Anybody here a diplomat?

dognhorsemom

I am a diplomat, and have been for 22 years. While SFS is a very nice (and stunningly expensive) school, it is not the only way - nor even the most common way - that future foreign service officers acquire their educations. In fact, FSOs come from all over the US, from every state, from a vast array of educational majors and a huge variety of professions. I myself had a degree in anthropology and was the training supervisor in a metal-working factory when I took and passed the foreign service exams.

Unless you can pass the written and oral exams, and win a TS clearance and class 1 medical clearance, you will not be accepted despite any degree or language skill. In addition, any skills and languages that are required for overseas assignments are taught as needed at the Foreign Service Institute (actually the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, but everyone calls it FSI). I've learned three languages there, and learned two others on my own while assigned to those countries. The only requirements for entry into the Service are to pass the exams, to be a high school graduate, and to be a US citizen on the day you are sworn in.

Here is a link that will help you a lot:
http://careers.state.gov/officer/index.html

Bruno Tataglia

You need to be as close as possible to the Foreign Affairs Dept/Ministry of your country ...

bornonaplatein1988

Diplomat immunity!

thoth child

I used to be in the Foreign Service, and served for 6 years in Russia and Hungary.

I obtained a four year Bachelors of International Studies and minored in Russian. Then I went on to grad school and spent some time in Russia and Ukraine studying. Then I qualified for an internship at a US consulate there.

Georgetown Univ. is the site of the Foreign Service School, which I did not attend. It's the best grad school for the job. Before they send you on assignment, you will receive language and cultural training.

As an undergraduate, major in Area Studies, International Studies, choose a language to study and study abroad in a country that uses that language.

You must take a Foreign Service Exam first, then hopefully you'll be accepted. They're looking for speakers of Arabic and Chinese especially. But French is good too, if you are interested in many African nations.

Good luck.

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