personal statement tips dietitian

The Future RD

College advice | di help | rd stories, how to write the best personal statement for a dietetic internship.

Happy Tuesday y’all! Today’s post comes as many of you are completing your final edits on your dietetic internship applications and personal statements. (Keep on keeping on y’all; you’re doing fantastic!) Today’s post is not on what you should cover in your personal statement, like many other creators in the field have done an amazing job sharing through blog posts or filmed videos. Instead, this article discusses one specific point: how to personalize your personal statement for a dietetic internship.

In my opinion, a key way to set yourself apart is by showing that you fit perfectly with the internship. This is what today’s post explains in three simple steps.

1. Do Your Research on Dietetic Internships

In order to personalize your personal statement for a dietetic internship, you have to know what it’s about. Just like applying for a job, it’s important to research the school and its program. Think about:

What are the program’s values?
Where will you earn rotation hours?
What does the internship emphasize through its concentration?
Does the program ask you to move to another area or will you work near the school the whole time?
And how competitive is the program?

Answering questions like these will help you evaluate whether you’re interested in applying before you put all your time and effort into it! Here are a couple of great places to look for information.

School website

The school’s website will probably be the best source of easily accessible information on an internship. A dietetic internship’s website will explain at the very least, what you need to apply, where the program is located, what the program timeline is, and what the concentration is in. Sometimes a website will also include a dietetic intern handbook, possible rotation sites, and intern-created content such as videos, example assignments, or testimonies.

People connected to the school

If the school’s website doesn’t explain everything you’re looking for, consider talking to people connected to the dietetic internship! This could be the program director or former interns, for example. Open houses, both in-person and online, are also a fantastic way to get a more in-depth understanding of an internship. If you aren’t able to attend an in-person meeting or would like to show some initiative, consider reaching out via email to someone. They can help answer questions you couldn’t find answers to anywhere else.

Sometimes, either the dietetic internship or interns will post YouTube videos related to the program. Although these are less common, it never hurts to do a quick search, as the ones that I’ve found are always highly informative.

Last but not least, consider searching my site for dietetic internships ! I write articles that do all the legwork for you and summarize everything I can find into one amazing article. Although the number of internships I’ve researched is low now, I’m always adding more to the collection. If there is one that you’d like to see on the site, leave a comment on this post and I’ll let you know!

2. Consider What You Appreciate

So you’ve done your research and know all you can about the dietetic internships you’ve chosen. The next step is to review everything you’ve learned and consider what is meaningful to you. If you’re set on working in a certain setting or specialization, maybe it’s that the program has a concentration in that. Maybe the program has an elective rotation that would empower you to craft your own journey. Maybe the program emphasizes resumes when looking at applications and yours looks terrific! Your situation and connection to each school will be unique to you and only you can decide what you like.

I want to add that while price or location might be something that’s important to you, you should be able to bring to light other reasons that you appreciate a dietetic internship. These will enable you to connect more powerfully with the internship.

3. Connect the Dots

Now that you know the programs and what you value in them, it’s time to apply that to each personal statement for a dietetic internship. As you write, ask yourself: “What can I reveal about myself that shows I am an incredible pick for this internship?”

When I applied to dietetic internships, my top pick was Montana State University (MSU) (I wrote about their dietetic internship , which led me to apply and eventually be accepted!)

Here’s a personal example from my statement that I tailored to MSU:

After completing my undergraduate degree, I’ll complete the dietetic internship at MSU, become a registered dietitian, and earn a master’s in nutrition science. Although my undergraduate degree and the internship will provide a great foundation for my career, I look forward to the deeper study that will come through the graduate degree in topics like obesity and food innovation and entrepreneurship.

I like that I tied what I had learned from my sources into my future plans. Because I knew I would be applying to the MS/DI program (meaning I would complete the dietetic internship with a master’s degree), I researched the degree and incorporated some of the topics here in this section and throughout my personal statement.

Some advice you might have heard elsewhere about writing your personal statement is sharing a weakness of yours. Some internships even require it as part of your essay! Here’s how I approached that for MSU:

One weakness in my application is that I don’t have much experience with sustainable food systems. But I’m applying to MSU because I believe that understanding this area of nutrition will be vital in the future. The world’s resources are dwindling, and consumers are starting to examine their foods’ impact on the environment. As a dietitian, I’ll need to identify sustainable foods, so I can share with clients in my future private practice. Even before I start my private practice, I’d personally appreciate knowing more about this area so I can apply what I’ve learned to my life.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing to not know much about your program’s concentration. MSU’s dietetic internship has a concentration in Sustainable Food Systems, which means learning about how to evolve the way food is produced, distributed, and consumed to support the health of people and the planet. Although people might choose a dietetic internship for its concentration because they want to go into it, I had no prior experience with this concentration. Instead, I chose it because it was so unique. (Also notice how I shared why this part of the program was important to me and my future.)

