Wavarian

I have been actively reading this forum throughout the past year (but never began to post) and I have gathered lots of information on classes such as A-100 where the material is taught in an incoherent/incomplete manner. So far the tips I have received for A-100 are:

- Attend office hours
- Work the practice tests
- Read and study the material independently (obviously)

I know that certain people who browse this forum have survived this class and I was wondering if there were any tips available for students like me who are willing to succeed at any cost (within the bounds of legality, of course). Would it be a good idea to get a tutor? I have heard many horror stories about the class (especially the professor) but I'm still optimistic to do my best. I would greatly appreciate any useful information current IU students could offer on A100 that would put me (and other CC browsers) in an advantageous situation for the class. Thanks.

Calcruzer

I'm not a IU student, but my son is--and I was his tutor (I'm a CPA in California and Utah).

The problem in a nutshell is that Tiller only has 16 total sessions to teach this class--and two of those are spent on testing. This leaves about 14-20 hours to teach a beginning accounting course--which is next to impossible.

I suggest you go to this website:

http://www.mhprofessional.com/produc...sbn=0072483709

and purchase the product there now--and start running the CDs as soon as you get them. Chapters 1-5 are on the first test, Chapters 6-8 are on the second test.

In addition, find an accounting major who is a junior or senior to tutor you when you have problems on Tiller's sample tests. Lastly, look for the "trick" in the question. Even as a CPA I missed a few of the questions when I first went through the test since they are not always straightforward. Once you know to look for the "trick", then you can catch it (Only about 1/5 of the questions are "trick" ones, though).

Best of luck.

P.S. The real key to getting through this course is to start studying before the class starts. The pace is just way too fast once you are in the course, and remember you will be taking at least four other courses--and the tests come around at the four week and eight week marks. Also, if you do poorly in the first test (anything below a C to C+), drop the course--don't expect to make it up on the second test. There are a lot of people with Ds and Fs who thought the second test would be easier, but discovered it isn't.

Wavarian

Thanks a load for your (extremely comprehensive) answer. I appreciate the reccomendation for that CD-ROM and will be consistently reviewing it before the spring semester.

Piemastarr

would a person have much trouble with the course if they've already taken accounting courses in high school? just wondering how extensive the material is. p[ersonally I've taken 3 years of accounting in hs, and had no problem, but I'm still wondering if I should be worried about this course

barren_field

Calcruzer...is this tool something we're eventually going to have to buy for the course or is it just an extra tool your son used?

Thanks Wavarian for posting this topic...I was about to post a very similar one because I too am really scared for A100 with the things I've heard.

Calcruzer

No, this is not required to be puchased for the course--it's just my recommendation.

Actually, my son didn't use this--and just relied on me to work with him as a tutor after the class was well underway (way too late in my view). I was able to help a bit--and he did pass the class--but his grade in accounting (C+) is the worse grade he's had at Indiana Univ up to this point.

I'm familiar with the CDs since I ended up using slide decks from the same professor who puts out the material on the CDs when I needed to start tutoring my son in this class.

Jason181988

I never had acctg. in high school and got an A. Some people I know that had acctg. ended up dropping the class. You just have to 1) Attend Class, 2) Do the reading and try to understand it before class and 3) Most important -- DO THE PRACTICE TESTS- ALL OF THEM!

Calcruzer

Please note that the material layout keeps changing. Thus, now Chapters 1-5 are on the first test and chapters 18-23 are on the second (with Chapter 23 being the most important).

JKJKJK09

what exactly is a100?

rrah

Accounting

idylldancer

Ok, so I will definitely be ordering the CD's for my son. In the ideal world, would you guys suggest he start listening/learning them over the summer before he goes to IU???? (Maybe if he hears this from someone who took the class he would listen)

IllinoisMom2006

Starting over the summer would be ideal. Once he gets to IU in the fall, he is going to be so busy with school & fun he's not going to have the time (or probably the desire) to devote to this supplemental program. Also, if he does it over the summer, when he hears the same concepts in class it won't be totally foreign to him and, hopefully, it will reinforce the concepts and lead to success.

Just my opinion. The last thing he probably wants to do this summer is study. But he will be ahead of the game if he does. Good luck!

Calcruzer

BUS A100 is a one-unit basic accounting course that lasts 8 weeks that is required of all business majors. Because it is a prerequisite for two other required accounting courses (BUS A201 Financial Accounting and BUS A202 Managerial Accounting), it is strongly suggested that it be taken by all incoming freshmen business majors either in the first or second semester.

Historically, it has been the toughest of the so-called "weed out" courses. To give you an idea of how tough, approximately 45% of each class taking the course either get Ds, Fs, or drop the course. It is for this reason--and because the instructor who used to teach it (Tiller) used to put in a lot of "trick" questions on the exams, that it has become fairly notorious as "THE" course that is used (along with the BUS K201 Computer course) to determine who will get through the business program and who won't. If you go to a site like "rate my professors", you'll see that there are very strong opinions (pro and con) about Tiller as a result. (I'm sure it would probably be the same no matter who taught the course).

While not officially required for admission to the Kelley business school, it is required to graduate from the school--and the two courses it is the prerequisite for have to be taken no later than the Fall semester of the junior year if you are a business major.

Because it lasts only 8 weeks--meaning 16 class meetings and two of these class meetings are spent taking tests, this allows only 7 class meetings (7 hours) of instruction time before each test. Thus, you have to learn a lot of stuff in that very short instruction time. It is for this reason that I (and other students and parents) are posting here to warn incoming students and parents to be prepared ahead of time for this course.

bthomp1

Here is a link to what they use at IUPUI Kelley for A100. It is tough to pass at IUPUI Kelley (42% pass, about same as IU-Blgtn sections), too. This product is requred at A100 IUPUI. Looks like a combination book and online program geared to what you already know and need to learn.

Note the review ("Everyone in my accounting class is raving about how much this products has helped them understand the assingments.") from an person from Indianapolis who the product helped in her accounting class, most likely A100 since this is the required text/online tutorial for A100 IUPUI (It may only be an online tutorial [with no text], I don't know. I looked for it at IUPUI bookstore a month ago, but they were sold out).

Amazon.com: ALEKS User's Guide and Access Code for Accounting Cycle (Stand Alone 6 Week): ALEKS Corporation,ALEKS Corporation: Books

Here is a report which includes how they are trying to make A100 more passable at IUPUI:

http://uc.iupui.edu/uploadedFiles/As...s2007FINAL.pdf

bthomp1

According to the Fall 2008 schedule, Tiller is only teaching A100 the first eight weeks. The second eight weeks will be taught by somebody named V. Winston. Only eighty or so spots left in Winston's sections, which will probably all go to direct admits, as they will be registering first. More than 400 places remain for the Tiller sections. Way more than half the spots have already taken and freshmen haven't had a chance to register yet.

I wonder what the A100 class gpa's will look like from the first- and second-eight weeks?