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.

Farewell, NJSCPA Exam Cram Blog

Hello, fellow NJSCPA Exam Cram Followers:

To start off, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of the bloggers who have joined within the past few months! It's a long journey to becoming a CPA, and it's great to have support or at least an outlet for our rants and triumphs. Speaking of which, I have a multitude of successes, and a few struggles, to share with you since my last post. Please forgive me for the time lag.

In December I shared that I passed all 4 parts of the exam - so, you might think that life just got a lot easier, right? Well, in one respect, a huge burden was lifted, however; life-events coupled with work (i.e. busy season) replaced any relief that I was feeling. I unexpectedly found myself in the midst of purchasing a house! I wasn't actively searching for a house, but an opportunity arose that I couldn't let pass by. I was surprisingly approved for a mortgage and I closed on the house on January 17, 2012.

Wanting to enjoy every part of being a new home-owner was met with an equally opposing force: busy season. Going into my first busy season, I had some preconceived idea of the hours that I would be working and the deadlines that would be set, but never did I envision working 80+ hours per week with barely any time for friends, family or even sleep. Luckily, I can equate my busy season to a sprint, rather than a marathon. Although I faced some long hours, and weekend work, it was only for 4 weeks, as my client pushed to file their 10K in mid-February. To the PwC engagement team, this meant a week of r&r was to follow; and trust me, it was absolutely necessary!

Looking back on my experiences during busy season, I can whole-heartily say that I learned a tremendous amount; more than I ever thought possible. I learned the importance of teamwork, effective communication, and most importantly work-life balance. I was exposed to a number of audit areas and many different people. I am fully convinced that busy season has taught me more than any college course or CPA exam ever could; HOWEVER, having a strong foundation and background knowledge immensely helped me excel in the work that I performed.

Before I say my final goodbye, I would like to leave a few words of advice to those in the midst of studying or launching a career in accounting:

1. Make the most out of every opportunity you are given; whether it be placing dinner order for the team or tying out the 10K; every experience has the potential to be a learning experience. The relationships you establish throughout your career, even in your first year, will be a critical factor in your succession through work and through life.
2. As challenging as the CPA is, remember that it is vital in establishing a strong accounting background. It will set you apart from your peers and open many doors. Spend every free minute embracing your review material and set the exam as a high priority. It is easier to complete the exam early in your career, even if it means forgoing a weekend with friends in Atlantic City.
3. Find what studying routine works best for you and stick to it. I studied best in the morning, so I would force myself to wake up 2 or 3 hours before work and study. I also learned that I needed to listen to the Becker lecture first, read the chapter on my own second, and practice with the multiple choice questions last. I also learned that the simulations did not help me in preparing for the exam, so instead of wasting time working through them, I would re-read the chapter or re-work the multiple choice questions. 
4. Remember to keep your head up and if you don't succeed at first, try, try again. I know that this may sound silly, but it is the truth; especially for this exam.

With that said, I would like to say farewell to the NJSCPA Exam Cram Blog, good luck to those of you still on the CPA exam path, congratulations to those of you who have accomplished your goals, and thank you for allowing me to be a blogger for the past 8 months. This is a rather bitter-sweet feeling.

Ciao!

"Nothing worth gaining was ever gained without effort." -Theodore Roosevelt

An update to share

I have some personal news to share. I left public accounting for a corporate accounting position. This new position was an opportunity that I could not pass up.

With this new position, I will use my new found time to my advantage to study for the CPA exam, which, honestly, was put on hold because of the long and rough hours I have been working in tax season. Which brings me to a question: What is your work schedule for tax season? I would love to hear your answers. Shoot me an email, michael.delorenzo@mikedelo.com.

 

MRD

The Long Wait

Hi all,

I hope everyone is excited for busy season! Ok, maybe not excited, but at least optimistic about gaining valuable experience and learning new things.

I took my BEC exam on Friday and I'm feeling okay about it. I stressed over my REG performance and ended up passing, so I am not going to worry about it as much this time around. However, this month of waiting is going to be excruciating .. especially because I have to start studying for AUD asap. I am sitting for that part on February 3rd, so after only a weekend break I'm back to the books.

Busy season is upon us, and that means less and less free time to study. I am going to try waking up an hour earlier and get some studying done every morning. Also, I have a few trips coming up so long flights are always good for listening to lectures.

Does anyone have some tips on how to handle busy season and cramming? Maybe someone who has been through their first busy season can offer me some other tricks I haven't considered.

