Dietetic Internship Application Guide

Step 1: Research Internships and Decide Where to

Apply

Where to look:

• Online: Directory of Dietetic Programs on the ADA web site, www.eatright.org

• Application Guide to Supervised Practice Experience (binder)

• The Dietetic Internships’ websites

• Talk to Dietetics Faculty

Dietetics student looking through a copy of the Application Guide to Supervised Practice Experience provided in the FSHN Career Center, 106 Trout.

Step 1: Research Internships and Decide

Where to ApplyThere are many considerations when deciding which internships to apply to. You may want to make a personalized chart similar to this one and include the criteria you are using to narrow down your choices.

Internship 1 Internship 2 Internship 3 Internship 4Location Cincinnati, OH Chicago, IL Dallas, TX Danville, PA

MS Degree? No Yes Yes NoTotal Cost

Start September June August SeptemberLength of Progam 43 weeks 49-52 weeks 40 weeks 42 weeks

Average Enrolled GPA 3.6 >2.8 3.5 3.2

Step 2:Obtaining Application Packet

1. Obtain application materials from each Dietetic Internship (DI) program’s website. If they are not available on the web, email or send a typed letter (using standard business letter format) to the program director requesting an application packet.

2. Check to see if any of the dietetic programs you’re interested in require the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) for admission. If so, contact the MSU Testing Center, 355-8385, for information on when you can take the test and how to sign up.

Step 3:Evaluation of Academic Materials

Planned Program of Study form *Pick up this form from the dietetics secretary, Cherie Perkins. Fill it out and have it signed by the dietetics adviser Linda Summers, then return it to Cherie. The form lists your remaining courses and is used to type the official Declaration of Intent form, which you’ll need for your internship applications.

Dietetics Adviser, Linda Summers, signs a Planned Program of Study form for a

dietetics student.

* Note that applicants who have already graduated do not need to fill out a Planned Program of Study form and will not need the ADA Declaration of Intent form.

Step 3: Evaluation of Academic Materials, cont.Planned Program of Study, Cont.

After the Planned Program of Study form is completed and turned in to Cherie, she will give you folders for each of your possible internships. Each folder includes a checklist to be filled out.

Secretary Cherie Perkins gives a dietetics student folders with

checklists for each internship she plans to apply to.

Step 3: Evaluation of Academic Materials-behind the

scenes

ADA Declaration of Intent form*This form verifies that you intend to complete ADA approved minimum requirements. Using information from the Planned Program of Study form, Cherie will type the Declaration of Intent form and have it signed by you and the MSU program director, Dr. Weatherspoon, and provide copies for each internship application.

MSU Didactic Program Director, Dr. Lorraine Weatherspoon

* Reminder: Applicants who have already graduated do not need the ADA Declaration of Intent form. You will need an ADA Verification Statement instead.

Step 4: Letters of Recommendation

1. Decide whom to ask. (This may be specified by the DI program.) Typically, you’ll need letters from 3 different people.

2. Contact them in person or by email.

3. Arrange an in-person meeting with each letter writer.

4. Bring your letter-writers these items in a large manila envelope: • A filled-out Request for Letter of Recommendation

form• Your resume of work experience and accomplishments• Self-evaluation of qualities (listed on ADA

recommendation form)• Copies of the waiver form, one for each letter, signed in

blue ink • One copy of ADA recommendation form for each letter-

writer• Envelopes (business size, white #10) with following

information typed:

To: (Name of DI Director and DI Program)From: (Name of Letter Writer)Re: (Name of Applicant)

Step 4: Letters of Recommendation, cont/

To keep organized, you may want to create a personalized chart similar to this…

In this case, you prepare 4 manila envelopes for your letter writers that contain: 12 business envelopes (4 different internship names, 4 different letter writers) 12 signed waiver forms (blue ink), and resumes, self-evaluations, etc.And you will receive: 4 letters from the Professor in Nutrition 3 letters from your Employer 3 letters from the Professor in Food Service 2 letters from your Adviser or the DPD Director (Dr. Weatherspoon)

Internship 1 Internship 2 Internship 3 Internship 4Professor in

NutritionProfessor in

Nutrition Professor in

Nutrition Professor in

Nutrition

Employer Employer EmployerAdviser or DPD

DirectorAdviser or DPD

DirectorProfessor in Food Service

Professor in Food Service

Professor in Food Service

Step 4: Letters of Recommendation, cont.

