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 Topic: Hello everyone! ( Topic Closed)
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rlg5150
Newbie
Joined: 18 Jan 2012
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4
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| Posted: 18 Jan 2012 at 18:52 | IP Logged
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I didn't really see anywhere for new members to introduce
themselves, so I thought I'd do it here since I have a
few questions about FAR regarding study tips, motivation,
etc.
I graduated in December and I plan on sitting for FAR in
April. I wanted to do it sooner, but my school said they
wouldn't have transcripts sent out before the very end of
January. I haven't applied yet, but I will soon when I
know my school has sent my transcript. I still need 14
hours for my 150 requirement, but in my state I only need
150 for licensing not actually sitting for the exam. At
this point in time, I don't have the money to start a
Master's program to get the rest of my hours.
I decided to register on this forum because I'm sort of
addicted to forums. I can spend a couple hours a day on
SUF just reading random stuff, so I figured this would be
a better place to waste time, hehe.
Now, for my specific questions/concerns about FAR:
I have purchased both the textbook and software for Bisk
FAR 2012. That alone was $200 and seeing as how I have
no job and no one is in a hurry to hire a recent grad
with no experience, I can't really afford something like
Becker. Has anyone used this and what did you think? I
feel like I understand everything in the book after I
read a section/chapter, but some of the questions are
extremely detailed considering the book covered it very
vaguely.
I was really motivated in the beginning. I figured since
I didn't have a job, I could study like it was a full
time job. I quickly realized that this wasn't going to
happen. Normally I can get up and study productively for
around 2 hours in the morning. But, after a break I find
it EXTREMELY difficult to get back in to studying. Over
the course of a few weeks, nearly all of my motivation is
gone. I stuck to the plan the book gave for a few weeks,
but I've been slowly working through chapter 7 and
reviewing previous chapters for all of this week and
last... Some days I haven't even studied. How can I get
motivated again?
To continue on the subject of motivation, I get really
discouraged when I get to a subsection on the software
and get several wrong in a row. I swear, some of the
questions are worded to be trick questions. This leads
me to over-thinking some of the easier questions when I
should be breezing through them. I get so worried that
I'm missing what the question is really asking. I
quickly get a physical headache out of frustration and
find it very, very hard to get back in the game.
(Posting on forums helps me to calm down. Posting this is
actually calming me right now after some unmotivated
studying)
To wrap up a lengthy post that I'm sure no one wants to
read, I thought I'd tell you my new study plan and see
what you think.
I have around 11 weeks until April which is when I want
to take FAR. Bisk outlines 8 weeks with 20 hours per
week. I can either wait and start this outlined plan 8
weeks before April, or start over now. I'm worried about
taking too long. I have started reviewing some of my
earlier chapters and I can't tell if I'm remembering the
material, or simply memorizing the multiple choice
answers. Multiple choice questions and answers stick in
my brain like glue. Even after just working a chapter
once, I can usually know the answer just by looking at
the first word of the question even weeks after I first
reviewed it. I don't do this, however. I still make
myself read the question and all the answers. Does
anyone have a plan they think would be good for me in my
current unemployed situation? Maybe some can do it, but
trying to study 8 hours a day like it's a job seems
nearly impossible to me. Am I being a wimp, or studying
like that really something that's hard to do?
I know this is a long post, and I appreciate anyone who
reads and answers my questions.. Thanks everyone!
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nambivar
Regular
Joined: 14 Nov 2010
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 144
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| Posted: 18 Jan 2012 at 19:55 | IP Logged
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Many readers in this forum have supported the idea of taking only one or a max of 2 parts of CPA exam in 1 window. Having decided on FAR, it is a good idea; most would like to pass this part first so that we can concentrate on other parts later. This is because more and more of IFRS would be introduced and FAR would be perceived to become that much more difficult. Doing FAR first helps much in AUD later.
Having completed your under grad recently, and spending 2 hours daily in a concentrated manner on FAR is good and you must plan to complete your preparation for this part and to take the exam soon after that.
