BALS degree Foreign Service Officer Test

[vetvso]

Recently I began thinking about careers that many of us might be preparing for unknowenlly. One of those careers the with the United States State Department as a Foreign Service Officer. It requires one to take the FSOL and score well before being allowed to move further into the selection process. I personally have never taken the test but from what I have been reading it is very social science-based, and that is something most of us do here when trying to get our BALS and electives done.

Here is a list of areas recommended to know when taking the test to do well. This is very similar to SOPHIA classes to be honest with a few DSST mixed in.

• English Composition/Rhetoric • American History • American Studies (including cultural and social history) • American Political Thought • United States Political System • American Economic History • Introduction to Economics (micro and macro) • World History (Western and non-Western) • World Geography • International Economics • World Religions • Introduction to Statistics • Introduction to Management Principles • Intercultural Communication • Mass Communication • Psychology

Has anyone ever taken this test, and If so what do they think about what allot of us knowledge junkies do here as being prep for this kind of career.

[sanantone]

I took and passed the exam many years ago. I wouldn't say that it is broadly social science-based. It's political science-based mixed with some humanities. More specifically, it covers international relations, which is a sub-field of political science. Someone with a background in political science (internationally-focused), international relations, world history, world geography, cultural anthropology, journalism, or security studies should do well on it. Also, anyone who pays attention to current events should do well. The rest is mostly common knowledge from high school. I don't think the behavioral sciences are as helpful for this test.

To me, the personal narrative is the most difficult part to pass if you don't come from a white collar background. At that time, I was in my mid-20s and not a white collar worker, and the questions about work and volunteer experiences did not align with the work I had done.

Note: The test could have been refreshed since I've taken it.

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I took this test while waiting for the conferral of my BA in Social Science, so I took the exam before starting on my BSBA in CIS and my master's in security studies. I mostly relied upon my knowledge from daily viewing of cable news and reading the newspaper.

[vetvso]

I took and passed the exam many years ago. I wouldn't say that it is broadly social science-based. It's political science-based mixed with some humanities. More specifically, it covers international relations, which is a sub-field of political science. Someone with a background in political science (internationally-focused), international relations, world history, world geography, cultural anthropology, journalism, or security studies should do well on it. Also, anyone who pays attention to current events should do well. The rest is mostly common knowledge from high school. I don't think the behavioral sciences are as helpful for this test.

To me, the personal narrative is the most difficult part to pass if you don't come from a white collar background. At that time, I was in my mid-20s and not a white collar worker, and the questions about work and volunteer experiences did not align with the work I had done.

Note: The test could have been refreshed since I've taken it.

---

I took this test while waiting for the conferral of my BA in Social Science, so I took the exam before starting on my BSBA in CIS and my master's in security studies. I mostly relied upon my knowledge from daily viewing of cable news and reading the newspaper.

This is great feedback, and helpful to people considering the field of work.