Frustrated By The Dietetic Internship Process?
Stop reading boring website copy and searching endlessly for information about the dietetic internship process. The application experience can be fun and exciting using the KEYS in this handbook. Learn how to beat out your competition for internship placement and get noticed by the application committee. This quick reference guide will help you focus in on the main KEYS needed to prepare an impressive application. When the computer matching deadline arrives you will have all of the skills and experiences necessary to stand out and become selected as a dietetic intern.
Do you know what seven items must be included in the internship packet? Have you considered what the most important elements of the internship packet are? Do you want to learn the basic principles regarding the selection process and how you can have a higher chance of getting accepted on your first try? Then read on.
~This is a comprehensive guide that will aid all dietetic students in there quest for getting into a dietetic internship.
~Well written and easy to read it provides valuable information and tips and tricks every dietetic student should know.
~It includes essential tools for putting together a quality application packet that will knock the application committee’s socks off.
About the author:
Valerie Buchanan completed a dietetic internship at Massachusetts General Hospital after receiving an Associates Degree in Communications from Endicott College and a Bachelors Degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Hawaii. She is a full time writer in Marietta, Georgia.
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GETTING IN
The KEYS to Opening the Door to a Dietetic Internship
Copyright © 2009 by Valerie J. Buchanan
All rights reserved
Cover design by Jaylynn Cavanaugh
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Contents
Introduction
JUNIOR YEAR
KEY 1: Getting a Plan Together
The Application
Taking Inventory
Recommendation Criteria
Minimum Admission Requirements
KEY 2: Getting Savvy
What’s Your Savoir Faire?
Acquire the Skills
KEY 3: Getting Motivated
Short and Long Term Goals
Rank Your Dietetic Interests
Strengths, Weaknesses and Values
KEY 4: Getting Where You Want to Go
How Much Money Can You Spend?
Deadline Dates
Getting “the Best” Internship
SENIOR YEAR
KEY 1: Getting Information
Your Top picks
Get More Information
Receive and Review
KEY 2: Getting Noticed
Letter of Application
Academic Points
Work Experience
KEY 3: Getting In
Tips and Tricks
KEY 4: Getting Organized
Internship Application
Official Transcripts
Verification Statements
Typed Letter of Application
3 Letters of Reference
The Application Fee
Computer Matching Fee
KEY 5: Get Set and Go
Finalize and Mail
Interviews
Perseverance
Conclusion
Resources
Disclaimer. This book is intended to provide education information and entertainment for the dietetic student looking to apply for a non-degree dietetic internship. It is not the purpose of this book to take place of individual student research or dietetic advisor leadership. This book is intended to be a quick supplemental reference guide that will aid each student in the internship experience. You are encouraged to do your research and use the wide variety of informative material available to you before applying for an internship. Also, the author has made every effort to provide you with up to date information regarding ADA regulations and standards, but be advised that this information is current only up to the date of printing. Always check with internship directors if you have questions regarding internship criteria.
Hyperlinks are included for your ease of use and enjoyment of the book, however, it is recommended that you read the guide completely before downloading other information and forms. Additional website URLs have been given in the resource section to help you further.
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GETTING IN
The KEYS to Unlocking the Door to a Dietetic Internship
Introduction
As the dietetic internship process becomes more and more competitive, students getting toward the end of the didactic program find themselves anticipating the internship application process and their future in the field of dietetics. Will you get accepted into an internship program? How do you measure up against your peers? Have you done everything necessary during the course of your college life to get the attention of the application committee? How do you know what internship program might be right for you? This handbook will help guide you step by step through the process that has worked for other dietetic students like yourself.
The book is divided into two sections. The first section will map out what you should be doing in your junior year or even earlier. Why start so soon? If you wait until application day arrives, you’ll most likely be too late to fine tune the essential requirements that will get you noticed. Do you want the edge on your competition? Many of your fellow dietetic peers will procrastinate and wait until they are prodded by their advisors to start considering the application process. By implementing the tools that you will learn in this handbook you will have all of the skills and experiences required of you when the application time arrives. This is how you will succeed at getting an internship, even on your first try. Chapters in this section include how to plan properly so that you meet not only the minimum admission requirements but exemplify the key criteria that every dietetic internship committee is looking for. Through the following pages you will gain a better understanding of what internship programs are right for you and learn how you can develop the skills necessary to create a unique place for yourself in the internship of your choice.
By the time you have read and applied the elements of part one you will be prepared to take on the application process with more proficiency in your senior year. Likely, you will still have more questions. Part two will provide insight to common questions such as these: What are the seven items that I have to include in the internship packet? What should I write in my application letter? How do I get a great letter of recommendation? Are there basic criteria that I should know about that will give me a higher chance of getting an internship on the first try?
