I am new here and have been reading posts for about three months now.  It is overwhelming when reading the posts about what company materials are best for ones needs. 

Here is my situation and what helped me:

I was recently laid off from my job in may after 12 yrs working with a corporation.  I always thought about studying for the cpa exam vs. going into grad school.  Due to being laid off, grad school was put on hold and I started to do my research on the exam.  After procrastinating for years, I finally filled out my application and submitted it.  I am still waiting to hear back on my NTS.  I am residing in delaware and applied for delaware exam (although you do not need to be a resident).  On the application, it asks you about your GPA in your major (accounting for me)... so I requested my transcripts first, for my personal review.  After filling out the app online, I requested my transcripts to be sent along with my app.  So I basically had a personal one for my review.

so now I am in a holding pattern, not knowing if I will be approved on the app, I didn't want to go out and fork over a ton of money for study materials, so here is the process I used to come to my decision.

First and foremost, ask others what they used when studying to be successful.  If you read the posts here, everyone is using some form of materials or a combination of different companies.

My one friend used Becker self study along with Bisk books only. He passed all four parts after failing two parts.

My other friend is using Becker self study with flashcards and mentoring only, took and failed BEC.

My approach:

1) I reviewed every website of the major companies: Bisk, Gleim, CPA Excel, Becker, Roger and Yaeger. 

2) I signed up for FREE test trials with as many companies that allowed for them and viewed their contents and test drove to see which companies had the best features and user friendly formats.

3) I watched you tube videos on all the major companies that posted videos on lectures.

4) did price comparisons on various packages(that along can make your head spin).  I am not rich and after being laid off didn't want to make a big committment from the start.  *do not order any packages that offer discounts for all four parts.  when you fill out your application, you basically choose or should only choose 1-2 parts to take within the time period allowed or window.

Results:

unbiased opinion.  I found that CPA excel had the best desktop online format for studying, questions and answers and really fell in love with it (very obvious when you compare gleim to cpaexcel online study). I checked out their website and ordered ONLY the first part I plan on studying which is regulation. I ordered the online self study, the textbook and flashcards for 387 bucks.  the book and cards came within two days, the online access was immediate.

I figured this was a good approach because I like their materials and online software, easy to use and navigate.  They break everything down into mini study sessions. If I feel after a month of studying I am not getting enough and/or once I get my NTS, I might add another company to my study arsenal to supplement.  I feel from what I have seen and read, that cpa excel would give me a good base as my main study tool.

*also, in my opinion do not sweat over textbooks.  all textbooks will cover the same type of information for each exam one way or another. I did see the wiley books (used by roger) in barnes and noble for dirt cheap, but the books are small print, like 800 pages and well you get the point. can be ordered online for like 30.00 dollars.

I will keep everyone posted on my test dates and results and more important, how my studying is going with cpaexcel.  I might add becker or another company later if I feel I need more than what cpaexcel can give me.  I did enjoy their trial version so that is who I went with... good luck to all.

hopefully, I can answer any questions you might have.

aspiring CPA candidate in delaware