Becoming a CPA is a dream for many and the hurdles we go through including lack of time, other resources will all be forgotten when we pass the 4 parts, fulfil the other requirements and secure the designation as CPA.
Yes, I started studying for CPA in 2008 when I was unemployed, gave up for various reasons but passed all 4 parts in 2011 when I was 62.
Best wishes.
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kswatis
Newbie
Joined: 29 Mar 2011
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8
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| Posted: 19 Jan 2012 at 09:03 | IP Logged
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Hi,
I am also new to this forum. All the academic concerns
that you raised are similar to mine.
So far as studying is concerned, what I do is I study for
2 hours, then take a complete break for an hour or so and
then study for another 2 hours or so. When it seems that
I am just reading the lines and my brain cannot take
anymore, I just stop for the day or try after few hours-
early morning or late at night.
Yes, answers also stick in my brain like you said. That
is ok. I feel that if our brain is able to remember these
things, it will help us on exam when similar question
shows up- if we are able to remember how we got the
answer.
I am also planning for April Exam.
Good Luck
__________________
Newtocpaforum
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monchikun
Newbie
Joined: 19 Jan 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3
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| Posted: 19 Jan 2012 at 12:22 | IP Logged
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Hi!
I'm also new, and actually joined for the EXACT reasons you did!! I agree, the BECKER lectures/books are vague, and the MC are TOO specific! I find a weak correlation between the two, and am having difficulty with homework, ect. (Getting some LOW grades despite the material being fresh in my brain, high 40's / low 50's so it's not encouraging me to study more!)
What I've switched to doing is listening to the lectures, but mostly picking up on their tips for remembering certain things and highlighting everything they tell me, and then re-reading through myself while taking notes. It reinforces whatever I DID pick up in the lectures, and helps me hone in on what's most important to retain for final review. After that, I plan on doing as many MC's, and trying to understand what methods I used to get the wrong answers (since I'm getting more wrong than right!) Not sure how effective my plan will be, but it's better than what I was doing before! At least, I feel a "slight" increase in my overall knowledge. I also suggest just watching all the lectures for each section, and then doing all the MC and sims for that section when you're done instead of breaking it up into topics. Otherwise, you'll be dependent on knowing how to do a particular question, but not when it shows up with other similar methods.. you'll find it harder to distinguish what the question is really asking and what method to use (at least for me).
Hopefully this helps a bit for you to plan! At least you have plenty of time - I'm sitting by the end of Feb, and am only done F3!!!
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rlg5150
Newbie
Joined: 18 Jan 2012
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4
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| Posted: 19 Jan 2012 at 18:26 | IP Logged
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monchikun wrote:
Hi!I'm also new, and actually joined
for the EXACT reasons you did!! I agree, the BECKER
lectures/books are vague, and the MC are TOO specific! I
find a weak correlation between the two, and am having
difficulty with homework, ect. (Getting some LOW grades
despite the material being fresh in my brain, high 40's /
low 50's so it's not encouraging me to study more!)What
I've switched to doing is listening to the lectures, but
mostly picking up on their tips for remembering certain
things and highlighting everything they tell me, and then
re-reading through myself while taking notes. It
reinforces whatever I DID pick up in the lectures, and
helps me hone in on what's most important to retain for
final review. After that, I plan on doing as many MC's,
and trying to understand what methods I used to get the
wrong answers (since I'm getting more wrong than right!)
Not sure how effective my plan will be, but it's better
than what I was doing before! At least, I feel a
"slight" increase in my overall knowledge. I also
suggest just watching all the lectures for each section,
and then doing all the MC and sims for that section when
you're done instead of breaking it up into topics.
Otherwise, you'll be dependent on knowing how to do a
particular question, but not when it shows up with other
similar methods.. you'll find it harder to distinguish
what the question is really asking and what method to use
(at least for me).Hopefully this helps a bit for you to
plan! At least you have plenty of time - I'm sitting by
the end of Feb, and am only done F3!!!
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Thanks for the advice! But I think you misread, I don't
have Becker. I have Bisk. Specifically, I have the
textbook and software (the software is basically just a
source for lots of MCQs). No lectures for me right now.
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