1. I go to the library. Doesn't matter if you are alone in your house or how quiet it is. It's a place of multiple distractions. The library forces you to focus on your books. If you want to watch lectures, bring your laptop and headphones with you and play the lecture DVDs on your laptop.

2. I studied during lunch hours at work. I installed Wiley MCQs on my work computer and did MCQs while I eat my sandwich.

3. I go straight from work to the library and study there for 2 hours. When I was studying for REG and AUD, I switch the schedule to go home first, grab a bite to eat and study at the lib for 2 hours. Whatever works best for you.

4. When I get home from the library, I do (Gleim) MCQs of the topic I just read, and MCQs of the topics I previously covered. Usually 2 sets of 30 MCQs. The rest of the night is spent with family.

5. My Saturdays are spent at the library too, 4-5 hours, depending on how fast I get it. Some days I'm a little bit slow, so I take a while. I go home and spend time with family and do MCQs again before I go to bed.

6. Sundays are family days and also my diagnostic test days. By diagnostic I mean, I do a comprehensive of all topics I've covered so far and time it like how they would during the test (e.g., 90 MCQs, 2 SIMS in 4 hours for FAR). After doing my test, I spend time with family/friends - go to church, watch a movie, eat out, etc. At night, I will go over my mistakes on my diagnostic test.

7. I bought Wiley AUDIO for FAR, I listen to it before bed and usually fall asleep listening to Anita Feller. Yes, she lulls me to sleep every night for about 2 months. I also listen to her when I drive to and from work.

8. I had my notes (index cards) posted all over the bathroom so I can stare at them while I take a shower. For REG, I had tax forms as wallpaper on my bathroom so I can familiarize myself with them.

9. Since I have to take two sections in one window, I made sure I do practice tests for the other section I finished while reviewing for the other.  Think of it as a juggler in a circus, adding more apples and oranges to juggle each time.

But the most important strategy of all is to have an understanding with your spouse, this is a team/family project. It is imperative that your significant other is in sync because he/she will have to fill in for you on the days that you just can't be there.

I crammed everything in 5 months because I knew my husband will be deploying, the stress of the impending deployment weighed on me while I was studying. It was hard to focus and fight back tears while going over pension expense and all the other topics we have to cover. My hubby is my biggest support system. He cheered me on when all I want to do is burn all my Wiley books. My passing the boards was his success as it is mine.

Anyway, hopefully someone can learn from my strategies. Keep chugging along, and never, ever lose sight of the goal. Good luck!