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Post by choler5000 on Nov 28, 2016 10:53:21 GMT -5
Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. Surviving the WD/LBMT/SI during mid-November is one thing I am thankful for - if not happy about.
The ALJ testing process is very much an endurance test. I sat for the test on 11/15 and 11/16. Stayed at the Marriott Courtyard, which is a total rip-off at the price this time of year, but it is literally across the street from OPM. I did not get an exact count, but there were three folks who did not show for the test. The room was almost full, about equally male to female, and diverse in all respects. There were several SSA agency insiders from different parts of the country. Hats off to the test admins who were helpful and polite.
Stayed at the Embassy Suites for the SI, which is directly across the street from the Metro station. Yes, I admit that I dig comfort and convenience, even when it is overly expensive.
The ALJ testing process is not only an "expensive" one financially (even if you deduct it on your taxes) but also personally in terms of preparation time, general distraction from much more important things and anticipatory stress! I am thankful for this board because it provides a place to de-stress and share the load as much as ethics and the confidentiality agreement allows.
Now, it is time to practice several months of patience . . .
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Post by trekker on Nov 28, 2016 17:36:05 GMT -5
I tested 11/14-15. The room was full, slightly more females than males. Wide age range as far as I could tell -- one person even looked fresh out of high school (must be good genes). As far as I could tell, the participants were from all corners, coasts, and mid-section of the country and from a wide range of law practices. There was a fair number of insiders -- they are easy to spot because they bring their badges (even if they aren't from the DC area). The only "complaint" I heard was from people who had late flights and ended up with early interviews. If they weren't staying at the Embassy Suites, the logistics were just a little more complicated and that will be compounded when testing moves into January and February. Another reason to stay at the same hotel where interviewing is scheduled.
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Post by Pixie on Nov 28, 2016 19:40:23 GMT -5
What Metro Stop is for the SI Embassy Suites? Litigator51 posted above that the King Street-Old Town stop is right across from the SI hotel. Also, directly above her post I posted a link to the DC Metro map.
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Post by saaao on Nov 28, 2016 19:49:15 GMT -5
What Metro Stop is for the SI Embassy Suites? Foggy Bottom is the closest metro stop. Take a left when you exit the metro walk up to the park and then go north about four or five blocks.
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Post by madmansdad on Nov 28, 2016 22:05:40 GMT -5
Did you just demote Litigator52?
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Post by madmansdad on Nov 28, 2016 22:07:50 GMT -5
Did you just demote Litigator52? That was supposed to be a response to Pixie's message above.
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Post by aljwishhope on Nov 29, 2016 7:50:59 GMT -5
What Metro Stop is for the SI Embassy Suites? Foggy Bottom is the closest metro stop. Take a left when you exit the metro walk up to the park and then go north about four or five blocks. current testers is this reply correct? Thought your SI was At hotel in Alexandria at king street metro? Did SI location change?
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Post by bayou on Nov 29, 2016 9:34:12 GMT -5
Foggy Bottom is the closest metro stop. Take a left when you exit the metro walk up to the park and then go north about four or five blocks. current testers is this reply correct? Thought your SI was At hotel in Alexandria at king street metro? Did SI location change? King Street is the correct metro stop for the Embassy Suites at Old Town, 1900 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, VA. That is where the SI was in October and I've seen no discussion on the board that it has changed. You literally walk out of the metro and look slightly to the right and you will see the Embassy Suites. Don't do what I did: whip out the phone and start looking at a map to figure out where to go. Just look up.
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Post by Pixie on Nov 29, 2016 13:15:11 GMT -5
This is part of saaao's plan to confuse the current testers.
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Post by saaao on Nov 29, 2016 17:31:57 GMT -5
current testers is this reply correct? Thought your SI was At hotel in Alexandria at king street metro? Did SI location change? King Street is the correct metro stop for the Embassy Suites at Old Town, 1900 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, VA. That is where the SI was in October and I've seen no discussion on the board that it has changed. You literally walk out of the metro and look slightly to the right and you will see the Embassy Suites. Don't do what I did: whip out the phone and start looking at a map to figure out where to go. Just look up. I stand corrected. When I took the test the SI hotel was in DC proper and located close to OPM HQ. I was not aware they had changed the location. No need for me to add confusion. There will be plenty of that to come.
