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Post by basileia on Dec 2, 2016 11:50:25 GMT -5
For anyone staying at State Plaza, I took uber from there to the interview during rush hour. It took 25 minutes. Cost was around $13. I took another one to airport for about the same cost. Both times I was picked up in under 3 minutes from the time of entering the request.
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Post by Judge McJudgeypants on Dec 2, 2016 15:23:32 GMT -5
I'm about to book flights from the West Coast (5+ hour flight). I must come in on a Wednesday for early morning Thursday testing. I'd prefer to be gone from my kids the shortest amount of time possible and save money, so my hope was to hop back on a plane Friday after the SI. Not knowing when that is exactly, however, I've been looking at the latest possible flights out. But the latest flight I could find that still gets me back to the West Coast on Friday/early Saturday departs DCA at 500 pm. So the question is, has anyone been given an SI time slot after 3 pm? Has anyone else tried to fly our later in the day after the SI and missed a plane? Do you think I can make a flight after 5 pm even with the random assignment of SI times? Thanks in advance.
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Post by ALJCandidate on Dec 2, 2016 15:34:03 GMT -5
The latest I have heard of an SI being scheduled is 3:30. It maybe possible there are later scheduling.
DCA is not far from the interview site on the yellow line of the DC metro. I think just 2 stops (DCA - Braddock - King St/Old Town Alexandria) and the interview site is right near the metro stop. With that being said, if the latest flight is at 5pm and if you draw a late schedule I would be worried about missing your flight.
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Post by Pixie on Dec 2, 2016 16:08:05 GMT -5
The latest I have heard of an SI being scheduled is 3:30. It maybe possible there are later scheduling. DCA is not far from the interview site on the yellow line of the DC metro. I think just 2 stops (DCA - Braddock - King St/Old Town Alexandria) and the interview site is right near the metro stop. With that being said, if the latest flight is at 5pm and if you draw a late schedule I would be worried about missing your flight. Agreed. It could well be that you will get a late afternoon slot. In that case, you would miss your flight. Pixie
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Post by frogalj on Dec 3, 2016 12:14:03 GMT -5
Thanks for that info. I'm staying at State Plaza next week. However, the Uber website says minimum fare is $25. Good to know it may be cheaper.
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Post by rp on Dec 3, 2016 16:17:20 GMT -5
Thanks for that info. I'm staying at State Plaza next week. However, the Uber website says minimum fare is $25. Good to know it may be cheaper. I definitely recommend Uber. First time I ever used it was to get to the SI and it was only $11 from gallaudet university.
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Post by msp on Dec 4, 2016 19:12:43 GMT -5
Also, your scheduled time could run late, as mine did. It ran about 15 minutes behind; not much, granted, but that could mean a great deal in the time it takes to get through traffic and to the airport.
PS...good luck to you! And to all testers this week - I challenge you all to wear your favorite ugly holiday sweaters and report back!
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Post by gern on Dec 4, 2016 20:41:13 GMT -5
I traveled a distance to get to DC. When I had the SI, there were a number of other people from far away all interviewing in the first slot in the morning. I though maybe it was because DC hates me, and wanted me as sleepy and disoriented as possible. (Pro tip: your SI answers DO NOT have to phrased in the form of a question!) However, it hits me that they might have done that thinking I might need to make a flight out of town. I throw the question out there: anybody traveling from far away get an afternoon SI time? It may be that they're looking out for us, in a strange unstated way.
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Post by grandparay1 on Dec 4, 2016 22:54:16 GMT -5
I traveled from California. SI on Friday was scheduled for 1PM. I really think it is random.
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Post by seeker7 on Dec 4, 2016 23:09:43 GMT -5
I traveled a distance to get to DC. When I had the SI, there were a number of other people from far away all interviewing in the first slot in the morning. I though maybe it was because DC hates me, and wanted me as sleepy and disoriented as possible. (Pro tip: your SI answers DO NOT have to phrased in the form of a question!) However, it hits me that they might have done that thinking I might need to make a flight out of town. I throw the question out there: anybody traveling from far away get an afternoon SI time? It may be that they're looking out for us, in a strange unstated way. I traveled from Washington State and had a 1pm SI, along with people from NY, IN, OR, AL, PA, etc.
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Post by bayou on Dec 5, 2016 8:28:36 GMT -5
Has anyone come up with a logical reason why the SI time can't be announced before the day of the WD/LBMT? The only thing I have ever seen is the possibility that people don't show up as scheduled. However, it seems to me that can be easily overcome by saying that your SI is tentatively scheduled for x but may be moved to an earlier time if necessary. At least then you would know the absolute latest you would be scheduled and it seem to me that the latest is the most impactful part for travel scheduling.
