This thread will be used to discuss all things Gleim...

This is where you can come to ask questions about the review program, compare/contrast and discuss pros and cons.

Please keep discussions constructive and respectful, especially when discussing negative aspects of your experience.  Remember, everyone learns differently and what might work out fine for you may not be the right approach for others.

Thank you and Good Luck with your studies!!!
CPAnet

I might also suggest those of you good at self-study go look the Gleim route.  I have passed three sections using strictly the Gleim Books ($50) and the Gleim M/C Question CD ($50).  I get each set for about $85 after shipping (they give a discount when you buy multiple products).  I have passed the first time for each section taken.  The books go into way too much detail sometimes, but you have to understand the topics to achieve good results consistently on the m/c questions. I study one section at a time about for about two months and then take the exam. 

Again, you have to have good self-study habits, but they work.  I am proof of that....of course I do still have REG left. 

I highly recommend Gleim.  Gleim has the questions, simulations and a very organized way to complete all of the tests. Additionally, I have someone to talk to at Gleim. It is a bargain compared to Becker. However, I find that Gleim’s lectures and books are worthless. I had to enroll in another course that was very strong in their lectures.

Gleim's strength is also their weakness, especially in FAR. If I had a Gleim question that I had not covered in college, I was in trouble!

Gleim's audio and books are only good for answering their true and false questions; they are worthless as a resource for understanding concepts.

I tried to compensate for Gleim's weakness by auditing four college accounting classes at a Louisiana state university. However, that was only partially successful. The rigor of the accounting courses at the Louisiana state university that I attended is just not there. I was lucky if the professors covered 1/2 of the material on the FAR exam. Additionally, the professors did not go into the depth that is needed on the FAR exam. I even had one professor say that her accounting class would not prepare you for the CPA exam! Remember, the CPA exam has not lost any of its rigor!

I still like Gleim. I think that they are the best at what they do (multiple choice questions).  However, I would recommend that the CPA candidate find another review course that offers college type lectures to supplement Gleim.

I would respectfully have to disagree with the comments regarding the adequacy of the Gleim Books for FAR.  I just passed FAR with an 87 after studying exclusively the Gleim book and M/C question CD.  

I read the books, took the study questions and the practice Sim at the end of each chapter, and then took M/C questions on the CD.  I felt it prepared me well for the exam.  I would add I did have to rely on an Intermediate Accounting book for examples regarding benefits accounting and inventory methods.  The examples in the book required you to have a stronger basis than I did in these two areas.  Of course, I finished college eight years ago.

However, other than that the Gleim material has been great for me.  I have used them to pass three sections (BEC, AUD, and FAR) now.  I agree with you regarding them being the best value for your dollar.  I have spent a grand total of $255 ($85x3 sections) in study material for the three sections I passed thus far.  That seems to be a pretty good value to me. 

Also, if you want to get a flavor for Gleim’s methodology you can go to their website and see the first chapter in each study outline available for the online program.  The online study outlines are identical to each chapter in the books.  As I already mentioned, I only used the books and CD, so I cannot comment on the quality of the online or personal counselors.