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Post by christina on Nov 29, 2016 22:28:47 GMT -5
current testers is this reply correct? Thought your SI was At hotel in Alexandria at king street metro? Did SI location change? King Street is the correct metro stop for the Embassy Suites at Old Town, 1900 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, VA. That is where the SI was in October and I've seen no discussion on the board that it has changed. You literally walk out of the metro and look slightly to the right and you will see the Embassy Suites. Don't do what I did: whip out the phone and start looking at a map to figure out where to go. Just look up. But looking up would not help u since u have no eyes
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Post by rp on Nov 30, 2016 8:16:10 GMT -5
King Street is the correct metro stop for the Embassy Suites at Old Town, 1900 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, VA. That is where the SI was in October and I've seen no discussion on the board that it has changed. You literally walk out of the metro and look slightly to the right and you will see the Embassy Suites. Don't do what I did: whip out the phone and start looking at a map to figure out where to go. Just look up. But looking up would not help u since u have no eyes Bayou can see without "seeing" - didn't you know? Have you not seen The Matrix?!
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Post by bayou on Nov 30, 2016 8:18:31 GMT -5
King Street is the correct metro stop for the Embassy Suites at Old Town, 1900 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, VA. That is where the SI was in October and I've seen no discussion on the board that it has changed. You literally walk out of the metro and look slightly to the right and you will see the Embassy Suites. Don't do what I did: whip out the phone and start looking at a map to figure out where to go. Just look up. But looking up would not help u since u have no eyes That actually worked in my favor during the SI. I couldn't see the looks of incredulity from the interviewers at my silly answers.
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Post by bayou on Nov 30, 2016 8:24:03 GMT -5
But looking up would not help u since u have no eyes Bayou can see without "seeing" - didn't you know? Have you not seen The Matrix?! Speaking of the Matrix, that reminds me of one of the funnier posts I read during my prep work. I could have been just delirious from reading posts for several hours but at the time, it made me laugh out loud. Read down to about the 4th post by Funky.
link
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Post by rp on Nov 30, 2016 9:05:50 GMT -5
Bayou can see without "seeing" - didn't you know? Have you not seen The Matrix?! Speaking of the Matrix, that reminds me of one of the funnier posts I read during my prep work. I could have been just delirious from reading posts for several hours but at the time, it made me laugh out loud. Read down to about the 4th post by Funky.
link Biggest laugh I have had in a month! Thanks!
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Post by choler5000 on Nov 30, 2016 11:02:00 GMT -5
The Embassy Suites offers an evening wine/beer and snack time, too, which was a nice way to end the day of testing.
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Post by peanutfancy on Dec 1, 2016 16:37:32 GMT -5
The Embassy Suites offers an evening wine/beer and snack time, too, which was a nice way to end the day of testing. That was a WONDERFUL way to end the testing.
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Post by peanutfancy on Dec 1, 2016 16:38:57 GMT -5
But looking up would not help u since u have no eyes That actually worked in my favor during the SI. I couldn't see the looks of incredulity from the interviewers at my silly answers. Oh, their faces. I still have flashbacks sometimes. And a fit of giggles, which I managed to constrain during the actual interviews. Mine were more like looks of pity as I rambled on...
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Post by sophie22 on Dec 1, 2016 16:46:54 GMT -5
That actually worked in my favor during the SI. I couldn't see the looks of incredulity from the interviewers at my silly answers. Oh, their faces. I still have flashbacks sometimes. And a fit of giggles, which I managed to constrain during the actual interviews. Mine were more like looks of pity as I rambled on... I had one of them nodding her head favorably during one of my answers...which may have been a good thing, but then I remembered all the times the jury nodded along with me during my closing argument, and then entered a verdict against my client! The nerve!!
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Post by wacokid on Dec 1, 2016 17:59:23 GMT -5
Because I had already scheduled the WD/LBMT, I followed through and sat for them today. There were 31 testers, 16 women and 15 men. I have a couple of logistical items I can recommend. First, the Alexandria/Pentagon South Hampton Inn, 4800 Leesburg Pike, had a AAA rate of $130/night (tax included). It's very nice and reasonably close. I have a rented car and parked at the Watergate for $14 (hard by the Kennedy Center), which is about the same distance from OPM as the closest Metro stop. Total non-food expenditures have been $160 r/t on Southwest to BWI, $55 two-day car rental (tax included), $260 hotel, $14 parking. YMMV on flights, but that seems pretty reasonable all things considered.
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