md-futcpa wrote: Nan, Agreed (Especially if your unemployed all the time in the world)

In my case, it was anything BUT unemployed!  I've worked full-time throughout, from the date when I went back to college to take extra courses to qualify for the CPA exams in my current state of residence, all the way through taking and passing all 4 parts of the exam.

I wouldn't have been able to succeed without the flexibility of the Self-Study program.

I was one exhausted puppy by the time I took the 4th exam, and I'm still dealing with the non-time-critical work I set aside to study, but it has been worth it!!!!

Correction for the Classroom Lecture :

For classroom lecture, you have a instructor teaching you the course in some states. For example, NJ, I took live classes for FAR and AUD and instructors do teach the course, highlight the important concepts with examples etc..But I also heard that in some states ( for example MD), they just insert the CD and if you have any questions, you can ask to the instructor. So answer is it depends on the state where you are from.

Future CPA wrote: Bruin, please call Becker to verify the following before purchasing as this is my understanding of the 3 different types of methods. The self-study CD's are a part of all 3 methods. Regardless of what method you choose, the self-study materials are built in. Classroom lecture - You get a professor, but when you go sit in the classroom, the professor himself does not lecture. He will play the 3-hour CD. So you hear the SAME lecture (the same CD) as you would have in the self-study. The only advantage is that if you have a question, then you can ask the professor right then and there. Online lecture - Very similar to the classroom lecture since you listen to the SAME lecture, but at your own convenience. If you have a question, then you email the professor. Self-Study lecture - You receive the same materials as you would in the other two options. For this option, you must be very self-disciplined. Since you don't have a professor, make sure you don't slack off. Stay on schedule! The only difference here is that if you have a question, you can't ask the professor. However, you may be able to post it here and I'm sure someone will be more than happy to assist you :) Again, you might want to check the above details directly with Becker. Hope this helps. Good luck for your journey!

Hi, for those of you who have passed 3 sections or more the first time, can you give me suggestions of how you studied and how much time did you put in?  I have 2 weeks before I take BEC and am thinking about pushing through or taking Jan 4th.  Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks!!