Think of your senior year as a time for fine tuning. You will take everything that you learned in part one and start polishing it until it shines on your application. In order to do that you must choose the appropriate internships that line up with your unique skills and interests. This section will help you. Taking your newly acquired skills and experiences you will learn to create a professional letter that knocks their socks off. This section will show you how. You will discover tips on getting the valuable letters of reference that are imperative to any quality application. Finally, you’ll be assembling your application packet and meeting the deadlines so that you can breathe easier awaiting your results, knowing that you were prepared and did the best that you could possibly do with no regrets.
The competition is tough but you are tougher. By planning ahead and persevering until every box is checked you will be able to more fully enjoy the journey, achieve a wonderful sense of accomplishment and have a greater chance of being accepted into an internship program of your choice.
“Always plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.”
Richard Cushing, novelist
Section One: Junior Year
KEY 1: Getting a Plan Together
Did you know that one of the major reasons that dietetic students don’t get an internship on the first try is due to their failure to plan? Have you considered what internship qualifications you will need to have by the time you graduate? Do you assume that your college will provide you with these experiences? Are you looking to your advisor to tell you what you need or are you taking the initiative to find out? Don’t wait until the application date is upon you to consider whether you did everything in your power to be competitive. So when is the time to start preparing for your internship? That time is right now.
Take a moment and visualize yourself on appointment day. You’ve just been accepted into one of your top internship picks. Maybe you will jump up and down with gleeful joy and make that first “I got in” call to your best friend. A big grin appears on your face and you breathe that sigh of relief knowing that you are on your way to becoming a dietitian. Do you have that visual? Now take a step backwards and then another and then another until you end up where you are right now. Look at the vast space in between. You might feel a little sense of panic but you don’t need to. It’s early and you have given yourself ample time to prepare. The following sections will help you focus on planning ahead and filling in the gaps. You’ll gain an understanding about the program requirements and develop the skills that will be essential to becoming a dietetic intern. So where do you start? You begin with the Dietetic Internship application.
The Application
This first stage in preparing for the dietetic internship is so simple, yet it’s amazing how many dietetic students don’t use it as their tool for success. Instead they wait until the application deadlines are upon them to see a copy of the admission requirements for the very first time. That makes no sense. In order to prepare a successful and quality application you must know what is required of you and get to work meeting those criteria now, many months before you will begin to start the application process. The best way to do that is by using the application form as your guideline. It tells you exactly what skills and experiences you will need to have in order to impress the dietetic internship committee, the people who will be voting you in or out. This application is a huge clue as to what they expect from you and what they will want you to tell them later on in your application letter.
Take a moment to get a copy of the application. You can download a copy of the Dietetic Internship Program Application as well as the Dietetic Internship Recommendation Form here.
AUTHORS TIP: This form is to help you prepare yourself in the following months leading up to the application process. Each internship program has its own downloadable format. The requirements are similar but the formatting may be somewhat different. When application time arrives make sure that you download and submit the proper form with each application.
Taking Inventory
After downloading a copy of the application begin by filling it out to the best of your ability. Don’t worry, you won’t have all of the information but this will provide you with a list of the things that you will need to seek out this year. Where there are blanks you will have some work to do. You will be able to breeze through the personal information and then onto the list of colleges and universities which you have or will have attended upon graduation. Next consider the people that you would like to write your recommendations. This part you can save for later, but understand that each of the three recommendations holds value in your application packet. Note that you will need to submit GRE scores to some programs. Following that, you will provide as much information as you can about your past activities and volunteer work both inside and outside the field of dietetics as well as any honors that you would like to strive for. Search for opportunities having the words dietetic association, student representative, committee member, council member or contributor attached to them.
AUTHORS TIP: You should be a member of your universities student dietetics association, if they have one, and also a member of the American Dietetics Association with a member number. Add these to your list of extracurricular activities. Go to eatright.org to see more opportunities for student representation.
Do you have work experience related to the dietetics field? You must get experience preferably in a hospital or in food service or both as you’ll need to show proficiency in both clinical and food service management. Many internship programs prefer candidates who have several hundred hours of dietetic related work experience, although you don’t need to get them all in one place. You will also need a recommendation from a work supervisor. Find out where past dietetic students worked as they may be able to offer suggestions of opportunities that fit your skills and qualifications.
Fill in as much of the course work as you can and continue to strive for good grades. Even if you have a few grades that are less than superb in your freshmen and sophomore years, you can make up for it in higher level nutrition and science classes. This will show the dietetic committee that you are committed to progressing as a student and that you have a passion for the field of nutrition.
Recommendation Criteria
At this point you may think that you have filled in your part and are ready to move on to the rest of this book. Before continuing, take a stab at filling out the Dietetic Internship Recommendation Form available at the website in the previous section (which will be required from 3 professionals later on) for yourself. Go through each one of the criteria and rate yourself. What would you like them to say about you? Are you outstanding in any category? Why? Where did you acquire these skills? What areas do you need improvement in? What areas clearly need more work? Where do you think you can find the skills necessary to rate yourself highly in these areas? Is there something that pops out as a red flag to you and how can you make sure that you meet this criteria by the time you are an applicant? The beauty of this exercise is that you can virtually shape the recommendations to say what you need them to say. The letters of recommendation are very important and may seem as if what is written about you is out of your hands. But as long as you can guarantee that you have the qualities necessary and pick professionals who know you and can account for you then you are well on your way. All you need to do now is meet the criteria. Keep reading on to discover the minimum internship requirements, how to find your niche and where to acquire the skills that you need.
