NJSCPA Exam Cram Blog

The Hardest Part is Over!!

Greetings fellow CPA candidates! I must apologize for my lack of postings over the past month, it has been quite a hectic time for me.

Luckily, I have great news to share!  I have officially passed all 4 sections of the CPA Examination!  I am at a loss for words when describing how it felt to see that final passing score (FAR - 78).  I would have to place it somewhere between utter bliss and amazing relief.  I began studying for this exam in August 2011, so it has been a long and bumpy road, but the accomplishment I now feel has made it all worth while.  While the long hours of review and study are often lonely, I could not have finished such a daunting task without the support of my parents, siblings, family, and friends!  I love all of you and cannot thank you enough for being there for me when I was frustrated and wanted to give up.




I will keep posting because my CPA journey is not quite over.  Now that my examination and professional experience requirements are fulfilled, I feel the hardest part is over.  I am a measly 11 credits shy of attaining those three coveted letters after my name!  I plan on enrolling in graduate classes in the near future and will keep scouring the web for study tips and tools to share with everyone.  I used CPA Review for Free's new "Points to Pass" tool to help me prepare for and pass FAR this time around.  At ~$15 a month it's a great bargain compared to other titles.  I am still a big fan of Becker lectures and Wiley test bank exams as well.  And of course, I have to love the another71.com community for commiserating with fellow self-loathing CPA wannabes, as well as uncovering new advice from first hand experiences like on our blog here.  This will be much more enjoyable now that I know I never have to utilize these study materials again (except to review them for you)!

This calls for a small celebration!  Happy studies to all!
Alyssa 

On My Way to a CPA?

Between work, the CPA exam, the holidays and life, the last few weeks have been pretty hectic. And just as I feel things are starting to fall back into place again.. enter, tax season. Yay!

With everything going on, it's been hard for me to keep up on my blogging and I'd like to start by apologizing to our readers for my lack of posting. Now, let me take a moment to recap where I am with the exam.

Early November I received some great news in winning my battle with the AUD portion of the exam. Now being 3/4 on my way to a CPA, I was determined to sneak in a FAR attempt before the window closed. I tried my best to cram for this portion, as it is the most voluminous of the sections, and I must say I was a little surprised to see I had scored a 72 when I got my grade.

While I was disappointed that my journey will drag on a little longer, I was relieved in the sense that I felt I was on the right track. I've been hitting the books the last few weeks in preparation of my next FAR attempt on 2/4, which could potentially be my last exam..fingers crossed.

I also want to wish the best of luck to all of my fellow writers on the Exam Cram Blog, in their studies, as well as their upcoming busy seasons!

Mike 

 

(Hopefully) Happier New Year

It's no secret that I have been majorly slacking in the blog post department as of late. I believe, at the time of my last post, I was waiting for my BEC score. If you'll remember, I scored a 69 on BEC during summer of 2011 and a 70 on it during October 2012, so I thought I could bounce myself over the extra 5 points by studying for a few more weeks and re-taking BEC in November 2012. I received my score some time in December and was greeted by a big, fat 68.

I didn't really understand how that was possible. After basically not studying at all for the test in 2011 (you know, post-college graduation, pre-full-time job stupidity), and studying my a** off for the test in October, I couldn't really fathom how I could receive practically the same score. I was really angry, I think. "Why does it matter if I study or not, then?" I thought. So I decided to put BEC aside and continue on with my plan to take REG in late November.

I failed that one, too. And along with that attempt comes a similar story of how I "barely studied" during the 1st go-around and "studied so much I had no life" during the 2nd go-around and still got virtually the same score. After receiving this "F", I decided to abandon my plans of taking FAR in late January. I had no hope left inside of myself with which to conquer "the Beast".

I believe that leaves us to where I am now: slowly building my confidence back with plans to take my next exam after tax season and most likely some time in May. I am thinking BEC (I know, I'm a masochist -- but aren't we all? Taking this exam?). I figure I will only have a month and a half to study and BEC is the shortest exam, so it just makes sense.

My plan is to give myself a little bit of a breather (...during tax season...oxymoron...) and to read my BEC text whenever I have a spare minute. Nothing crazy, just as a refresher until I start seriously studying in late April.

I am very happy (albeit, rather jealous!) for all of my fellow-bloggers that have had recent success with this exam. I have faith that I, too, will pass this thing. With 3 parts left (BEC, REG and FAR) and 1 part expiring in exactly 1 year (AUD). I really have to get my head on straight and start kicking some exam butt!

Now that you are all caught up, this is where I tell you that suggestions are welcomed, even though I am pretty sure I've tried everything short of hypno-therapy (...although that doesn't sound like too bad of an idea right about now). I hope you will forgive me for my absence.

I'm back.

Lauryn

Nice!!!

I'm beyond happy to report that I have passed audit!  I seriously cannot put into words how relieved I am.




Work has been hectic with planning and interim work leading up to busy season.  Luckily I have about a week and a half of holiday time and personal days saved up so I can get some serious studying in before January.  My goal is to pass FAR this time around (got a 74 the first time) so that I can stay completely focused on work throughout busy season.  Then, this summer, I can take the 3 classes I need to fulfill my education requirement and FINALLY MAYBE HOPEFULLY be able to call myself a CPA.

