Questions on experience

[Sparty27]

I am currently halfway through my undergraduate program, double major in german and political science. I should be graduating in fall 2011 or spring 2012; depending on if I can manage a spring internship or not. I plan to apply to georgetown MAGES program. Currently my gpa is 3.46 however I expect this to go up, as an injury last spring right after the final drop date significantly affected it and I still have over 60 hours to improve it. Now that the background info is layed out, I had two seperate questions about my experience.

First: I served 4 years enlisted on active duty in the army. Two of those years were in Germany and two were spent on tours in Iraq. I think this is good work experience to include, or at least better then my part time job at pizza hut right now, but would this be considered as relevant experience in the field, IR, since I was only enlisted.

Second: Is only work experience worth while to mention or would life experience also be pertinent. I ask because I have been married to a german citizen for 2 1/2 years now and have deffinately had some, lets say, strong cultural learning experiences come from that relationship.

Thanks in advance for any info or advice.

[adaptations]

My impression is that the military experience is definitely relevant and worth including. I am not sure that the personal/life experience can be included in the same way (ie. on your resume), but it can certainly be included in your essay(s). Anything that further demonstrates your knowledge, interest, and commitment to the program and subject matter will be beneficial - you just might have to finesse how you include it in your application.

[Sparty27]

Thank you for the quick response adaptations. What you said was sort of along the same lines I was thinking. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't way off in left field or looking through rose colored glasses. I still have some time to add stuff to my resume and after hearing your response and talking with some of my professors I will be applying for an internship with the senates foriegn relations committee through senator Lugars office; hopefully that will give me even more of an edge at least in the experience area, if i'm able to attain it.

Edited August 25, 2010 by Sparty27