Minimum Admission Requirements
Do you know the minimum requirements necessary to be a suitable internship candidate? Do you feel that having the minimum requirements is enough to get accepted into an internship program? Each internship program states their minimum admission requirements and you will need to check off each of them. These basic KEYS won’t automatically open the internship door because they are just the basic elements that will be necessary when it comes time to process your application. Keep in mind that you will most certainly be locked out of an internship if you don’t meet these requirements. Just remember that the minimums don’t make you great they just make you eligible.
~A baccalaureate degree and completed academic requirements from an accredited program in Dietetics.
~A minimum GPA of 3.0 and 3.0 or better in nutrition related coursework
Students can still receive internships if they have a total GPA of less than 3.0 but it does limit your choices. Generally, a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better gets extra points for preparedness and high grades in nutrition courses are even better. All internships stipulate what grades they will accept, so make sure that you apply to those that accept a lower GPA if that’s what you’ve got. If you’ve got unbelievable skills and experiences and just so happen not to have a great GPA you could apply for an internship that requires a higher GPA than the one you’ve got but also apply for internships where you meet the GPA requirement.
~Official college transcript(s)
Make sure that you give yourself ample time to get these in your senior year to meet the internship deadlines. Follow recommendations for getting official transcripts at your registrar’s office.
~A Signed Verification Statement
You will need either a Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree and ADA-Approved Minimum Academic Requirements form. This ADA approved form doesn’t guarantee that you will receive an internship. You will receive this signed form(s) in your Senior Year after you have met the requirements. Your ADA program director will provide it to you with their original signature.
~GRE scores
Taking the GRE can widen your options when the time comes to apply especially if you decide to do a coordinated program. Some applications require them with minimum scores for verbal, math and quantitative.
AUTHORS TIP: Requirements of each internship program may be somewhat different. Not all require a GRE but they will always want the first 4 criteria. When the application time comes around next year, always read the requirements and follow them to the letter.
Planning is one of the most important steps to achieving your goals. As the proverb says, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. Utilize the KEYS in this chapter to plan now rather than waiting until the internship deadlines are upon you. Use the copy of the application and keep it with you, mark it up and make notes that will inspire you toward progression. Continue to get good grades because you now know what internship programs require of you. Take inventory of your skills and plan to increase them. Check the criteria often and remind yourself to incorporate activities into your college life that will advance you toward a great letter of recommendation. Now that you hold in your hands some important KEYS to your internship future use them to your advantage.
KEY 2: Getting Savvy
Do you know what a winning application looks like? Can you describe yourself in such a way that sets you apart from your peers? Could you tell someone why you are interested in pursuing a career in dietetics? Have you thought much about what your goals in dietetics are or if you will continue your education? Not to worry if you don’t have the answers to these questions already. This chapter takes a look at what characteristics and strengths you must exhibit in order to demonstrate your competence and preparation as the best dietetic candidate. Once you are able to answer these questions you will be well on your way to becoming accepted into the ranks of dietetic interns.
What’s Your Savoir Faire?
Do you have a certain flair or expertise? Dietetic internship programs evaluate you against your peers. Well, they actually rate you based on a point system that they use to determine your eligibility, but your peers are being evaluated too, so let’s just keep it simple. Each applicant is screened and rated based on qualities that represent a well rounded student and potential dietitian. Well roundedness will be impressive but having a distinctive quality that outshines the other applicants will get you noticed and gain you more points toward getting accepted. Students with the most “points” when all is said and done will be on their way to internship-land. How you do this depends on the skills that you have acquired through your college coursework but more importantly how you demonstrate these skills through roles in specific areas of practice such as volunteer work, committees and job experience and other extracurricular activities. It’s not good enough to be a good student anymore. Internships are competitive and they are looking for the very best. Don’t just think of an internship as your next step at college education and just another box to check on your way to taking the RD exam. Consider an internship program as a potential job opportunity. Many interns end up working right where they completed the internship. So decide right now what your primary strengths are. What’s your forte? How would you describe yourself to the application committee if you were sitting before them this very minute? What sets you apart from other students? Take into account where you currently lack abilities to be an exceptional intern. Begin molding yourself in the next year to become what they expect. You may not be a leader right now, but you still have some time to demonstrate that you can learn to be one. You may not have put to use your skills through writing or speaking but you can still do that to. Some students have natural abilities for these things, but even if you don’t, you can be taught and you can put yourself in the right places with the right people in order to achieve the skills necessary to write a top notch professional letter that will get the attention of the selection committee.
