Hay salamat, tapos na rin!

Mercifully, my right hand is still alive after 3 days of NON-STOP WRITING. After 48 years, finally nakapag-exam na 'ko!

More often than not, friends and acquaintances alike tell me that since I passed the Bar, the FSE would be a piece of cake. I wouldn't say for sure. It's said to be the most competitive in the country because marami ring nagte-take but only a few pass all 3 exams (the third is the oral exam).

It doesn't follow that lawyers automatically pass the FSOE; I know and have heard of stories of those who didn't make it. Having a law degree is an advantage but I wouldn't calll it an edge over other applicants. In fact, the only requirement is a college diploma. Thus, some FSOs were chefs, architects, physical therapists before joining the service.

Anyone who's curious about the similarities and differences, if any, between the Bar and FSO, here's my two cents.

1) The coverage is certainly broad enough. Anything goes in the Bar exam (even topics supposedly not part of the coverage!), and in the written exam, the subjects are International Affairs (20%), Philippine Conditions (30%), World History (20%), English (20%), Foreign Language (5%) and Filipino (5%). Personally, it was a challenge to re-learn what I mostly forgot about world history and overcome my aversion to geography. So, for what it's worth, at least I learned a LOT because of the exam, and at least I'll make it a habit of keeping track of what goes on in our very busy and often chaotic world. (I forgot most of what I studied for the Bar, though. Bleh.)

2) Stress Levels. The Bar has 8 subjects, a thousand people cheering outside LaSalle, and is a nasty recurring dream 'til the results come out. Very stressful. The FSE was stressful too, though for different reasons, depending on where you're coming from. The nice de-stressing about it was running into up law peeps and of course, iya!!! - and meeting new people as well. Since you don't change seats for the duration of the 3-day exam period, you inevitably feel some sort of bond with your fellow inmates. Er, examinees.

3) Instruction Manual. The instructions on the FSE exams are annoying and confusing. Don't even attempt to clarify the vague general directions with your friendly but mysterious proctor: "It's part of the exam." So there are varying ways the instructions are interpreted by examinees, especially with respect to pagination.

As for the Bar, I was scared to death of making a mistake - e.g. marking. As for the proctors they pretty much guide you through the process of filling out your index card, putting it in, sealing it with glue, etc.

4) Exhaustion. Both exams are exhausting. The Bar though, is spread out over a period of 4 weeks, leaving one enough time - or energy - to study, fret, consider dropping out, etc. Still, there's adequate time to catch up, it's just a matter of keeping one's morale high.

The FSE since it takes place over a period of 3 days, 8-4 pm, well, there isn't enough time or energy to cram for the next day or fret and consider dropping out.

5) Whole Day affairs. Both cases, you have to wake up really early. The BFSE is quite strict about tardiness. In the first two days of the exam, 13 people in all didn't make it past the gates. They literally close the doors as a matter of policy.

6) Degree of difficulty. I'm not going to be all arrogant and overconfident and say I'm going to see my name on the list. The foreign language part was friggin' difficult, way beyond basic knowledge of French (although those who took Span found the exam ok) - I don't know how to express my opinon in French about US-Phil relations now that Obama is President. And I forgot the meaning of baybayin, too. Pinoy ako! Demmit!

As for the other subjects, i found it challenging to come up with a focused and coherent essay even with topics I know (and some, even by heart) - e.g. the status of population policy in the Philippines, the Mindanao conflict, etc. because of time and brain and hand constraints (haha).

7. Waiting. The Bar - incredibly stressful, pati kaibigan ng kamag-anak inaabangan pangalan mo! And reviewing for the Bar is 6 months of your life. It's an emotional rollercoaster ride. The FSE naman hindi sobrang publicized, kaya people won't routinely ask you about the results.

Anyway, I'm glad it's over and done with.


Anyway, the head proctor said, if you don't make it but you really want a career in the foreign service, try and try again!