FSHN faculty letter writers will give the completed letters of recommendation to Cherie to add to your DI folders.

For non-FSHN writers, e.g. employers from other departments or off-campus, you may choose either:

1. Pick up their letters of recommendation yourself, or

2. Have them mail their letters to Cherie Perkins, 106 Trout FSHN Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1224. You would need to provide a large addressed manila envelope, with adequate postage affixed, for their convenience. Determine the mailing weight by figuring that each letter contains 4 sheets of paper plus an envelope, and weight of the manila envelope.

Step 5: Ordering Transcripts

1. Order official transcripts (typical cost=$5.00 each) from every college/university you have attended. This may take several weeks, so make sure you plan ahead.

2. You will need one transcript for each internship program (unless the program requests additional copies).

3. Request that each transcript be sent in a separate envelope, with your name visible on the outside.

4. Have transcripts sent to the MSU dietetics program secretary, Cherie Perkins. Some DI programs may consider a transcript void if it is sent to a home address.

Continued, next page…

Step 5: Ordering Transcripts, cont.

Transcripts should be addressed as follows:Cherie PerkinsRe:___________(your name)106 Trout FSHN BuildingEast Lansing, MI 48824-1224

Note that (your name) is in the first address line.

Step 6: Internship Application Form

After you have arranged for letters of recommendation and transcripts to be sent, you may want to begin filling out the Application Form.

Most programs use the standard ADA Dietetic Internship Application Form (available from your adviser or www.depdpg.org). Type in the form on your computer screen, then print it.

On page 6 of the DI Program Application Form, you must list your “DPD” courses and grades. At MSU, the designated DPD courses are … (see next page)…

Internship Application Form: “DPD” Courses

ANTR 350BMB 200CEM 141CEM 143CEM 161CSE 101FSC 342MGT 325PSL 250PSY 101 or EC 201 or

EC 202STT 200 or STT 201

HNF 150HNF 300HNF 320HNF 375HNF 400HNF 406HNF 440HNF 444

HNF 445 HNF 453HNF 461HNF 462HNF 465HNF 466HNF 467

Contact your adviser if you have questions on determining the DPD grade point average.

Step 7: Letters of Application

• Each program requires a letter of application (personal statement) written by the applicant.

• Many programs specify what information should be included in the letter.

• After you have a basic letter, it can be modified to be specific for each program.

• Some programs will state the maximum length of the letter.

• Type the letter unless the instructions say hand-written.Tip: Do an internet search on the words “personal statement”. You’ll find helpful websites with guidelines and ideas.

Step 7: Letters of Application

Typically, what to include:

1. A statement or two specific to each program:This shows that you have studied their brochure or website and that you are really interested.

2. Statement of your short-term goal(s)

3. Statement of your long-term goals(s)

4. Work experience: Do not list each job, but rather how the job helped

you develop.

5. Some personal information: i.e. family background, special interests and activities, honors or awards, civic activities

6. Ending/Summary

Business Letter StyleMany internships specify using business style for the letters of application. What does that mean?

Do an internet search for the term “business letter style”, and you will find a number of helpful web pages that describe the elements of a business style letter. A business letter has 6 parts and at least a one-inch margin on all sides.A business letter does not mean boring! An engaging story of how and why you chose the dietetics field is more effective.

Step 7:Letters of Application

Student Services Building

Where to get help:

1. Career Services & Placement, Student Services: Workshops are provided to assist students in developing resumes and writing letters of application. Our college’s field representative for career services is Jill Cords, jcords@msu.edu. She’ll review your letter with you.