This year work on gaining all of the skills that you can to be the well rounded candidate with a little something extra. This will be the beginning of your winning application. Then start focusing in on those skills that clearly make you shine. The more nutritional experiences you have under your belt the more you will have to say when it comes time to write your letter of application and the more great things your professors and supervisors will have to say about you. The next sections outline the most important skills that you will need to have acquired come application day. So start loading your toolbox with great skills and experiences today.
Acquiring the Skills You Need
You’ve already taken a stab at the recommendation form. This section allows you to go a little deeper in determining what skills you know that you have, what ones you most likely possess and those that you need to work on. Take a look at the list of topics below and jot down how you think you rate, what experiences you may already have and what you will need to do in order to make sure that you meet these expectations. Having quality experiences and strengths in these areas will not only help you succeed in getting chosen for an internship program but more importantly these criteria will help make you a successful intern and dietitian. Start to acquire these skills in your junior year so that you can achieve a well-rounded skill set that will make your application shine. You will most likely make reference to each of these points when you are ready to write your professional letter in your senior year. They are here for you to refer back to when you need them.
~ Goal setting and ability to work independently. Can you figure things out on your own or do you wait for someone to give you answers? Reading this book shows that you are taking initiative. Continue to show initiative when it comes to your courses and other nutrition related activities.
~ Are you a self-starter? What have you created for your community your college or your job that shows that you are self motivated?
~ Writing and speaking skills. Can you succinctly describe your goals and achievements? Have you taken classes or used these skills in job type situations?
~ Can you aptly apply what you have learned or do you just regurgitate the information? Constantly strive to apply your knowledge, especially through the field of nutrition. When you study for an exam consider making the information relevant to a real life situation. Don’t just memorize.
~ Internship preparation. What have you done both inside and outside of the classroom that makes you ready to be an intern? How can you be a benefit to the internship program and what challenges can they help you meet? Show them that you want it.
~ Are you a leader? Where do you currently demonstrate these skills? Leadership is so important, although, we know that not everyone is born with it. If it wasn’t for the followers there wouldn’t be any leaders. However, you’ll have to play leader for a while even if it means getting out of your comfort zone. Try being more decisive and persuasive. Be more likable and notice how people gravitate toward you. Discuss your visions of a future in dietetics with your peers and stay focused on your goals. They’ll come to see you as a person who does what you say you are going to do. Maintain an ethical standard and listen with an open mind. Do these things and you’ve just demonstrated leadership qualities.
~ Are you calm or do you get rattled? Internships are stressful. It’s a good idea to learn how to handle stressful situations now before you are an intern. If you can carry a full course load, maintain good grades, have a job and/or a family and have a membership into the student dietetic association and participate in extracurricular activities, then you have just proven to the committee that you can handle pressure.
~ How flexible are you. Do you adapt well to a variety of situations? When you reach your internship program, you will be handed a schedule that is packed with rotations that will stretch the very lengths of your brain. In order to accommodate each rotation, among them community, clinical in patient, public health, food service management, acute care, ambulatory outpatient and others you’ll need to be flexible and ready to adjust to a wide range of situations.
~ What organizations do you currently belong to? Are you an elected official? This is one of the easiest ways to put something down on your application. There are countless organizations to belong to. Belong to something that is compatible with your interests and goals.
~ Where are you currently volunteering? Even though you are swamped with homework and the daily doldrums of college life get experience in a hospital, in food service or a food bank. Volunteering isn’t what it used to be. Now there are a million causes, benefits, and opportunities to volunteer, you can do a different one every few months and get a handful on your application. Use these as a stepping stone to find a steady employment opportunity that will fulfill your job requirement and demonstrate commitment. Network during these times and there’s no telling where you might end up.
~ Do you plan on receiving awards or scholarships upon graduation? Find out from your program advisor those awards that are given to dietetic students. Find out the criteria early on. Look into the ADA’s dietetic awards and scholarships for funding.
~ What work experience do you expect to possess in the field of dietetics prior to applying for the internship? A steady job will show your stability and dedication to the field of nutrition.
Having a distinctive quality that will interest the internship program director is essential in order to stand out among the flood of dietetic applications. Acquiring the skills you need to be able to present the characteristics of a dietitian will make you a valuable resource to the internship program of your choice.
KEY 3: Getting Motivated
Many interns are so set on “getting in” that they fail to think about what is really motivating them to apply for an internship. All students dream of the day they pass the RD exam but what is really feeding your desire to continue through this long and grueling application process? Latch on to your goals and plow through this section with enthusiasm.
