Applying for a Dietetic Internship: Tips from an Intern
Applying for a Dietetic Internship: Tips from an Intern
Being a first year intern, I have already learned so much
through my rotations and coursework, but not too long ago I was a senior in
college preparing to apply for programs and figuring out plans for my future.
Now, it’s that time of the year again when undergrad seniors
in dietetics programs are investigating into their future within the dietetics
field. Having gone through a similar process not too long ago, I can relate to
all the craziness that comes with searching for dietetics masters programs and
internships, and praying that you are matched!
Thinking about all the tips I was given from previous
interns, I wanted to share some of my knowledge and tips that helped me
successfully get an internship!
Filling out the
DICAS application is time consuming & lengthy. Don’t wait until the last
minute to begin filling it out. If you want to make sure that you fill it out
to your best ability, take your time! If you wait until the last minute to
begin filling out your application it’s added stress and you're more likely to forget important details that you wanted to include on your application.
Tip #2: Investigate thoroughly!
Investigate various
programs thoroughly. Looking into internship programs and schools can be scary.
What exactly are you looking for in a program? Does the program have a
concentration that peaks an interest in you? The most important thing is that
when you are looking at schools and determining where you want to apply, all aspects of the program work for you!
Tip #3: Contact directors & get your name out there!
Don’t be afraid to
contact internship directors! I contacted every director to programs that I was
interested in and asked questions regarding the program. Not only did I get
direct answers to my questions, but it allowed directors to know my name.
Especially if you are looking to apply to somewhere that is different than your
undergrad program, like I did, you want to get your name known and allow
directors to know that you are interested in their program!
Tip #4: Visit!
Go visit schools
that you are interested in! Go to open houses and learn more about the program!
Directors really like that student show their interest and take time to
introduce themselves in person and learn about the program. This is also
beneficial if you’ve contacted directors previously, and they can put a name to
your face. This is really important once evaluating applications comes along. You
can even add that you personally met the director in your personal statement!
Tip #5: Make your personal statements personal!
Everyone that is
applying has a passion in nutrition and wants to become Registered Dietitian.
Set yourself a part from everyone else! Did something affect your decision in
deciding to study nutrition and pursue an internship? Did you yourself have
dietary restrictions or nutrition-related conditions that made you want to learn
about nutrition? Were you an athlete that realized nutrition was a huge part of
your peak performance? Think about it, and be creative!
Use your experiences
to explain the various things you have achieved and talk yourself up! This can
be hard but if you’ve achieved something awesome throughout your
nutrition-related experiences, talk about it!!
When you talk about
your short term and long-term goals, don’t just be simple in saying to get an
internship and become a Registered Dietitian. Be specific! For short-term
goals, is there a specific elective rotation you would want to complete or for a
long-term goal, is there a specific specialty or certification you would want
to become! Think outside the box! And if you’re unsure, you can talk about all
the goals you may want to accomplish in the nutrition field!
All and all for you
personal statement, brag about yourself! If you don’t talk about it in your
application, directors and programs won’t know about it!
Tip #6: Incorporate the program’s principles and program
mission into your personal statement
What are important
characteristics of the program? Is it leadership? Is it community or
entrepreneurship? How do these characteristics relate to your strengths? Why
are they important to you? Relating the program to your personal values shows
you investigated the program, you connect with the program and you belong in
the program!
Tip #7: Proof read & have others proof read!
Proof read your
application, have your professors proof read, your parents, your friends,
anyone that you trust to proof read it! You want to present the best
application you can! Don’t let small errors be a deciding factor in your
acceptance!
Tip #8: Believe in yourself!
Believe in yourself and your experiences that have led you
to this point! Be confident in what you’ve done and explain that so directors
know how amazing you are!
No matter what happens on your match day, don’t be
discouraged and don’t give up on your dream! You will get an internship!
EB
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