Coming full circle

As the year winds down, the coming year brings another try at joining the ranks of the United States Foreign Service. I submitted my application yesterday to take the FSOT for the second time. I should hear back next month regarding an invitation to take the test again. Until then, I am brushing up on my Italian and working on Hindi while brushing up on the rest of the FSOT materials. Wish me luck!

Tragedy and Motivation

The events of the past week are tragic, my thoughts are with the family and friends of Ambassador Stevens and his staff in Libya. The events are tragic indeed, but I have found that they are providing me with ever more motivation to become a Foreign Service Officer and serve my country abroad. I am committed to taking (and hopefully passing) the test in February 2013! I am committed to joining the ranks of the men and women of the US Foreign Service in countries around the world, representing the best of the United States.

If at first...

The saying goes, "if at first you don't suceed, try, try again." Well it seems that I must try again in one year...

I received my results letter this afternoon and my first attempt at the FSOT was unsuccessful. To pass the test a candidate needs a 154 on the multiple choice, I scored a 151.25; my essay wasn't scored because of my score not reaching the minimum.

Well I guess I have to plan for next year.

FSOT Round 1 - DONE

Well, the test is over....It all seemed to go pretty well, but I guess we will see in a few weeks!

Anxiety Sets In

With my test date a mere four days away, I am beginning to feel the anxiety that sets in before any major (potentially) life changing event! I follow many FS bloggers and am a member of the FSWE and FSOA Yahoo! Groups; all have been flooded the last few weeks with other anxious wannabes like myself. I have been preparing for this test for three months now, I know I am ready....or I think I am ready.

Have I prepped enough in my weak JK areas? Will I be able to slam out a formal essay in the time allotted, like I did in school? Will the Bio section throw me for a loop? All these answers are forthcoming, but I sure wish I had a time machine to see my results now!

The Clock is Winding Down...

With little more than a week until my scheduled test, I am in full blown study mode! That is, when I can sit down and actually study. I am confident on many of the Job Knowledge areas and the essay should be a familiar task. The English expression and biographical questionnaire parts are the ones worrying me; not to mention the economics, management, and geography portions of the job knowledge section.
As a graduate in history and political science, I had plenty of US History and Government classes, and if you count my pedagogy classes as management classes, then I guess I'm not as worried about those questions either.
Whatever the next week and a half hold for me, I hope I will be able to find adequate time to brush up on my weaker areas of expertise.

The Adventure is Underway!

This morning, finally received the formal invitation to take the FSOT in February! I scheduled my test for Thursday, February 9, 2012, at 11:30 AM in Ankeny, Iowa. Now for the hard core study regimen!

The test includes a Job Knowledge section (includes general information), an English Expression Test (think ACT English test), a Biographic Questionnaire, and an Essay, all of which are timed tests, all of which are scored (even the Biographic section is scored!)

Needless to say, I am excited, I have been anticipating this for weeks! My adventure is finally underway!