Happy studying,
Alyssa

P.S. I know everyone is super busy, but if you get a chance please check out my article in the e-Young CPA newsletter. Here is the link: http://njscpa.org/career/article/2012/01/04/my-first-real-job

Bring in 2012

Hey NJ,

Haven't been here in a little while, but good to be back. Hope everyone enjoyed a great holiday and New Years. So hopefully everyone's who is reading this blog has at least one resolution in common which I think we can all guess.....Pass the Exam! That is going to be a major focus for me this year and hopefully all of you as well.

On another note, busy season 2012 is starting now. This will be my second tax/audit season and there if there is one thing that I learned from last year it is to get PLENTY of rest! The more sleep the better. You may not feel tired in January or February, but come March it starts to catch up with is what unfortunately happened to me.

Also this week and next week will also be additional days of planning to have a nice smooth season. Someone once told me "better planning today makes a better days work tomorrow" and I believe its true. Try to plan your week and prioritize what needs to get done first. It will keep you busy and everyone around happy as well.

Until next time

Seasons Greetings!

Hello everyone and happy holidays! I hope many of you will be enjoying early office closings and extended weekends for the holidays and upcoming New Year.

It is surreal to think that in a few short weeks I will be in the midst of my very first busy season. With that in mind, I have been putting all the extra effort I can muster into my CPA studies.


I am sitting for BEC the first week in January and AUD the first week in February. I know this is a little ambitious, but I already registered for all 4 exams and needed to fit them in before May 5^th (my last day to sit and the day I have FAR scheduled). Due to the recent delay in NJ exam applications, I did not receive my notice to sit until well after I had anticipated. Because of these circumstances, I have altered the study routine I used to prepare for REG. I am spending less time on the lectures (I’m more of a visual rather than aural learner) and more time on MCQs, note cards, and reading. If you also identify more with one mode of learning, you may benefit from tailoring your studies to those strengths.

Earlier this week, my firm held an after-work CPA Rap Session so candidates and colleagues who recently passed the exam could get together informally and share tips, tricks, complaints, and successes. A coworker introduced me to Another71.com, an online forum serving thousands of CPA candidates who share their experiences within the community. Another friend guided me to CPAReviewForFree.com. As the name implies, the site offers thousands of free MCQs. I really like the site because the questions are worded much differently than the Becker and Wiley resources I have previously used. I feel this is an awesome study tool as many test takers feel the MCQs on the actual exam can be convoluted and confusing, and the site offers great practice at digging through the details to identify the question being asked.


If your firm does not have a CPA Initiative or support group, see if you can start one. Of course you can gain valuable tips from your fellow studiers here at the Exam Cram Blog, but nothing beats meeting up in person to share your trials and triumphs.

Best of luck to everyone taking an exam in the upcoming window!

Alyssa

'Tis the Season!

Hi Y'all,

First of all, let me apologize for not posting a blog since Halloween. The month of November was a complete whirlwind. But, before I get into too much detail, let me step back and share with you the great news: I PASSED ALL 4 PARTS of the exam…I AM FINISHED!

Now, what has happened between October and today? Well, I took AUD on November 4th, received news that I passed REG that same day (just barely, with a 75…phew!), took BEC on November 28th, just days after receiving my AUD score (96…felt the need to redeem the previous score, it seems!), and, received my BEC score (86) last week. Having passed FAR in August, the November/December score release concluded the whole process!

Since August 10th, the first day I opened a Becker book, until November 28th, the day I took the last exam, felt like a lifetime, but looking back now, I'm pleased that I dedicated only 3 1/2 months to the exam, instead of dragging it out for months, if not years. However, I must preface that with the fact that it was much easier for me to do so, given that I studied for FAR without having to work. Once I began work, studying was significantly more strenuous and a downright daunting task. After working 10-12 hours a day, plus a 2 hour commute (on a good day), I struggled to muster up enough motivation to study.

I suspect that you are all wondering how I managed to achieve the CPA in less than 4 months, while working for 3 of those 4 months. Well, the truth (and I guarantee that you are not going to like this answer), I devoted my entire weekend, every single one of them, to studying at least 10 hours a day.

