Ava
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Post by Ava on May 8, 2015 5:28:44 GMT -5
I started a similar thread about a year ago and almost everybody here recommended Becker. As I finally finish my MBA (today is my graduation dinner) I looked for information online. There are plenty of prep courses. I looked at reviews, but there are so many courses and so many different reviews that it's a little confusing.
The majority though recommends skipping Becker because it's too expensive unless your employer is paying for it (not my case).
The rest are priced along the $900 - $1,800 range, while Becker costs $3,393. I could pay for it, and they have an 18 months no-interest finance plan, but I'm not interested in wasting money. It would be a considerable expense for my income.
So far I am leaning towards Roger CPA. Apparently it's a very lively course and has a good percentage of students who pass the exams. Did you or someone you know pass the CPA exam recently? What prep course did they use?
Thanks for the info.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on May 8, 2015 7:33:06 GMT -5
holy crap Becker went up in price. Back in a day it was about $1K
I think their main pro is that they hold you accountable while you are studying. If you want to re-take them for free (in case you don't pass), you have to go to all the classes and do all the homework.
If you are the kind of person that doesn't need hand holding, you can probably do any of them.
I used Gleim, but I never took studying seriously, so..... I might not be the best person to ask
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ArchietheDragon
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Post by ArchietheDragon on May 8, 2015 7:35:53 GMT -5
I used Becker. My parents paid for it, though. I took it very seriously, used the program, studied hard and passed all four parts on my first try.
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taz157
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Post by taz157 on May 8, 2015 8:07:31 GMT -5
I used Yaeger Lambers, now Yaeger CPA Review ( www.yaegercpareview.com/). I took the paper/pencil exams and I failed all the 1st try and passed all the 2nd try. Go thing too as if I failed again, I'd have to take the computer exam. I didn't go to any of the live classes (except a cram session), but watched all of them online. With the firm I was with at the time, I was reimbursed for all course and exam costs after I received my CPA license. With the firm I'm with now, they help pay a portion towards the Becker course. I know there are a few that have passed the exam recently and I can asked them what they used. Good luck!
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chen35
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Post by chen35 on May 8, 2015 8:20:05 GMT -5
I used Becker for 3 sections, and CPA excel for 1. The CPA excel was fine, just a little more of a dry presentation. But I thought the lower price made up for it.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on May 8, 2015 8:45:16 GMT -5
I used Becker. My parents paid for it, though. I took it very seriously, used the program, studied hard and passed all four parts on my first try. I've been honest about never passing all four parts of the CPA exam. I also used Becker and passed three parts on the first try. My failure to pass the fourth section was not on Becker, though, it's on my shitty memorization skills. I highly recommend Becker. I tried another review (NIU - which has an excellent accounting program) before my third attempt and there was a huge difference in quality. I knew going into the exam the third time that I was no better prepared than the first time and I was correct. Based on what I could find online the first time pass rate for all four sections is about 20%. Becker claims to be able to double that. Wiley is another one that my big 6 used to offer to staff, but I never did it. You may want to check that one out. Trust me, I speak from experience - you do not want to cheap out here. It is not an easy exam. Good luck and go for it!
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tskeeter
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Post by tskeeter on May 8, 2015 10:53:23 GMT -5
I'm another former Becker student. I wasn't as diligent as other posters. I didn't qualify to retake classes for free. But I still passed all four parts on my first attempt, back in the pencil and paper days.
By comparison, the guy who was my college roommate, whose GPA was quite a bit higher than mine, failed enough that he was in danger of having to start over again.
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tskeeter
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Post by tskeeter on May 8, 2015 10:58:21 GMT -5
Ava, overall, I think I'd look at first time pass rate statistics for each of the review courses and use that as the basis for my decision. While there is a large difference in cost, you also have to consider the personal cost, in time and effort, to have to repeat sections of the exam. This is somethng you want to do once and put it behind you.
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taz157
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Post by taz157 on May 8, 2015 11:08:26 GMT -5
I asked 2 of my co-workers what they used that have passed (I know 1 had to pass the last part recently or she started losing parts). She had used Becker. The guy that passed the exam used a combo of cpareviewforfree.com and CPA Excel. He had a fried that used Gleim, and didn't see much difference between the questions asked. For him, CPA Excel was the best bang for his buck.
