patapata

I don't know about the UN, but you can definitely get into State with little or no work experience. (And, you can become an FSO without even a bachelor's degree.) The work experience might make you a mature applicant and help you perform better on the oral test, but that's a different issue.

Have your parents put the money in a savings account and go to the best school you can go to... later on when you have had work experience.

I really hope you can get a recommendation letter elsewhere. Your boss is extremely unfair to you, especially since you are are giving her many months of notice. That is not normal behavior for a supervisor. (I know you said you're an economist, but is your boss an FSO? Or are there people like this in other agencies. **Shudder**)

erichi makes some good points that I had completely forgotten about. Indeed, one of the reasons we have been trying to find a way out is because we keep saying we can see the interior of a cubiclefor 10 to 12 hours a day in more pleasant cities. And, I can tell you that have certainly been around FS people because yours is a common observation. You either love or hate your FS co-workers. Unlike in the US, where you will get along really well with a few of your coworkers, hate a few, and not feel one or way or another about most, in the FS the "incestous" locationships lead to strong feelings about most of your co-workers. I just wanted to relate one of my favorite FS anecdotes. On our first assignment, I had been working in a French-speaking African post for a few weeks, and an FSO began complaning to me about her local subordinates. She told me that she often had to correct their French grammar. (Mind you, her subordinates were among the best educated people in this country.) I expressed amazement and guilibly asked her if she had gone to high school or university in France or another French-speaking country. Neither, she informed me; she had simply taken a three-month French course at the Foreign Service Institute. :roll: But, she nevertheless felt empowered to correct the French grammar or French-educated professionals. Expect to me tons of people like that; they create the cutthroat environment I was warning you about.

Experience. I have been part of an FS family for nearly a decade. It is a dfficult environment in which to work, for many reasons. Unlike happycamper, who has never been in an embassy, I can tell you from experience that in my opinion the overwhelming portion of FS people are fairly unimpressive. As I mentioned, I have met amazing people, FSOs and specialists who will be my friends for the rest of my life. But, the majority of individuals were very difficult, rude, demeaning, self-impressed, and self-important. Part of the problem is that the people with whom you work are not only your co-workers; they are the people with whom you socialize. Especially in impoverished or unsafe countries, often times the Marine House is the hub of American social activity. In any workplace, problems are bound to arise if you socialize and work with the same group of individuals week after week. And, certainly in a place like Paris or Sydney it is easy to socialize outside of the embassy or small expat community. But, there are many posts where this is not feasible. Your co-workers will also determine much about your personal life: where you live, what your security restrictions are, if your spouse gets a family-member job at the embassy, etc... You can imagine all the resentment and infighting this can create. In addition, many of your FS co-workers will be isolated and lonely. The single ones do not have any built-in support networks, and even the ones traveling with family are cut off from their wider social support networks. And just when you start making friends, either they move to a different post or you move on. That loneliness and isolation does terrible things to people. Finally, if you have a spouse who wants to work, this lifestyle will be incompatible with either your career, your marriage, or your spouse's goals. I cannot say for certain that I would not have traveled the world with the FS if I had to do it all over again. I would, however, create a better exit strategy for myself and for my family. If you are interested in the FS, I would encourage you to try it before you get married and start a family. But, I think you should also plan very carefully to have an exit strategy, in case you don't like it. For example, avoid a two-year, visa mill consular assignment when you begin. Consular assignments in visa mills won't do much for your resume, in case you want to leave the FS. If the FS is your dream, you should certainly give it a shot. You might find that you like it.

vinnievega: If you don't like cutthroat environments and prefer relaxed areas, you should probably avoid the Foreign Service. It's a viper's nest where some people would sell their own children to make it to senior levels. Living overseas is interesting, and some of your coworkers will be lovely, fascinating individuals with whom you will be friends forever. The other 75 percent of individuals, however, are insecure, nuts, and/or lonely and negatively affect not only your workplace but also your personal life.

So... I got a sweet deal to my number three school. And, my top choice gave out awards and did not include me. I was planning to write top choice and ask if they were going to give out additional scholarships/fellowships. Then, I was going to remind them how much I love Top Choice and how much I want to go there. And, finally, I was going to mention that despite my boundless love for Top Choice, Number Three U has given me such an enormous package, that the decision has been made for me, unless I can get at least a little bit something from Top Choice.. I figure, if they really want me, they will cough up some money. If they don't really want me, well, they won't give me a dime, but then I go to number three. Is it worth it to try this? Or will it backfire on me if I mention to Top Choice that I already have $$$ from Number Three?

I am in the opposite situation. I applied to three programs to be near someone. Oh, they are excellent programs in my field, so I was not comprising the quality of my education for (unrequited) love. Of course, she does not know that I did this to be near her. Nor does she know that I am madly, hopelessly, terribly in love with her. And, last night, she emailed me to tell me she might be moving out of the area--and moving overseas--over the summer. I was looking forward to August so anxiously, when we could be together again. I have spent the last two years of my life planning a way to return to be close to her and living these crazy fantasies where once we were in close geographic proximity she would realize that I am the one one. At the very least, I thought that once we were together again we could work through all the tension and ackwardness that take over our friendship during the rare moments we have spent together these past two years. Now, I really want to get into the very competitive programs that are nowhere near this city. I guess it's all for the better anyway; nothing was ever going to happen between us. But, she has taken the joy away from my acceptances.

Wow, you are absolutely right about the need for an attitude adjustment.