Can you imagine yourself getting an internship into a VA hospital if you have always been set on pediatric nutrition only to find that the majority of patients are adults? Have you considered what fields of nutrition you are really interested in and how you will find a program to meet those needs? You may also be wondering how long your internship will be? Currently, there are 243 accredited dietetic internships (DI’s) to choose from. The length of time it takes to complete an internship will vary based on whether you choose to accept a full-time or part-time internship or one of the 51 bachelor and graduate level coordinated programs (CP). Plan on spending anywhere from 6-24 challenging months gaining experience before you will be eligible to sit for the RD exam. Currently most supervised practice programs are 900 hours long but the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) may be extending the length of time it takes to endure the internship process. With that said, doesn’t it make sense that you would spend time deciding what you want to get out of it? So how do you wade through the huge list of potential programs and find the one that is right for you? Don’t just flip a coin. Read on to learn how to narrow your internship options and select the ones that will prepare you for a future in the area of your choice.
Each internship program has its own unique specialty, although, some are more general. Before you bother skimming the pages of the Applicants Guide to Supervised Practice Experience Programs consider your wants and needs. Later you’ll need to impress others with what they want and need from you. Take this time to brainstorm and think about what types of internships you would learn the most from and what you would enjoy. If you haven’t already thought of a few, here is a list that will get your started. Don’t be afraid to add your own.
Where do I see myself practicing in the field of dietetics?
An outpatient clinic in a large office
A buzzing city hospital
A school foodservice in a rural community
A large college or state university
A non-profit organization
A home town private practice
As a sports nutritionist
Featured writer in a magazine
Government
Corporate wellness
Nutritionist to the elderly
Restaurant in an urban community
Television in a major city – Food Network anyone?
Professor in a small private school
Now do yourself a favor and find names of dietitians who are currently working in those fields. They may or may not be in your town or city but it will suit you well to write them a professional letter or contact them via a professional email and ask them what it’s like to be in their shoes and how you might get to do what they are doing in the future. They may even know of an opportunity that you could apply for to gain experience. Now wouldn’t that look great on your application? If you don’t ask then you will never know. Wouldn’t you rather take a risk and get where you want to go? Test your limits.
Rank your Dietetic Interests
Dietetic internship programs must conform to the accreditation procedures and guidelines set by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), so you will be required to learn in a variety of skills in different rotations. However, it’s still a good idea to assess your needs and line up your internship based on those needs. If you really love food service management and plan on working in a restaurant then placing yourself primarily in a clinical atmosphere might make you loathe the whole experience. Instead you’ll be looking for internships that have more rotations in other areas with a strong emphasis in food service.
Clinical
Food service management
Nutrition education and counseling
Wellness
Business
General knowledge of dietetics
Nutrition Therapy
Public Health
Outreach
Business
The newest trends in dietetics
Natural medicine and nutrition
Medical nutrition therapy
I’m interested in a Master’s Degree
Consider visiting internships that you think match your interests before you get ready to apply. This can give you valuable information as to the facility, the staff and if you feel comfortable there. Many interns get accepted into internships that they regret just because they were more concerned about receiving an internship rather than getting one that they will truly enjoy.
There are a couple of new ways to view information regarding each supervised practice program. One is the Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice now available in a spread sheet format. Check with your Dietetic Program Director to see if they have purchased this guide for your use. This information contains the standard information regarding each internship, similar to that which can be found on the American Dietetic Association website. These two resources are joined using Microsoft Office Access in order to query data and find appropriate internships based on your interests and criteria. If you are sharing this program with other students through your dietetic office then be prepared by researching your criteria and dietetic interests in advance so that you can make your queries promptly and avoid wasting valuable time. The other current query option can be found on the website www.allaccessinternships.com. This fairly new website created in 2007 by Co-Founders Jenny Westerkamp and Katie Hamm, has a “peer-to-peer format” that is student driven. You’ll also find lots of questions from students that are in the process of applying to a dietetic internship as well as advice from those who have successfully completed the application process.
AUTHORS TIP: The Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), is currently updating internship requirements. Internship programs may be able to pick there emphasis in the future. Check with internship directors to ensure that you are getting what you sign up for.
Strengths Weaknesses and Values
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? What type of internship would you feel most comfortable in? Do you enjoy the country or the city? Are you in love with the idea of wearing a crisp white lab coat or being in a more casual health care facility like WIC? Have you always loved to talk to people, work in groups or would you rather be in a lab working on an experiment. Are you committed to a particular cause or value system? How will this factor into your internship choice? Dietetic internships do require that you be multi-dimensional, however, knowing yourself in this way will help you pick the internship that most closely suits your needs and the one that will be the appropriate stepping stone to the career you have always imagined.
What is motivating you towards a dietetic internship? Consider your short and long term goals. Learn all you can about each emphasis and what they mean to you. Is it really enough just to get in and not be happy with your choice? The next chapter will give you more insight on your future as an intern, how much it can cost, the application deadlines and if there is such a thing as the “best” internship program.
KEY 4: Getting Where You Want To Go
Although you can’t predict your future it is helpful to have some idea as to where you intend to end up. Things change and the ideas of what we want change too, but for now, jot down the jobs you would like to have in the field of dietetics one, five and ten years from now. Your internship should be the next logical step to getting you the career that you envision for yourself. It might also be helpful to think about the opportunities that you have already experienced in environments that can offer a feeling of what situations you find yourself the most successful in. Do you have a particular volunteer opportunity that you can look at that will tell you what job structure or environment you would or would not like to be in? Jot down some notes here.