I want to give some thanks to all the employees at Weiser who make the CPA initiative possible, especially Sandra San Juan who leads the program in the NJ office.  Working and studying for the exam can be rough, but it really does help to have a support group that places importance on passing the exam.

Well, the only thing I'm not ecstatic about right now is the fact that I have to attend an inventory count tomorrow (read: Saturday) morning.  Looks like I have to wait one more day to celebrate this great success LOL.  Everyone have a great weekend, a happy holiday, and some happy studying.

All the best,
Alyssa

My Final Thoughts and Well Wishes

Hello again friends,

This will be my last post in the blog. I have officially reached the end of my CPA license journey. I sat for the exam beginning in July 2010 and passed my final part in May 2011. Afterwards I took 15 months to complete the final requirements necessary to successfully complete my application for licensure and last week I officially submitted my completed application to the State Board!  

The journey to becoming a NJ CPA is long, but it can be done! I have spoken to many exam candidates over the past two years and I have learned that with a good plan, determination and a lot of hard work you can pass the CPA exam.  

Last year I wrote an article that summarizes my tips and tricks to successfully passing the exam (“Just stick to the F.A.C.T.S. - 5 Tips to Pass the CPA Exam”: http://bit.ly/mUZriD). Take a look at the article and try to incorporate those suggestions into your study plan. With the right balance and plan of action, you will be a CPA!

I’d like to thank all of those who followed my journey. To you all, I wish you the best of luck on your exam preparations and bid you all a fond farewell.

Warmly,

Jerry

Determination!

Yesterday was a sad day for my pride! But only for a little bit.

I AM STILL DETERMINED TO PASS IT !!!!

Yes, I missed FAR for a couple of points. AGAIN.

It burns so badly: only for a couple of stinking points.

 

I was so confident of my preparation… Until I saw the result on the NASBA website.

I might come up with some excuses: full-time job, family issues (3 years old daughter…) but I want to be positive and to look forward for a better and deeper preparation.

 

Good study to everyone.

 

Claudio B.

SpongeBob the Accountant:

Back in the days… when I took my Intermediate Accounting Class the tax professor – Mr. G – used SpongeBob and his friends for quizzing the students during his lectures.

SpongeBob was raising the question and one of his three friends was holding the right answer. In case of disagreement, each student could come up with a fourth answer.

Mr. G was and is a very smart and great teacher.

He used fictional characters to challenge the class. A few times there was no right or wrong answer, but just a reasonable one. That’s accounting!

Yesterday I took the FAR test. I thought to be back in class with the ‘SpongeBob lessons’. Many questions seemed to come from nowhere, from a new topic SpongeBob wanted to teach to his friends and me. I couldn’t find the answer more ‘right’ than the others. I had to deal with the three friends of SpongeBob being all right and all wrong at the same time.

Well, it is done! I did my best. Now let’s wait a couple of weeks for the score and then… we will see.

By the way, as I was coming home, on my front step I found the package containing the books for BEC.

Back to study.

Stay tuned for more.

Claudio B.

The Daily Grind

I have been meaning to post for several days now, but everytime I jump on here something seems to come up.  Whether it be work or personal, it just seems like life keeps getting busier and busier.  My work load is gearing up again as pension plans and other 6/30 year end jobs begin.  I am also beginning to schedule travel dates for interim work which makes me realize that this is not going to let up anytime soon!

Basically I have been slowly reworking my way through the Becker program for Financial Reporting.  I am shooting for a late August test date.  I have not scheduled my exam dates yet, and I don't plan to until I am at least 75% done studying.  At this rate, and because I will be in Texas for a client the last week of August, FAR may have to wait until early October (darn those black out months!!)  Also, I downloaded CPA Review for Free's $10 FAR app (oxymoron?) available on the iPhone.  Does anyone know if it is available for Android or Blackberry?  I hope so because it is a great and inexpensive tool that keeps me in study mode on the go.

Sorry I don't have too much to report on these days.  If you just graduated GET THE EXAM DONE THIS SUMMER!!!!!!!!  I really cannot stress this enough.  Do not hold off until you start work, it just gets harder and harder.  As for me that opportunity has passed, so I am looking ahead and staying determined to get this done by the end of the year :)

Happy studies,
Alyssa

I FEEL GOOD !!!!

Said James Brown in one of his famous songs. Was he preparing for a FAR test?

Probably not, but I do.

Less than 7 days to 'the Day' and scoring more than a 75% in the practice tests certainly makes me FEEEEEEEEELLL GGGOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDD !!!

AH AH

Stay tuned for more...

Claudio B.

2 and 2 = quality!

A couple of weeks ago I posted a 2-weeks-countdown for the 2^nd attempt of FAR. However, I had to move it forward for another couple of weeks.

I want to nail this test!

I am working on the quality more than on the speed on getting things done fast and maybe fail again the test.

On the first attempt I missed the mark for only 1 point (Yes, I got 74! … #$%@#)

Practice, practice, practice! It’s all I do anytime I have a minute.

 

Stay tuned for more.

 

Claudio B.