Need Some Advice Guys!

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mooshul

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Hello Everyone,
Just some background, I failed the June07 Level I (first attempt). I was under prepared and didn't study as much as I needed to even though I went though most of the material at least once. I only took one practice exam from schweser the day before and scored around a 60.
Same with my results, 51%-70% across the board.

So my question is, what classes have any of you taken or have heard from others that were good? I am one of those who needs some guidance when studying since I get distracted and off track all the time. I was thinking about the NYSSA CFA Level I Weekly Review but unfortunately, they are given on Wednesdays and I will be starting my grad courses the same nights. I saw some thread saying that the John A. Harris classes were pretty good.

Thanks for ANY feedback from anyone.
Hope to see all yalls in June for LevelII

Sean
 
found some info if anyone is interested...
http://www.analystforum.com/phorums/read.php?11,569785,569809
 
Sean,
there's abundant opportunities to part ways with your money while preparing for these exams.
A few considerations before you enroll in a class:

Lack of timely practice is the most glaring weakness in the study approach you used heading into June. You need to begin taking sample exams weeks before the real test (3-6, IMHO). If you'd scored that 60 on the practice exam earlier, you would have had time to review your weak areas of the CBOK. Bottom line: Take more practice tests, sooner, whether you enroll in a class or not.

Is a class the solution for you?

My *opinion* is that a class will be most helpful if you need imposed structure to learn effectively, which would be similar to your prior academic experience.

Two items from your post concern me.

1) You often get distracted and off-track. You've failed once, it's time for a gut-check: can you overcome these personal traits and give your studies the concentration required to master the CBOK? If you think you're really committed to learning and just need more structure, take the class.

2) Your graduate courses. How thin are you being spread right now? Do you have the time and bandwidth to juggle both of these academic obligations at once?

A class may be the answer, or maybe you just need more practice, sooner. On a personal note, timely practice made the difference between my initial failure of LI and subsequent pass. You may also need to defer your CFA candidacy until you're able to devote adequate time and energy to preparation. Only you can answer these questions.

Just my $0.02 before you run off and spend a small fortune on classes. Good luck!
 
Well said. Classes are only good if you stay on track. That being said, I took the Schweser 16 week online seminar and found it to be an effective way of staying on track. Try to be a week ahead of it if you can.
 
Yes, but they are effective even if you're one week after their schedule. I took them all in archived version. You, mooshul, mentioned taking only one (1) practice exam from Scheweser. I took the entire Book 6 with three (x2), their four (x2) on-line exams, the BSAS (x2) and one (only) from "Practice exams". That made all the difference. I kept at it right up until June 1, so on June 2 I just stepped up and did two more, knowing fairly well what to expect.
 
I would think personal determination, sacrifice and focus will be economical and more productive, as you might be working on a curriculum that doesnt fit your lifestyle/and asssimilation level.

How badly do you need this? I think the answer to this is the ultimate motivation.
 
Strategy for December 2007 when you failed in June

Multiple Choice
Q# Topic Max Pts <=50% 51%-70% >70%
- Alternative Assets 12 - * -
- Derivatives 12 * - -
- Economics 24 * - -
- Equity Analysis 24 - * -
- Ethical & Professional Stnds. 36 - * -
- Financial Statement Analysis 68 * - -
- Fixed Income Analysis 24 - * -
- General Portfolio Management 12 * - -
- Quantitative Analysis 28 - * -

Ok ok no excuse, I failed in June�and this is not because I did not work, maybe some personal reason, lot of pressure at work and I was not concentrate enough�whatever, the results are there and I really want to pass this in December.

These are my results.

I was not good in Asset valuation, normally got 60-70% on FSA on the practice exams, ethics I had always more than 70%, did not do good the day of the exam�
Econ and portfolio management: I deserve my grades; I had no clue the day of the exam�

However, if you have any advice, that would be helpful. I do not know how to start..should I focus on FSA? Start from the beginning�
 
considering you still have plenty of time, I'd say it's probably best to start from the beginning -- as you go along, review the topics you did well on the exam and focus more on the ones you failed.
 
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