To personalize your personal statement for dietetic internships, you need to remember these three things:

Do your research
Decide what matters
Connect the dots

I hope this article left you feeling more empowered to push through the last of your applications. Good luck to you all! Be sure to celebrate all the amazing work you’ve put into not just your application but improving yourself.

Are you applying to dietetic internships? What sources have you used?

Until next time, Emmalee

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Dietetic Personal Statement

Unlocking the potential of a well-balanced diet to transform lives and promote healthier lifestyles – is my passion and my calling as a prospective dietitian. The importance of a well-balanced diet to a healthy lifestyle is something that I have always been aware of and I would like to help others achieve this by changing their dietary habits. With obesity rates on the rise, I believe that the role of dietitians will become increasingly important in addressing society’s health issues.

My studies at Schoolcraft College in Subjects Allied to Healthcare have provided me with a solid foundation in chemistry and biology and have also given me a taste of the demands of university-level education. Additionally, I have attended various short courses on nutrition and dietetics, such as Kensington and Chelsea College’s course on Nutrition, Healthy Eating and Weight Management, which was particularly impactful as it was led by Antia Tull, whose books on nutrition have greatly influenced my understanding of the subject.

My previous work experience as a nanny has also played a significant role in my decision to pursue a career in dietetics. The close relationship that I formed with the children in my care and the role that food plays in their development made me realize the impact that a good-quality diet can have on a child’s long-term development and day-to-day behaviour. I have made it a personal mission to educate myself on nutrition and dietetics while working as a nanny to ensure that the children in my care are receiving the best possible start in life.

Furthermore, my experience as a sales assistant has taught me how to work well under pressure and as part of a team, both of which are important skills for healthcare professionals. My internship experience at Dr Andrew’s Nutrition further solidified my desire to pursue a career in dietetics. During my 6-month internship, I was able to gain hands-on experience in the field and learn about the various aspects of dietetics. It was a valuable opportunity that gave me a deeper understanding of the profession and the impact that dietitians can have on people’s lives.

My ultimate goal is to work as a pediatric dietitian, where I can combine my love of child care with my enthusiasm for nutrition and make a positive impact in the lives of children. I am excited about the possibility of achieving this goal through further education and training in the field of dietetics.

Dietetic Personal Statement Example

I am excited to apply for the dietetic course because of my long-standing interest in nutrition and my desire to work in the healthcare industry. My passion for chemistry, food science, and understanding how nutrition impacts the human body led me to pursue this career path. My biology A-level provided a foundation for my interest in the variations of dietary needs throughout the life cycle. Additionally, a week of shadowing a dietitian solidified my decision to pursue this career and exposed me to the various challenges and rewards of nutrition.

I believe that my A-level subjects in biology and chemistry will be beneficial as the programme is divided into academic and clinical components. The first year of the program focuses heavily on biochemistry, and my background in these subjects will aid in my understanding. Additionally, my math skills will be useful as the programme includes many calculations for determining specific dietary needs. While some aspects of the programme, such as behavioural sciences and professional studies, will be new to me, my work experience has given me a glimpse into these skills in practice.

Upon graduation, my goal is to work as a dietitian for the National Health Service in the UK. I consider myself to be organised, committed, and friendly, all traits that will serve me well in the field of dietetics. I am diligent in completing assignments on time and to a high standard, and I enjoy planning my days to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively. My drive to succeed is exemplified by my decision to attend a college with a more rigorous curriculum despite the added commute. Additionally, I am comfortable interacting with others in unfamiliar situations, an important skill in a career that relies heavily on communication.

In my spare time, I enjoy participating in a variety of activities that further develop my skills. I volunteer as a young guide leader for my local group, working towards a leadership qualification that will help me develop teamwork and leadership skills. Additionally, I am a member of a local gym to improve my fitness and build self-confidence, and I work part-time at a retail store, honing my customer service skills. Furthermore, I take part in my college’s enrichment programme, including IT and Queen’s Scout Award, which have provided me with qualifications in text production and developed my teamwork and leadership skills. I am eager to begin the dietetic course and contribute to the field through my dedication and passion for the subject.

