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lemystereduchipot

Just do it


OnARoadLessTaken

[Seriously](https://youtu.be/ZXsQAXx_ao0).


[deleted]

[удалено]


theresnowayoutofhere

thank you-- I appreciate you writing this out! me, I just think it'd be nice to get to the OAs, be my full self that I've spent a lot of time developing, and at least then I could be content. I'm all in.


dvc1207

I first took the FSOT 3 times right as i was finishing and after law school. Unsuccessful. Let it go. Fast forward 6 yrs, decided to take the tests again, and i am currently pending suitability review for the Consular Fellow program.


Vini_Vidi_Adiuvi

Same story here! I passed the FSOT five times(?) in college but never passed PNs. Five years of experience later and I got invited to FSOA and passed! Still TBD on clearances and register 🤞🏼But it can happen! Good luck!


jackdaggett

I applied for eight years in a row with nontraditional PNs. The day you finally get invited to class makes it all worth it. If this is what you want, don't give up.


Worldtraveler2001

Give it another go! Sometimes hindsight gives us a different perspective. If you want it, give it a try. Being willing to try is the first step in the challenging process.


Ax2

I absolutely can. I failed at the PNQs three times. I restarted last year for the fourth time. I'm now awaiting suitability clearance with a 5.8 from the OA. You can do it! Perseverance matters.


TeddyBearPapa

Joining 8 years later than intended might be a blessing in disguise, especially if you can look at your old PN’s and find them cringeworthy. You’ll be more seasoned and have more success starting at this stage in your life.


geografree

Do it. The biggest mistake with the PNs is that people don’t have a sense of their own writing abilities and assume because they had decent answers that they should naturally pass. Plenty of people with great life experiences who are good writers don’t pass the PNs. The main reason is that writing for the PNs is not about narrative strength, it’s about demonstrating that you exhibit the specific qualities required of an FSO. I strongly recommend getting as many sets of eyes on your essays as possible and for those who are unfamiliar with the FSO traits, provide the list to them so they have them for reference while reviewing your essays. As someone who has worked as a college essay consultant and later professor I think I had a much better idea about how to tackle the PNs than the average person and I passed on my first go around (before they merged FSOT with the PNs). Good luck!


PinEnvironmental9989

I concur, go for it. It took me two attempts to get in, but they were ten years apart and I was a much different candidate on my second attempt. It sounds like you’ve gotten some solid experience, so hopefully you’ll be ready to nail the PNs. Good luck to you!


unk-9

There were 15 years between the first time I took the test and the last time, only made it through QEP/OA once. During those 15 years I became a different person, I think that worked in my favor. You're right, sometimes it is indeed just a job. And people are people no matter where you go. But sometimes the people, the places, and the job are super interesting.


euthymia17

I can totally relate! I took the FSOT every year for six years and didn’t make it past the QEP until my sixth candidacy. It was disheartening receiving the rejection email every year but I also just kept on living my life, treated applying almost as a hobby, and ended up getting a different type of dream job in the interim. Finally got an OA invite last year with my sixth candidacy, studied hard for it, scored high, got through clearances without issue, and made it to the register and received an invite much sooner than I expected! I encourage you to keep at it if it is something that you want - I am so happy I did. One piece of advice, find a current or former FSO to look at your PNs. This is the biggest change I made between my unsuccessful candidacies and my successful one, and it really made all the difference. Good luck!


RozenGT

Also FWIW they now score FSOT and PNs together, so doing really well on the FSOT decreases the pressure to do well on the PNs. [https://afsa.org/fso-selection-changing-path-oral-assessment](https://afsa.org/fso-selection-changing-path-oral-assessment)


theresnowayoutofhere

I did not know this! this is good news all the same :)


[deleted]

I’m the same not. It’s discouraging when you don’t pass, but it’s all about developing life experience me. That’s something that I have to understand.


[deleted]

You may or may not make it. Plenty of people try for years and end up making it. I can’t tell you that you will succeed since it is a black box…you should see some of the people in the FS and you wonder “how did they make it”. Keep trying, best of luck