Several Questions about the Foreign Service

[Anonymous]

About 25 years ago I passed the exam and sat on the roster then timed out. Then a few years later, I passed the exam again and sat on the roster for 18 months and was finally offered a spot but declined because I was in a better job. Haven’t regretted that choice for a minute.

My impression from that experience and spending a lot of time on the old Yahoo Group back then are that unless you are Ivy grad with a prestigious fellowship, you really need a master’s degree first.

The political cone is the hardest to get into and consular is the easiest.

Last, if you are already an FSO and State allows you leave to study for a masters it would absolutely give you a leg up in admissions. The whole point of those programs like “the school of foreign service” are to place graduates in that job so they would considered having a current FSO in the program as an asset.

[Anonymous]

Isnt the Peace Corps a good way to back door into the State Dept? Do that

[Anonymous]

There really isn't a formal backdoor into State. Perhaps starting a contractor can help, or even in some sort of internship.

[raptorsxyz]

Anonymous wrote:About 25 years ago I passed the exam and sat on the roster then timed out. Then a few years later, I passed the exam again and sat on the roster for 18 months and was finally offered a spot but declined because I was in a better job. Haven’t regretted that choice for a minute.

My impression from that experience and spending a lot of time on the old Yahoo Group back then are that unless you are Ivy grad with a prestigious fellowship, you really need a master’s degree first.

The political cone is the hardest to get into and consular is the easiest.

Last, if you are already an FSO and State allows you leave to study for a masters it would absolutely give you a leg up in admissions. The whole point of those programs like “the school of foreign service” are to place graduates in that job so they would considered having a current FSO in the program as an asset.

OP - with all due respect, my research has shown your info is outdated, or at least I'm really hoping it is. I've heard a lot less people apply these days, and they've had to lower the admissions standards. For example, you don't pass or fail the test straight out anymore, you just get a score.

[raptorsxyz]

Anonymous wrote:I've known plenty of great people that worked for State and never get it, so I wouldn't exactly count on it.

Well, getting a career with the State department wouldn't exactly be a bad fallback!!