How much money can you spend?
Unfortunately, dietetic internships cost money. You can find more details on the cost of internships through the ADA website as well as contacting internship directors for current information. For now, give yourself time to think about what is realistic for you. Another great reason to think about this now is that you’ll have extra time to come up with the funds to finance the internship that you’ve been working so hard to get. Internships have a wide range of tuitions and additional costs attached to them. Plan on spending anywhere from $2,500 to $11,000 for 900 hours of supervised practice. By the way, currently CADE is considering extending the minimum number of practice hours required of dietetic internships, therefore, expect internship tuitions to increase in the future. If you are considering continuing your education while you complete your supervised practice program you could be looking at a figure of $25,000 annually to get your advanced degree. Consider your resources for financial aid and whether or not you are willing to pay a higher tuition to go out of state. Also consider additional costs such as the application fee, professional liability insurance, health insurance, housing, food, transportation and books. Learn more about where each rotation will be located. Don’t assume you will only be working in one place. If you are responsible for completing a series of rotations that will be outside of your internships primary location this is most likely to increase your costs. When researching your dietetic internship options consider stipends and tuition costs, financial aid and scholarships.
If you feel that a dietetic internship is out of your current price range, consider working for a year or until the next round of computer matching deadlines. There is no shame in gaining more experience until you can apply for the internships that you truly want to get into. Don’t feel that you have to apply if you aren’t ready financially. The additional experience will make you a better intern and having the extra cash will free up some worries so that you can focus on the internship experience.
Application Deadlines
Depending on your graduation date, you will be applying for either the April or November appointment. Think ahead because if you choose the April appointment date your deadline will be in February. If you choose to apply for a November Appointment then the deadline will be in September. You will be applying for internships through the D&D Digital computer matching process. Not all internship programs go through this system but most of them do. Some of the internship programs participate in both the spring and fall computer matching process.
Getting into “The Best” Internship
Don’t worry about getting into the “best” internship. There isn’t one. Neither the American Dietetics Association nor the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education ranks or rates supervised practice programs. Instead, each of the 243 internship programs have been Accredited which means that the program has had at least one site visit and is in compliance with Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards (ERAS) approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) and you can rest assured that the internship that you receive will meet all of the requirements to give you the skills you will need to become a Registered Dietitian. Having said that, there are always internships that prove to be better than others and thanks to our great technological advances, including online search engines, dietetic blogging, facebook and twitter we now have more access to answers about things that we want to know including what internships have met the expectations of dietetic interns and which ones have failed to meet personal standards. Ask around and find out all you can about a dietetic internship besides the obvious criteria. Other students will give you the real “scoop” on what they liked and didn’t. When looking at internship programs for criteria, also look at statistics that show how many of their students passed the RD exam and what those students are doing for employment after they graduate from the internship.
Some internship programs are more difficult to get into because they draw more interest from students. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they are better than the rest or that you will be happy there. However, you will need to be a quality candidate if you choose internships that are affiliated with medical schools, larger universities and those in big cities because a lot of other applicants will be applying there too. If you have the opportunity to become a dietetic intern at one of these programs, you may hear that you have been accepted to one of the “best”. Pat yourself on the back and realize that your dietetic internship is being offered in a prestigious hospital or university that will offer you some distinct advantages for your future development. Be warned, however, that you will be expected to be a top notch intern, diligent in your studies, move at a fast pace and excel at the program you have been selected for above other qualified candidates. Expect heavy workloads and be prepared to prove that you are capable of handling the pressure.
Section One Summary
Your junior year is a great time to plan ahead. In this section you have learned what the application criteria are, the keys to focus on in order to completing a winning application and you have asked yourself a number of questions that will help you find out what you really want out of your dietetic experience.
After completing this chapter your Junior Year should focus on the following:
Get a copy of the application and start filling it in as you meet criteria.
Rate your skills and experiences with a plan for completing those you still need.
Get good grades and understand the minimum admission requirements.
Get to know your advisor.
Start studying for the GRE.
Assess the skills that will make you a competitive applicant.
Evaluate many types of internship programs and which ones suit your needs.
Start volunteer work and join clubs and become a member of the ADA and search for job opportunities.
The next section of this book takes you beyond your junior year into your senior year where you will begin selecting your top internship picks, learning the KEYS to getting an internship, getting noticed through your letter of application and recommendations all the way through the application deadlines. Take with you all that you have learned from section one and use these KEYS for opening the door to the dietetic internship of your choice.