I forgot to mention on my earlier post that the Yaeger class used the Wiley books.
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msventoux
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Post by msventoux on May 8, 2015 12:53:25 GMT -5
The best course for you will really depend on how you best learn and how dedicated you are to studying.
I really liked Roger CPA because he's hyper (providing visual interest), comes up with really stupid pneumonics that stick in your head, and is really good at explaining concepts in a simple way. But he also goes really fast and you can't read his handwriting on the board. The test bank was also seriously lacking in functionality.
Gleim was fine. The books were very dry and detailed. Boring, but more than enough info to pass. Really good test bank but no lectures other than really low quality PowerPoint presentations.
I really liked the NINJA CPA review test bank. I think there's books now too, but I'm not certain. Wiley's books actually came with Roger's review course along with his own textbooks. Roger's books are really easy to get through but light on details. The Wiley books provide the detail since they're much more comprehensive.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on May 8, 2015 13:06:39 GMT -5
I used Becker. My parents paid for it, though. I took it very seriously, used the program, studied hard and passed all four parts on my first try. I took Becker but paid half price because I set up the room and took out the trash. It was 1991 and I studied hard and passed all four parts on my first try.
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gacpa
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Post by gacpa on May 8, 2015 13:15:15 GMT -5
I used Gleim and did pass all four parts my first try. But I was the only one in class who did. I am sure Becker is good. Any program you go with will most likely get the job done but you do have to put in a great deal of time studying. I know I put in a lot of study time, and I think that is what did it for me. But that was many, many years ago...
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on May 8, 2015 16:03:18 GMT -5
I used skmething called Person Wolinsky. About 6 of us went in on it. We got the cassettes (Im old :-( ) and written materials and then burned copies for each of us. The disks back then could be used in a bunch of machines so we had the questions as well
It wasn't cheap but since we all went in on it the cost was only a few hundred.
It was a great course and I passed every part I studied for (I only studied for 2 at a time). My highest grade was a 95 and the lowest was an 88. I think that they gave a lot of good tips that helped me get those grades
Years later my firm pushed Becker and gave a portion towards it.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on May 8, 2015 17:48:07 GMT -5
Can't give you any advice but congratulations Ava, you did it!
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regina24601
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Post by regina24601 on May 8, 2015 17:55:37 GMT -5
I used Gleim, just the practice questions. Passed all 4 parts the first time with scores between 84-99 (although anything over a 75 means you studied too hard.)
It was free through my university library, and I'm cheap and can force myself to focus. If you're self motivated, it's perfectly adequate. I saw many nearly identical questions that were in Gleim on the exam.
Good luck!
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jelloshots4all
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Post by jelloshots4all on May 8, 2015 18:33:02 GMT -5
I took Becker, but I was the campus rep so my Becker course was free (YMer at a young age ). However the exam has significantly changed since I took it over 20 years ago- now computerized. I took the exam my last semester of college and before I graduated, so I was taking college courses that Becker was covering at the same time. That likely helped me, but everyone learns and studies different
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gacpa
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Post by gacpa on May 8, 2015 19:10:22 GMT -5
Holy cow, I had no idea there were so many CPA's and accountants on this board!
Ava, why do you want to sit for the exam? Is it necessary for you even with an MBA?
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on May 8, 2015 19:21:18 GMT -5
My nephew got his MBA and then his CPA. He was actually taking the exam while in his MBA program. He had enough college credits and work experience before he started his MBA program. Somehow, e found his MBA program to be easy (his words), so he spent most of his studying on the CPA exam. He took the first section without studying and flunked. Then he got serious. He bought books from Amazon and studied on his own. Lived alone and wanted it. When he took the last section, if he had not passed, he would have lost some section(s). I'm old school and I don't know how it works these days except that you lucky people only have to take one section at a time. Congratulations, Ava. on a job well done.
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regina24601
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Post by regina24601 on May 8, 2015 19:53:36 GMT -5
I'm old school and I don't know how it works these days except that you lucky people only have to take one section at a time. True, but how many questions on IFRS did your exam have?
