Reverend Ref +

REVEREND REF'S GOE SURVIVAL GUIDE

As promised to several seminary seniors, here's my guide to surviving the GOE's. Of course, this is what worked for me. Individual results may vary.

1. Clean the office. You can't think with a bunch of clutter surrounding you.

2. Organize your books by topic. This will keep everything handy, and it will reinforce the fact that, yes, you do know this stuff.

3. Create and Save 7 documents, one for each question. Each document should be titled with your GOE number, question number and pagination. You don't want to be formatting this stuff the day of the question.

4. Buy an extra print cartridge.

5. If your family is living with you, send them to a hotel. I'm serious. This was the best investment we made. It kept them out of my hair, and it kept me from being weird around them.

6. Remember that each question is designed with the impression that any priest can answer any question with the books on his/her shelf. Don't worry about what you don't have; use what you've got. Relax, you know the answer.

7. Allow yourself 30 minutes to read, re-read and mull over the question. Figure out what is needed and what isn't. It's like those old math problems with the trains. Cross out the extra words and find the question. You may not need 30 minutes, but allow for it.

8. Stay on task. My timeline was this: 30 minutes to read and pray; 2 hrs to draft and write an answer; 45 minutes to type the answer; 15 minutes to proofread. That, of course, was for the half-day questions. The all day one was adjusted accordingly.

9. Don't try to look for the "RIGHT" answer; there isn't one. Write your answer and defend and support it well. A well-argued "wrong" answer is better than a poorly-argued "right" answer.

10. Dress for success. I wore a shirt and tie. It reminded me that this was serious and I am less likely to goof off if I'm dressed for the part. Kind of like giving a business presentation.

11. GOD DID NOT SET YOU UP TO FAIL!! YOU CAN DO THIS.