“Goals are dreams with deadlines”- Diana Scharf Hunt
Section Two: Senior Year
Now that you know what it will take to receive admittance to an internship program are you concerned about how you are going to narrow down your choices with so many options available to you? Are you wondering where to begin with the selection process? At this point you probably still have questions about the next course of action, what to expect, meeting the deadlines, and how many internships you should apply for in order to increase your chances for acceptance. This chapter will answer those questions and give you a step by step guide so that when application day finally arrives, you can meet your deadlines and feel confident that you applied to the programs that meet your needs. Not only will you learn how to submit a top notch application that will get you noticed you will learn the essential KEYS needed to give you the best chance at receiving an internship on your first try. Your senior year will provide you with a clearer vision about the type of internship you are searching for, what criteria you will need to meet as well as what geographical locations you would like to explore. By now you should have a good grasp concerning what types of candidates the dietetic committees are looking for and this section will help you execute the final stages of the application process. This is a fun process, so sit back and relax. Enjoy this part of your journey because you will start to see your dietetic future and all of the possibilities available to you.
KEY 1: Getting Information
Your Top Internship Picks
Choose 4 to 6 internships that fit your needs as well as those that you think you have the best chance at being matched with. If you have been doing your homework and have the minimum admission requirements, good grades as well as a vast supply of skills and experiences you will do well if you apply to a number of internship programs. If you know in your heart that you could be better prepared don’t panic. You still have a good shot if you match yourself to the internships with criteria that favor your assets. You might already have a couple of internships in mind or geographic locations that you are interested in. At this stage in the game you know that you will most likely apply to 4 and if you can, as many as 6. For now review the list of accredited dietetic internship programs at the ADA website or ask your program advisor for the Applicants Guideline to Dietetic Internships and select your top 6 or 7. You won’t need them all but this will free up having to go back and look again if you change your mind about one. It will give you more to work with. Since you have already completed the steps to determining what type of program you are looking for (see Getting Motivated) you will save valuable time. Note the application deadlines on each.
Requesting Application Materials
You will need to select and request the application materials at least 6 months from the April or November matching date. Now that you have your top candidates you will need more detailed information regarding each one. This can be collected any number of ways. You can go directly to the internships website or you can write a short letter to the internship director requesting more information. You can also use e-mail, however, before you hit the send button, make sure that your letter is as professional as one that they would receive by mail on letterhead. Make a good impression with all your internship correspondence.
Receive and Review the Information
It’s incredibly exciting to receive the information packets from the internships of your choice. The reality begins to set in that it’s really happening. You won’t feel overwhelmed since you have been preparing for it all along. Instead you get a sense of accomplishment and anticipation for the year ahead. Now it’s time to take all that you have learned about yourself and about each dietetic internship and weigh the strengths, weaknesses and pros and cons in order to determine which of the programs will be right for you. Consider visiting internships if you can or getting more information if you need to. This part is essential. Don’t apply if you don’t feel that you will be accepted because you don’t meet the criteria. There are 243 internship programs available to you. Focus on those that mesh with your skills, experiences and aptitude.
KEY 2: Getting Noticed
Why do some applications seem to fall out of the pile onto the floor while others stand out and get noticed? Wouldn’t you like to be one of those candidates that will be noticed and rank high among the top applicants? There are a few keys that rate high among application committee criteria. Here are some of the most important but remember that the total package is the key to admission.
Professional Letter of Application
According to information on the All Access Internships website, dietetic students who received an internship believed that it was their letter of application that made them stand out among other applicants. Do you know how to write a letter of application that will get you noticed by the selection committee? Understanding what necessary components make up a good letter is a valuable asset when it comes to getting considered for an internship. This is one of the most important items that you will be putting in your application packet and one that can make or break your chances at getting chosen. The reason that this portion of your application gets attention is because many good students simply don’t know how to write a quality letter. So if you can deliver in this area you’ll get points for standing out. Think of your top notch professional letter as the icing on the cake. It reveals that you have done your homework and can speak for yourself. It needn’t be boastful but respectful and guided by your knowledge of what you have accomplished so far and what you will be gaining by pursuing a future with a particular program. The 3 letters of reference are also incredibly important but a quality letter of application shows that you are a mature student ready to take on the challenges of a dietetic internship. By already having the skills and experiences in your hand being able to account for yourself rather than just relying on professors to vouch for you is a valuable commodity. Don’t rely solely on others interpretations of your experiences to get you in. Having done your homework you should have plenty of quality experiences to tell the internship committee about. Go back to the chapter Getting Savvy. There you can review your ideas about the skills and experiences that you have developed thus far that will make you a candidate that will stand out among the rest.
Keys to consider when writing your letter of application
~Follow the directions and answer all of the questions. Students often get ahead of themselves and forget to follow the directions and fail to answer the questions that the intern committee wants to know. Look at each information packet carefully as every internship will have its own set of criteria. Appeal to those.
~Refrain from the typical “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To whom it may concern”. Instead begin with Dear Application Review Committee, Dietetic Committee, Dietetic Internship Director or Internship Director and Selection Committee. (many will state how they expect to be addressed)
~Start with a short introduction stating your interest as it applies to each particular internship program and the reasons why it appeals to you and why you want to become a dietitian. Be honest and enthusiastic.
