fenderpete, and others that are interested - i'm a 2008 college graduate. spent the past year doing internships that focus on research-related work on national security policy. i think what helped though was that my last internship was related to defense-related policy that is pertinent to NATO's goals. i also clearly stated in my personal statement a rough idea of how i think NATO should re-orient in the 21st century, my near-term goals, and what i hope to make of the internship.