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Tips for a Successful Application

In the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, we want you to be successful when applying to our graduate programs. Think of your application as a way to help us get to know you. Who are you? What do you want to do with this degree? What would you contribute to our school culture? How can we help you be successful? Your application will be reviewed by two faculty members on the Nutritional Sciences Admissions Committee. Our approach is both holistic and thorough and we truly enjoy learning about you as a future graduate student.

Creating an Application that Will Help You Stand Out

These tips will help you submit the strongest application possible for our programs.

Writing Your Personal Statement

Writing a great personal statement takes time. We highly encourage you to seek feedback on your drafts from mentors and peers. A strong personal statement:

Articulates a clear focus related to pursuing a nutrition degree and intention in applying to the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Michigan Public Health.
Demonstrates critical reasoning and sophistication in making linkages between career goals and the expected learning and benefits of graduate education in nutritional sciences.
Connects past academic, professional, and personal experiences and training to skills and knowledge that will be acquired through a graduate degree in nutritional sciences.
Expresses specific interest in the curricula of the department and/or the research of specific faculty (particularly for MS and PhD students).
Has few to no grammatical errors, demonstrates English fluency, and indicates that the applicant has a high capacity to clearly communicate ideas in writing.

Showcasing Your Professional and Volunteer Experiences

The amount and quality of your professional and volunteer experiences will be evaluated as we review your application. Strong candidates generally have worked in a position using nutrition and/or public health skills, whether it be after their undergraduate degree or during summers. Experiences vary but may include AmeriCorps or PeaceCorps service, policy work, food banks, health departments, school or community gardens, clinical nutrition shadowing, fitness and other non-profit organizations. A clear dedication to nutrition and public health through volunteer experiences during college or after are highly valued. Brief periods of professional/volunteer experience will be given less consideration as compared to longer experiences.

Highlighting Your Academic Record

Your previous grades, whether during undergraduate education, a previous master’s degree, or while you took our prerequisite courses outside of a degree program, are an important component of your application. An undergraduate GPA higher than 3.4 is generally considered acceptable for admission. However, GPAs of 3.0-3.4 may also be admissible as long as your grades in math and science courses (biology, chemistry, calculus, etc.) are above 3.0.

We understand that some students have had challenges during their academic career, such as caring for a sick parent or major financial stressors. If you’ve experienced challenges, let us know in your reflective essay. We want to be able to consider your academic record in the context of those life experiences and we appreciate hearing how students have persevered through tough times.

Finally, although our required prerequisite courses are all in the natural sciences, we embrace students with diverse backgrounds. In the past we’ve had anthropologists, dancers, English majors, and philosophers enroll. Just make sure your application demonstrates that you can succeed in rigorous natural science courses and use your personal statements to share with us why nutritional sciences is your calling.

We encourage international applicants to carefully review the additional information provided on our International Applicants page .

Securing Strong Recommendation Letters

You are required to have three recommendation letters submitted with your application. We highly encourage you to ask previous professors and/or supervisors to write these letters. Letters from friends or relatives are discouraged as they are often not able to speak to your academic and professional accomplishments.

When asking people to write your recommendation letters, it’s helpful to give them your resume and personal statement to review so they know what your passions are and why you are applying to our program. We also recommend that you give people at least a month to write and submit your letters, and think about a back-up letter writer in case someone becomes unavailable.

Addressing Missing Prerequisite Courses

We prefer that your prerequisites are completed before reviewing your application, however many students are still in the process of completing them in their undergraduate degree or separately through online, community or local colleges and universities. If you are missing one to two prerequisite courses, please state in your application when you plan to take these courses. You can be conditionally admitted to the program and will be notified in your acceptance letter that your courses must be complete prior to beginning your first academic term with a B grade or better.

If you are missing three prerequisite courses, please state in your application when you plan to take these courses. The Admissions Committee is unable to make a final decision on your application until at least one out of the three prerequisites is complete. You will be contacted by the program coordinator to confirm that a concrete plan is in place to complete the required courses. Once you have a maximum of two missing prerequisite courses, the Admissions Committee can use midterm or final grades for courses in progress to move your application through the process to and may either admit you or conditionally admit you.

If you are missing four or more prerequisite courses, please contact the program coordinator , to discuss if it is feasible for you to complete these courses before the admissions deadline.

Tips for Prospective PhD Students

Below are some frequently asked questions for those interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in Nutritional Sciences.

What is the first step to applying to the PhD program?