EDIT: Lawyerbearclaw - I was in the last group for the SI on my day and it was at 3:30. You also need to be aware that by the end of the day, the times aren't strict. For example, I was taken for my SI about 10 minutes early and another that was in my group was taken in about 5 minutes late. So it is possible that you would get a 3:30 and then start a few minutes late. Quite frankly, I think the last thing you want is to be sitting in the SI worrying about missing your flight. I guess you are about to find out what your risk aversion level is. Odds are you won't be in the last group but......
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Post by msp on Dec 5, 2016 8:59:20 GMT -5
bayou...don't go looking for logic in this process or you may go mad
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Post by bayou on Dec 5, 2016 9:29:58 GMT -5
Yeah I know. Usually there is some reason, however flawed, for what the agencies do and I was wondering what rationale OPM was using.
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Post by gary on Dec 5, 2016 20:26:59 GMT -5
Has anyone come up with a logical reason why the SI time can't be announced before the day of the WD/LBMT? The only thing I have ever seen is the possibility that people don't show up as scheduled. However, it seems to me that can be easily overcome by saying that your SI is tentatively scheduled for x but may be moved to an earlier time if necessary. At least then you would know the absolute latest you would be scheduled and it seem to me that the latest is the most impactful part for travel scheduling.
EDIT: Lawyerbearclaw - I was in the last group for the SI on my day and it was at 3:30. You also need to be aware that by the end of the day, the times aren't strict. For example, I was taken for my SI about 10 minutes early and another that was in my group was taken in about 5 minutes late. So it is possible that you would get a 3:30 and then start a few minutes late. Quite frankly, I think the last thing you want is to be sitting in the SI worrying about missing your flight. I guess you are about to find out what your risk aversion level is. Odds are you won't be in the last group but...... Here's a guess: As has been reported, a certain, albeit small, number of applicants are no-shows at the WD/LBMT. If the SI times are assigned before the WD/LBMT administration, the SI times for those no-shows will be unused, and there will be two or three interviewers (including one or two ALJs) who will be sitting around twiddling their thumbs during those times. While not impossible, I imagine very few WD/LBMT test-takers skip the next day's SI. By assigning SI times after the WD/LBMT is done, OPM can distribute the no-shows more or less evenly among all interview panels and can make any unused interview slots come at the end and not in the middle of the day.
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Post by basileia on Dec 5, 2016 20:47:47 GMT -5
Thanks for that info. I'm staying at State Plaza next week. However, the Uber website says minimum fare is $25. Good to know it may be cheaper. I used Uber X which is a bit cheaper level of car. In fact Uber X or Uber ride sharing was all that was offered to me. They were perfectly comfortable cars and the drivers were nice.
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Post by SaveMeASeat on Dec 5, 2016 21:13:19 GMT -5
I traveled from west coast and my SI was at 3 pm. I made my 730 pm flight back home from Dulles. No traffic at 415. Took uber back to Dulles.
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Post by denise on Dec 5, 2016 21:36:30 GMT -5
Thanks for that info. I'm staying at State Plaza next week. However, the Uber website says minimum fare is $25. Good to know it may be cheaper. I used Uber X which is a bit cheaper level of car. In fact Uber X or Uber ride sharing was all that was offered to me. They were perfectly comfortable cars and the drivers were nice. The Blue line is great. If you're at a State Plaza, you can board at Foggy Bottom and ride until King Street. You can see the Embassy Suites from the King Street platform. It's easy and predictable.
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Post by frogalj on Dec 6, 2016 11:44:38 GMT -5
I used Uber X which is a bit cheaper level of car. In fact Uber X or Uber ride sharing was all that was offered to me. They were perfectly comfortable cars and the drivers were nice. The Blue line is great. If you're at a State Plaza, you can board at Foggy Bottom and ride until King Street. You can see the Embassy Suites from the King Street platform. It's easy and predictable. Great info, thanks. I was trying to decipher the rail system. I just hope the weather cooperates for me to make the Foggy walk.
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Post by frogalj on Dec 6, 2016 11:47:27 GMT -5
One more stupid question, if you don't mind.
The 8am-1pm session will be a bit long for my stomach. Do they allow drinks & snacks in the testing room? If so, can I bring my own in?
Thanks.
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Post by sophie22 on Dec 6, 2016 12:44:40 GMT -5
One more stupid question, if you don't mind.
The 8am-1pm session will be a bit long for my stomach. Do they allow drinks & snacks in the testing room? If so, can I bring my own in?
Thanks. No snacks, but you can have a bottle of water on the floor next to you. You might be able to get away with a piece of hard candy in your mouth, but that's about it!
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