<p>Hi, I am very interested in the Foreign Service and it's exam (which I heard is the hardest exam given in the US with its 9 parts and all) and I'm wondering how does one prepare for such a dream? I'm only a sophmore in high school but I have just recently been asked if going into the Foreign Service would be good for what I want to do with my life. Is anyone here actually in the Foreign Service? And it would be wonderful if someone could tell me about how the application process goes cause it sounds quite gruesome. :)</p>
<p>wow, I guess the Foreign service isn't a really popular career option! :)</p>
<p>yea i'm interested in this too! someone please reply haha... i think its a very demanding career... plus they might not have internet if they're stuck in some harsh places</p>
<p>you know, I wonder how "dangerous" these places are, I mean will it be fear for your life everyday and have dozens of security personal around all the time or will it be not that bad?</p>
<p>well, i don't know if "dangerous" is always the word to use, sometimes, the places might just be "harsh" but not necessarily "dangerous." not everyone gets to start off by getting a position to go to europe (actually, most don't). i actually think you're required to serve in a non-desirable (africa, middle east, etc.) location first before you can move up the ranks to more desirable locations.</p>
<p>is there alot of concern for the safety of a foreign service diplomat, i mean alot of the islamic countries in the middle east aren't exactly too fond of Americans so do u think there is any reason to believe that one could be assasinated or something on these assignments.</p>
<p>Here is a good place to learn more about foreign service careers:
<a href="http://www.careers.state.gov/%5B/url%5D">http://www.careers.state.gov/</a></p>
<p>Be sure to check on the "students" section, too.</p>
<p>My son is planning on majoring in International Studies in college, and when we spoke with an advisor, she said many graduates in this major were hired by the state dept. and the CIA.</p>
<p>One of the things you can do to prepare yourself now is to really get busy on a foreign language. Most high school students don't achieve much competence in whatever language they study, but you could really work at it...not just to get a decent grade...but to really <em>learn</em> the language.</p>
<p>Here is something interesting I found on the state dept. website. It's a book about foreign service:</p>
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<blockquote> <p>The updated and revised 2005 printing of Inside a U.S. Embassy: How the Foreign Service Works for America is now available. This best-selling book has become a must-read for anyone taking the Foreign Service exam. Published by the American Foreign Service Association, the book takes readers inside embassies and consulates in over 50 countries, providing detailed descriptions of Foreign Service jobs and first-hand accounts of diplomacy in action. Go to <a href="http://www.afsa.org/inside%5B/url%5D">www.afsa.org/inside</a> for more information and to order, or call (847) 364-1222. <<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>I don't think life is very dangerous for the State Dept types (obviously excluding the people in hell holes like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen). However, the CIA and clandestine type people operating in foreign nations tend to be in very dangerous positions.</p>
<p>I think the foreign service would be pretty dull because there really isn't that much to do. You are assigned to the embassy in say Slovenia...not much happens there. Very few people get to go to the exciting countries in areas like Western Europe and East Asia.</p>
<p>but if you could speak some east asian language, wouldn't your chances of being assigned to east asia a lot better? i would think its a waste if they assigned a mandarin-speaking foreign service officer to slovenia.</p>
<p>Yeah, i mean if you spoke fluent mandarin like me then wouldn't you get a better chance of getting assigned to something like China and not u know some country that does not allow you to use your skills. Would u have better chance of getting assigned to somewhere exciting is what i'm really getting to.?</p>
<p>does a highschool junior have a chance of getting an internship at foreign service? I am ethnic Korean, very much fluent in korean with reading/writing/comprehension skills. I was hoping to intern at F.S over the summer or even during school year if possible, but I dunno how to go about it or if I even have a chance of getting the internship. How selective are the internship programs at F.S? also, does my language skill give me an edge?</p>
<p>i am not 100% sure but i believe you have to have a college degree to be in the foreign service (this does not apply for some of the other branches of government though). that is because you are representing the USA (!) and i'm sure the United States government would like a college educated individual to do that. </p>
<p>on 2nd thought regarding the languages, i still think you'll end up in a hardship spot first regardless of what language you speak. i've read a few profiles of some people in the foreign service and all of them have served in a hardship area and all of them learned a 2nd/3rd/4th/5th foreign language that they probably picked up from the foreign service and not through college. however, upon completing your assignment in the hardship area, then they will probably move you over to somewhere where you can utilize your primary foreign language. the exception would be if the place of your primary foreign language becomes a hotspot.</p>
<p>so no internships/programs available for high school students?</p>
<p>try local embassies?</p>
<p>perhaps not with the USA foreign service but maybe some other international organizations or like confidential said, local embassies?</p>
<p>with determination and persuasion.. im sure u can get an internship(sometimes you have to create your opportunity) at a local embassy.</p>
<p>I would love to be an Ambassador for Israel or China. </p>
<p>I wonder what are good extracurriculars besides MUN that would be good prep for this.</p>
<p>well it depends how good you are at mun.. i see too many ppl doing mun for other reasons than discussing current events. local conferences have no real competition so i suggest attending a national conference. I went to UPenn's IVY league conference and got a humbling experience and then went back this year and got Outstanding Del. on a GA. I really got good experience and the country that beat me really deserved it and should look into a career in pol. sci etc.</p>
<p>Summary: Do MUN for competition, not for hooking up with girls, making it sound good for college apps.</p>
<p>yes, ofcourse confidential, I know exactly what you mean. I would love to do it for the debate and research, unfortunately my school doesn't have the program. I am considering to start one (rising sophomore now).</p>
<p>EDIT: I'm a sophomore in highschool. :P</p>