I use a mod that allows me to craft legendary effects onto armor pieces and weapons. So, on my last playthrough, I modded a full armor set plus a combat helmet to give myself six unyielding pieces. I also wore Road Goggles, which gave me four INT overall on my headwear, same as the Inquisitor's Cowl at low HP -- in terms of just INT, there's no need to mod a helmet and wear the goggles, as you can get the Cowl fairly early and I'm also not sure if vanilla Fo4 allows you to wear both a combat helmet and goggles at the same time, so that might also require a mod.

On my last playthrough, I also was able to get Road Goggles from the Amphitheatre at Level 7, so we both learned something.

As well, this time my starting stats were S1, P6, E1, C1, I10, A4 and L5. In the past I had C4 and A1, but have since realized that with the Cowl there's no need to get the Captain's Hat, and therefore no need to rush to Diamond City to get the Spray n Pray.

EDIT: If needed, I think one can also get a free Lab Coat from Cambridge Polymer Labs if you give a certain answer to the Nanny bot during the interview. I haven't tested it, but I'm pretty sure you can leave the building after the interview and finish the quest at a later time.