can talk out the tricky concepts with me!

I plan on starting chapter three today, which is sure to be challenging with Memorial Day weekend BBQ's clogging up my calendar. I have a huge stack of flashcards I'll be toting along with me if I do venture out of the house. Yes, I will be that girl at the party! I'm hoping I can make a decent dent in my study schedule over the three-day weekend even if that means kissing my social life goodbye. Next post, I'll try to include some of the challenges I stumble upon on the road to the exam. Maybe I'm not the only one!

Here's to conquering Memorial Day Weekend.

Wish me luck!

Lauryn

Countdown: -7

Wow!!! Only 7 days to the FAR test. The pressure is on.

The brain feels like a small factory where machines are puffing and steaming, pistons and mechanical arms are cranking and hammering, workers are sweaty and greasy, electric charges are sparking out … trying to connect, join, and combine all the information and come up with the right answer.

Will I pass and see the ‘Holy Grail’ closer?  Or will I have to repeat the test in a couple of months?  Mhmmm ?!?

Test on the 30^th, but the result is only after the 8^th of June.

Well I will have plenty of time for myself and my family.

And I will be looking for my dream job in an accounting firm.

Stay tuned for more.

Claudio B.

…“Go straight to Jail, without collecting $200”

That’s Monopoly.

However, I think starting from step ONE is in order. I mean: let me go back and introduce myself.

I was born in Verona, Italy – city of Romeo and Juliet, the Arena (ancient Roman coliseum for gladiators, naval battles and operas in modern days), and where I obtained my first accounting degree. Several years ago I moved to California soon realizing I had to start all over again.

In Dec. 2010 I graduated from San Diego State University. Thereafter, I moved to NJ and started the CPA examination.

In case you wonder why sometimes I write “silly” posts on the blog, it is my life’s philosophy since the movie “Life is Beautiful”, 1997.

Accounting – or life in general for that matter – doesn’t have to be always stiff, serious, and cold (as common wisdom depicts accountants). You can have a smile on your face from time to time; and laughing is healthy.

This is the main point of the movie: the director/producer/actor Roberto Benigni turned a horrible topic – the Jew’s life under the Nazi regime – into a fun game for the son. He looked at a negative situation with a positive perspective.

I am not so old to have witnessed those atrocities, but I lived them through the eyes of my grandparents’ recounts and with many pictures taken as testimonial.

That movie made me change my own attitude toward life, trying to focus on the positive, rather on the negative.

Hence, unless for formal writings for work, I like to write – and live – putting a smile on my face and on the one of the receiver of my messages.    

 

Now, BACK TO STUDY.

FAR test is less than 2 weeks and I switched on the PANIC mode.

 

Stay tuned for more.

 

Claudio B.

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