The most important thing about applying to and enrolling in a PhD program is the fit between you and your mentor/advisor. This will be a lifelong relationship, it’s great to make sure that you have scientific interests in common and complementary expectations regarding communication, engagement, etcetera. As a first step, we strongly suggest that you review our faculty profiles and read more about their research . Then, send an email to faculty who share your research interests, inquire if they are accepting PhD students in the year you plan to apply, and indicate your interest in specific faculty on your application. Doctoral applicants who are admissible and have a potential mentor match are invited to a Research Day in late January. Because a good mentor-mentee relationship is so critical to your success, we do not admit students who do not have a clear faculty mentoring plan.

What are the prerequisites for the PhD program?

One semester of each: Calculus or Statistics, *General Chemistry, *Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Human Physiology (must be Human Physiology OR Anatomy and Physiology NOT mammalian or animal. The physiology curriculum must include the digestive and endocrine systems.) *no lab required

Where should I complete the prerequisites that I am missing?

Prerequisites can be completed at a university, community college, or an online institution and it must be a regionally accredited institution . Contact a Nutritional Sciences program coordinator if you have any questions regarding your selected course(s).

How should I submit the transcript once I have completed a prerequisite? Where do I send the transcript?

Send your transcript by email to the Nutritional Sciences program coordinator . You may also mail your transcript to: Attn: Carole Durgy, Graduate Program Coordinator, School of Public Health, Department of Nutritional Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

What is the minimum GPA for admission?

An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.4 is generally considered acceptable for admission. However, GPAs of 3.0-3.4 are also admissible as long as your grades in math and sciences courses (biology, chemistry, calculus, etc.) are above 3.0.

Do I need to have a degree in Nutrition?

No! Successful applicants demonstrate a strong interest in science and health, most have an undergraduate or master’s degree in some field of basic or applied science, and, at a minimum, all need to have taken courses in biology, physiology, general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, and calculus.

Can I complete the registered dietitian (RD) requirements with the PhD?

Yes, it is possible to complete the RD requirements while pursuing your PhD. The decision will be made jointly with your faculty mentor to determine the timing and funding.

Is the GRE required?

Michigan Public Health does not require and does not review GRE or other standardized test scores for admission to any master's or doctoral programs. Applications will be reviewed holistically based on required application components. Please contact our admissions staff at [email protected] if you have questions.

Do I need to have a master’s degree?

Although a prior master’s degree is preferred for our PhD students, it is not required. Applicants who have strong prior professional or research experience with only bachelor’s degrees will be considered.

Do I need to have research experience?

No, but research experience either though paid or volunteer positions, or prior coursework, does strengthen your application. All applicants, regardless of prior experience, should discuss why a research degree is the best next step for your career.

Am I fully funded and what does that mean?

We make sure that there is a plan to financially support your time in our program when we admit you. . This means that some very qualified applicants may not be accepted if there is not funding available. We highly encourage applicants to connect with faculty members whose research interests match theirs in order to get a sense of whether funding might be available. Our funding packages are often a combination of various types of funding sources: Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions, Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) positions, training grants, and fellowships.

Tips for Prospective Master’s Degree Students

Below are some tips and frequently asked questions for those interested in pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a Master of Science (MS) in Nutritional Sciences.

Should I get an MS or MPH?

The bottom line is that the MS is a research degree while the MPH is a practice degree. The MS requires less coursework because students will spend the majority of their time conducting original research with a faculty member. Here are short articles about some of our faculty, students and their interests. The MS applicant may have already participated in undergraduate research or have worked in a research position. This is helpful however not mandatory. A true desire and passion to engage in a research project at the thesis level makes for a strong candidate. The MPH includes more coursework and applied practice experiences to provide students comprehensive training in public health and nutrition. Both MS and MPH students can complete the coursework required to be eligible to become a Registered Dietitian (RD).

What are the prerequisites for the MPH program?

One semester of each: *General Chemistry, *Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Human Physiology (must be Human Physiology OR Anatomy and Physiology NOT mammalian or animal. The physiology curriculum must include the digestive and endocrine systems.) *no lab required

Dietetic prerequsistes inlcude: Microbiology, English, and any Psychology, Anthropology, or Sociology course

What are the prerequisites for the MS program?

Prerequisites can be completed at a university, community college, or an online institution and it must be a regionally accredited institution . Contact the Nutritional Sciences program coordinator if you have any questions regarding your selected course(s).

How should I submit the official transcript once I have completed a prerequisite? Where do I send the transcript?