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on May 8, 2015 20:20:26 GMT -5
I used Becker. I passed my last section in 2011. It was mega expensive but worth it to me. I have zero attention span. That forced me to go through the sections and do it. A self guided thing would have never worked for me.
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taz157
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Post by taz157 on May 8, 2015 20:42:14 GMT -5
I'm old school and I don't know how it works these days except that you lucky people only have to take one section at a time. True, but how many questions on IFRS did your exam have? None on mine that I can remember.
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jelloshots4all
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Post by jelloshots4all on May 8, 2015 22:32:05 GMT -5
BTW Ava, check where you are taking it versus where you want to live in terms of requirements. When I took it, some states wouldn't transfer credits. Just an FYI
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jelloshots4all
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Post by jelloshots4all on May 8, 2015 22:35:03 GMT -5
gacpa why are you surprised in regards to the number of CPAs? It is a money board? And I do learn so much from this board (taxes and investing)
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Ava
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Post by Ava on May 9, 2015 0:16:48 GMT -5
I enrolled in the WilleyExcel 14 days free trial. I really like it. I was about to choose Roger CPA but I read in several reviews that he talks really fast. I could see a video and he really does. I need some time to process concepts and this guy goes too fast for me. Becker is definitely out of the running since I cannot justify that price when there are so many review courses out there. I was talking to another graduate today at the graduation dinner and she chose Gleim but she hasn't started the course yet.
I'm going to study with the Willey CPA for my full free trial and purchase it if I can learn with it. Other possibilities are Gleim, Yaegers, Fast Forward Academy. But I feel I can do good with WilleyExcel.
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Jaguar
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Post by Jaguar on May 9, 2015 0:24:50 GMT -5
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taz157
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Post by taz157 on May 9, 2015 0:53:16 GMT -5
Good luck!
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souldoubt
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Post by souldoubt on May 9, 2015 12:38:41 GMT -5
I too used CPA Excel going with the self study course. For me studying on my own and not in a classroom was the best option but I think more people prefer interacting with a teacher in a classroom setting. You can look at the pass rates for each option all you want but it ultimately boils down to the time and effort you put in. The pass rates for the exams overall are usually pretty low but if you put in the time and effort to get your masters you can pass the CPA exams.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on May 9, 2015 18:50:18 GMT -5
I'm old school and I don't know how it works these days except that you lucky people only have to take one section at a time. True, but how many questions on IFRS did your exam have? None that I recall.
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milee
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Post by milee on May 10, 2015 20:00:39 GMT -5
Ava, why do you want to sit for the exam? Is it necessary for you even with an MBA? She's doing it because she's smart. A CPA certification is never a bad thing to have. Your chances of passing the CPA are best within the first few years after you graduate, if you graduate from a good quality accounting program, since it's all still fresh in your mind. So she's smart to get her CPA certification even if she doesn't plan to work in a traditional CPA role and doesn't need it for her current job.
An MBA can be valuable, but there are so many of them that employers are starting to be more picky about what weight they give an MBA depending on what school it's from. In other words, just an "MBA" may or may not carry any weight if it's from a mediocre school. Not so with a CPA. Most employers and clients don't care what school you went to if you have a CPA behind your name. So Ava's very smart to get that CPA certificate since she already did the work of going through the accounting program.
I have my own manufacturing business and haven't practiced as a CPA for about 10 years now, but I still keep the continuing education and certificate current. It's like an insurance plan. No matter what happens in my life - even if my business goes BK - I can always, always get well paid work with that CPA certificate. I've known too many people (mostly women) who let their CPA certificate lapse when they quit to SAHM or go to a profession that didn't require the CPA and then regret that lapse years later when their life changed. It's pretty tough to go back and try to re-take the CPA exam after years of being away from that work... better to get it and keep it active.
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souldoubt
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Post by souldoubt on May 11, 2015 12:42:31 GMT -5
I vividly remember my audit professor telling us that as accounting majors if we didn't intend to sit for the CPA exam then we chose the wrong major. Anyone who is choosing an accounting path whether it's a bachelors, masters or beyond they should be planning to take the CPA exam. I have recruiters who send me job postings and all of them require a CPA license while only some say MBA preferred and even fewer require it.
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