~The body of the letter is where you will answer the specific questions expected by the internship. Relate these questions to your goals, experiences, strengths, and potential as a candidate. Show your personality and professionalism.
~Identify your strengths by highlighting your most important achievements first.
~Explain why your strengths, experiences and education will benefit the internship program. Give specific examples.
~What makes the internship program appealing? You may want to make reference to a dietitian that you admire that may have graduated from their internship or a particular article that you read about that facility that generated your interest.
~Address how your goals will be supported through gaining acceptance into each particular internship program.
~Write each letter as if this is the only internship you want rather than sounding as if you don’t care which internship you receive. Give examples of how that particular program will help you achieve both short and long term goals.
~Revise your thoughts into a format that will be concise and not too verbose. Keep it to 2 pages (or how many pages they ask you for)
~Thank them for their consideration
AUTHORS TIP: Using a template is beneficial when writing more than one letter of application however make each letter unique and internship specific. Check that you always cut and paste the correct name of the internship within each letter including the address and any references that you make to that internship within the body. Work diligently to produce a professional letter that describes you as a qualified candidate. Write, rewrite and rewrite again.
GPA
Don’t believe that you have to have a 3.5 or better to get an internship. However, a low grade point average can keep the door to a dietetic internship locked. Always check to see what the minimum GPA criteria are. A decent GPA can crack open the door so that you can “wow” them with the other criteria. You can still get into an internship with a GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale on your first try. Those internships exist. If you feel that your grades are suffering then you must do everything necessary to get excellent grades in upper level nutrition courses. The University of Minnesota Department of Food Science and Nutrition points out that “national competition and experience strongly suggest that a 3.0 or higher is needed for acceptance. Grade points are reviewed as cumulative, science GPA and GPA in major professional courses, and are a basis for determining whether a person will be considered for the program”. The KEY is that you should never apply to a program if you don’t meet the requirements. If they ask for a 3.0 and you’ve got a 2.9, don’t waste the programs application fee. Always match your skills exactly to their requirements. Even if they say that a GPA isn’t their first priority, at least have the minimum that they ask for.
Let’s look at an example of two applicants applying to a program that requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale:
Applicant One:
GPA 3.5
Work Experience: 20 hours of volunteer service in a hospital.
3 good letters of recommendation, well organized application and a ho-hum professional letter
Applicant Two:
GPA 3.0
Work Experience: 20 hours of volunteer service in a hospital, active member of the Student Dietetic Association, contributor of campus newsletter, member of the chorus,
3 good letters of recommendation, a well organized application and a well written professional letter that exceeded expectations of committee.
Who would you pick?
Why is the first applicant’s professional letter just ho-hum? It’s because they didn’t have any experiences to talk about. Make sure you have something to say.
Work Experience
Along with a convincing letter of application and a strong background in nutrition sciences and a good overall GPA you will need to show work experience in the clinical setting as well as some work experience in a food service setting if possible. These can be either from paid employment or from volunteer services. Keep in mind while considering these opportunities that you will need to provide 3 letters of reference. One of these letters should be from a supervisor who can show how you demonstrate clinical skills, leadership abilities and your desire to become a dietitian. If you have a bad experience with a supervisor you are not going to get a recommendation that will positively effect your application, therefore, choose work experiences that you are genuinely interested in and meet the expectations of your supervisor and the other employees around you. Search for opportunities in clinical, the food industry, nutrition education, health promotion as well as research. Even if you do have work experience under your belt it is important that you are able to articulate that experience in your professional letter. Here are two examples explaining the same work experience. Which one do you think is well crafted?
1. I volunteered at the local hospital as a dietary aide from June –August 2008 and learned a lot.
2. During my summer vacation I became a team player at Smith Hospital as a dietary aide serving more than 20 patients a day. I was responsible for collecting patient food histories and helped develop a handout for diabetes awareness.
Not only must you show that you have attained the skills on the application form but you also must verbalize those skills in your letter. Describe yourself and your achievements with action words that will help get the attention of the dietetic committee. They want to learn how your roles in work related areas show your leadership skills and your potential to be a dietitian. Remember that all work experience is important to mention but dietetic related experiences will make you a good candidate.
KEY 3: Getting In
Now that you understand the 3 important KEYS to getting yourself noticed, here are some tips and tricks to getting into a dietetic internship using some basic applications that have been used by dietetic students like yourself. Although, these KEYS are not fool proof, they will be an added benefit to you when the time comes to submit your application. So let’s get right to the good stuff. What exactly will give you the best chances of receiving an internship on your first try?
Follow application guidelines to the letter.
It may surprise you as to how many applicants fail to follow directions. How can you expect the dietetic selection committee to choose you when you lack the ability to adhere to the application guidelines? Show them first and foremost that you have attention to detail so that you can check off the first KEY toward getting your application put into the “possibility pile”. Check and recheck that you include all the information that is required of you, including what information they want mentioned in the letter of application.
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