2. The DPD Program Director and other faculty

3. Friends, family, roommates, etc. (proof-readers)

Step 8: Submitting Your Application Packets

1. Check to make sure that:

• You have followed the directions from each internship program very carefully. Do they require any extra forms? Do they have a check list that you need to enclose?• All signatures are in blue ink.• If required, you have obtained money orders (available from banks, grocery stores, convenience stores, etc) to pay the application fees.

2. Type the internship programs’ addresses on labels and affix them to large mailing envelopes.

Continued, next page…

Step 8: Submitting Your Application Packet,

cont.

3. Make an appointment with Cherie (355-8474 x 118, perkin57@msu.edu) in order to pick up your materials. Most students find it helpful if Cherie assists them in assembling their packets.Bring your:

• Large addressed envelopes• Applications• Personal statements• Checks or money orders• Other forms if required• Checklists.

Step 8: Submitting Your Application Packet,

cont.

4. Take your application packets to the post office and send them by certified mail with a return receipt.

Step 9: Mail D&D Digital Card

• D&D Digital is the firm contracted by ADA for the computer matching. Cherie Perkins gives you a D&D Digital packet which includes an addressed envelope, an Order of DI Preference mark/sense card with a protective sleeve, and instruction booklet.

• On the card, indicate your order of preference for the dietetic internships to which you are applying. Be sure to enclose a check for the $50 fee.

• The deadline for submitting this card is the same as the application deadline in mid February (or late September). Send it by certified mail with return receipt also.

Step 10:Appointment Phase

•Results from the matching process will be available from D&D Digital at 12:01 AM, mid April (or mid November). You will find out whether or not you received a match via a confidential, password-protected website.

•The message will tell you which internship you matched and how to accept the appointment.

Step 11:If You Receive a Match…

• In general, students who receive a match will accept it. It is not advisable to decline a match in order to pursue appointment to another dietetic internship program.

• After you have informed the program of your decision to accept the appointment, it is important that you inform secretary Cherie Perkins or the Program Director Dr. Weatherspoon, as soon as possible about your decision and the name of the program to which you received a match.

• If you were awarded an ADA Scholarship for your internship, you must notify ADA of your internship placement as well.

(Occasionally, a student will have to decline due to an unexpected change in health or family circumstances, etc.)

Step 11: If You Don’t Receive a Match…

•Contact the MSU Program Director, Dr. Weatherspoon as soon as possible.

•Don’t give up! There is still hope. Not all internships fill during the match process. A few days after the match date, those that still have openings will announce that they are accepting secondary applications from students who did not match initially.

•Many students order extra copies of their college transcripts to have on-hand in case they do not match on the first round. Faculty can easily print new copies of letters of recommendation for students scrambling to get new applications in the mail for 2nd round openings.

If you still don’t receive a match in the 2nd round of applications…

Talk to Dr. Weatherspoon, Mrs. Summers, dietetics faculty, and your family. Decide if you still want to work toward becoming an R.D. If so, you’ll need to figure out where you came up short and work on correcting it. You may need to re-take courses and/or add relevant work experience.

Alternatively, you could decide to look for a job in a related area in which the R.D. credential is not required, e.g. pharmaceutical sales, food service management. Or, seek employment and/or further training outside of the diet/nutrition fields.

Step 12: Submit ADA Verification Statement

ADA Verification Statement

This document verifies completion of the ADA Approved Minimum Academic Requirements and is required by each Accredited Dietetic Internship. The ADA Verification Statement is provided after your degree is conferred by MSU.

Cherie will automatically send a Verification Statement to the internship program to which you matched and accepted…and extra copies to you.

Past students: To obtain copies of the Verification Statement, you must contact the secretary Cherie Perkins to fill out a request form. She will need your: social security number, PID number, date of graduation from MSU (day, month, year), and an address to which to mail the verification statement.

Congratulations!You’ve survived the dietetics internship application process and are on your way to the next step toward becoming a registered dietitian.

Copyright 2006. This presentation was developed by dietetics student Rebecca Prause-Stachnik as an independent study project guided by dietetics adviser Linda Summers.