Now, in more detail and for each exam, I would first listen to the lecture, one at a time, and then read through the chapter pertaining to that lecture, underscoring and/or highlighting the major topics (most of which were touched upon during the lecture). Then I would complete the multiple choice homework on the Becker software, as if it was the actual exam; meaning, I would not use any resources or look at my notes. I did this to gauge how much of the material I retained just by listening to the lecture and reading through the material once. Becker would track my progress and I would also flag the questions I got wrong. So, once I finished the set, I would go back to those 'troubled' problems and re-read the material in the Becker book to determine where I went wrong. This is easier said than done, unfortunately, when you mix in work, family and friends. But, lastly, to conclude each of the four parts, I would redo all of the homework problems beginning two days before the exam. You'd be surprised how many similar (if not exact same) questions appear on the exam, especially for AUD.

I will leave you with those thoughts for now, but before I leave the NJSCPA Exam Cram Blog, I will post more about my journey, and give as much advice as possible. So, stay tuned…..

On a side note, I haven't even begun my holiday shopping, and work is in full swing (I can only imagine what busy season has in store for me….) but, I am finally beginning to 'connect the dots,' and work is actually (dare I say it) enjoyable. All of my engagement teams, thus far, have been so open and willing to coach me, and more importantly, I have been exposed to a variety of clients in various industries. It is rather mind-boggling.

Until next time….

My First Post

Hi everyone! My name is Alyssa and I'm excited to be the newest contributor to the Exam Cram Blog. A little background about myself: I just graduated from Richard Stockton College in August and joined WeiserMazars' NJ office in September. Believe it or not, I landed my job through networking at the NJSCPA Scholar's Institute. So, those of you who are debating applying for a scholarship or SI, get to it the deadline is coming up!!

Study wise I am currently dragging my way through Becker's BEC review (self-study). I am on lesson 1 =/ I find it always takes me about a week to get through that first lesson and then the rest go by much quicker. The information in BEC is also very different from the other parts. While studying for REG, I vaguely recalled almost everything from one college course or another. This is not true (atleast for me) of BEC. I'm finding that the content consists of many, many definitions and mnuemonics I am being told to memorize (oh the fun).

In more exciting news, I found out last Thursday that I passed REG with a 91! REG was my first exam. Needless to say, I left the testing center feeling queasy. While I didn't think I completely bombed the exam, I had this awful feeling I would be right on the verge of passing and be stricken with a 73 or 74. Luckily, as I have heard from many test takers and now believe myself, there is no way to rely on a gut feeling about the exam, you just never know until you receive the score report.

With the holidays coming up, I am beginning to plan so I can relax AND prepare for my January 6th BEC exam. It's going to be a little hectic, but totally worth it to still make that ugly sweater party this weekend! I hope everyone is doing the same. Make a detailed study plan so you can have your cake and eat it, too!

Cheers!
Alyssa

I just got to my Prometric Testing Center…now what should I expect?

So you’ve prepared for weeks for your first exam… you’ve got your flashcards all memorized… you’ve gone through all of the multiple choice questions several times… you’re ready! So what happens when you get into the Prometric testing center? What should you expect?

You can read all of the permissible items allowed in a testing center, but I can summarize it in one word: government-issued-photo-ID. The only item you will need to keep with you at all times is your government-issued-photo-ID (driver’s license or passport) because when you check in, it will be scanned and verified each time to enter and exit the testing room. Anything else you will need to take the exam (scratch paper and pencil) are all provided by the testing center. You will receive the scratch paper and pencil from a test coordinator immediately before walking into the testing room.

‘But what does walking into a testing center feel like? What do I do there?’

I have only ever tested at two locations in NJ – Fairlawn (my favorite) and Clark – but the policies and procedures are the same at any location around the country. You arrive in the waiting room and check-in with a receptionist. He/she will provide you with a locker key for you to lock up any items you may have brought with you (your NTS, purse, cell phone, car keys, etc.). The only thing you keep with you at all times is that locker key and your ID. Then you wait to be called into the screening room. In the screening room you will be asked to show your government ID to the facilitator, he/she will take your photo, and then have you sign in. Before leaving the screening room and walk into the testing room to begin your exam you will need to empty out all of your pockets to make sure you’re not hiding anything. Once you’re done with that, you’re escorted into the room and you may begin your exam.

Recommendations for testing day:

• Wear clothing that you’re comfortable in
• If it’s cold outside, try to wear something that will keep you warm keeping in mind the rooms are heated
• Try to wear shirts with solid colors – avoid shirts with writing on them to avoid any possibility of being “called out” for writing in violation of their policies
• If you don’t know where the testing center is, give yourself PLENTY of time to find it and decompress from the anxiety you’ll have. Always best to arrive extra early if you’re unfamiliar with the traffic patterns and location.

 

Good luck!

Jerry