I remember thinking about the Foreign Service, and still do, at times, but your story gives me unfortunate insight into something I suspected long ago--those that claim to represent us, merely represent the same enemy lib/conservs fight here on American soil.
I registered for the test a few years ago, and couldn't get a ride out to Detroit(from Ann Arbor), so nothing then. The next year I waited and waited for a response, only to find out that a piece of what I thought was junk mail had my ticket for the exam room. I suppose that's my fault, but the envelope could have been more official in appearance.
I only saw practice questions, but they seemed fairly easy if one keeps up with the news at all. The thing that frightens me, is that we have Ivy League snobs, with all their prejudices, alleging to represent the US. If we can't clear out the stench of left-wing/liberal statism from the State Dept, it won't matter who's in the White House.
What bothered me was not only the superficiality of the questions at the dog and pony show but the fact that they seemed to have their minds made up before the evaluation was over. One would think the type of questions in the second stage would be more difficult than in the first stage, but not so.
With all due respect, there seems to be a handful of highly competent people who make it through the politically correct net, but I'd bet the biggest share of them do it on the veteran's quota.