Does real life experience count for anything?

[dodgerblue32]

Next year I will be applying to Ph.D/Th.D programs in the New Testament ballpark and was wondering if real life experience carries any weight in the admission process. My academic stats are decent. I have language education/experience in Spanish, Mandarin, Koine Greek, and Hebrew. I am completing a Masters program with a thesis. However, I also have 12 years experience in pastoral and cross-cultural ministry. I realize that we are not talking about an undergrad application which is spruced up by being president of the Mock U.N., but do admissions folks consider anything other than "fit", GPA, GRA, SOP, LoR?

[sacklunch]

It can't hurt to put on your application. Though I wouldn't focus on it too much if it doesn't pertain to your proposed area of study, ect.

[Balatro]

While I'd advise mentioning it in your statement, I wouldn't dedicate more than a paragraph (two tops) to it (unless as noted above, it's DIRECTLY related to your research areas).

Generally speaking, this is how such experience will be handled:

In a university - the weight it carries will be minimal at best. Some adcoms will skip over it, some look for these kind of things when trying to decide between two identical applications - they're looking for something that says you're passionate about what you want to do (those people are more likely to survive the program).

In a divinity school - considerably more weight. Div schools look at the whole picture (more so for MA/MDiv, less so for PhDs) and are truly looking to make sure you're a good fit for them and that they're a good fit for you.

To stress it, it can't hurt anything to mention it in passing but unless it's related to what you want to study, don't expect it to carry much weight.