Send your official transcript by email to Keegan Gramza, [email protected], Nutritional Sciences Student Services Coordinator. You may also mail your transcript to: Attn: Keegan Gramza, Graduate Program Coordinator, School of Public Health, Department of Nutritional Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. We suggest reaching out to your home institution's registrar's office to learn more about the options available.

How large is the department?

Although each cohort varies, we typically have between 25 and 35 students enrolled in each MPH cohort, 6-12 students in each MS cohort and a total of 15-20 students pursuing their PhD.

An undergraduate GPA higher than 3.4 is generally considered acceptable for admission. However, GPAs of 3.0-3.4 are also admissible as long as your grades in math and sciences courses (biology, chemistry, calculus, etc.) are above 3.0.

Michigan Public Health practices a holistic review process when making graduate students admission decisions. Faculty reviewers give careful consideration to all materials submitted by a student. We look at grades and key coursework, essays, experience, and letters of recommendation.

Do most students work while in graduate school?

A majority of students work a minimum of 10 hours a week during the academic year. It is recommended that during a student’s first semester, they do not work more than 10 hours a week since there is an adjustment period to starting a graduate program. Some students are able to balance 20 hours a week while attending school.

How do I get involved in research if I am pursuing an MPH degree?

Many MPH students find research opportunities (paid or volunteer positions) by contacting Nutritional Sciences faculty . Research opportunities across the School of Public Health are readily available throughout the school year and are posted in The Vector newsletter. The Student Employment Office and University Careers website post open positions frequently.

Do most students complete a certificate?

A small number of Nutritional Sciences students complete a certificate while completing their studies. Learn more about certificate programs offered through the School of Public Health and Rackham Graduate School .

The Graduate Certificate Program in Sustainability is a popular certificate with Nutritional Sciences students who are interested in sustainable food systems. Every cohort also has a few students who complete the Physical Activity & Nutrition (PAN) certificate .

If you are interested in pursuing a certificate, we encourage you to connect with your faculty advisor.

Why choose the University of Michigan for Nutritional Sciences?

Our faculty, staff and students are engaged, passionate and friendly. We make you and your graduate degree journey a priority. Our faculty have diverse backgrounds and research areas and have many niche and fascinating interests including food insecurity, sustainable food systems, maternal and child nutrition, eating disorders, nutrient metabolism, sleep regulation and nutrition epidemiology. Our Dietetics concentration provides a path for students who wish to become Registered Dietitian (RD) nutritionists. As a member of our Nutritional Sciences community you will be engaged, challenged and fascinated by the opportunities to pursue your passion.

Career Outcomes

Due to the diverse interests of our students, they select a variety of career paths. View more information about some of their job titles and alumni journeys .

Are there different application systems for MPH, MS and PhD degree programs?

Students applying to the MPH degree will complete their application through the SOPHAS portal. Students applying to the MS or PhD degree will complete their application through the Rackham CollegeNet portal. View more information .

View additional Frequently Asked Questions related to our residential degree programs.

If you have additional questions please contact Keegan Gramza, [email protected], Student Services Coordinator or Carole Durgy, [email protected], Graduate Program Coordinator.

Ready to Apply?

Learn more about our application requirements and deadlines and start your application today. If you’re not ready to apply yet, but would like to receive more information about Michigan Public Health and the program(s) you’re interested in, join our prospective student interest list.

For more information about the admissions process, email our Recruitment and Admissions team at [email protected] or schedule an appointment to talk with a member of our Graduate Admissions team.

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Writing Compelling Dietetic Internship Personal Statement

Table of Contents

Applying for a dietetic internship is a rigorous process and requires submitting a personal statement, which is an essential part of your application.

It can be daunting to craft a statement, mainly when you are limited in words. There’s so much you would like to say about yourself. However, with the proper preparation, guidance, and focus on the content, you can create an excellent personal statement.

This will make your candidacy stand out from the rest. Read on to draft your dietetic internship personal statement .

What Should Be Included in the Dietetic Personal Statement?

When crafting your dietetic personal statement, it is crucial to think strategically about what should be included. Your goal should be to convey why you are passionate about nutrition and dietetics .

Add the skills and experiences that make you stand out as a strong candidate. You should also provide examples of how you have taken the initiative in your nutrition-related studies or work.

Add unique perspectives or experiences demonstrating why you are the right person for the internship.

How to Write a Dietetic Internship Personal Statement

Start With a Strong Introduction

Your statement should begin with an introductory paragraph that captures the reader’s attention. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your enthusiasm for dietetics.

Please explain why you are passionate about pursuing it. It can be helpful to start by explaining what inspired you to pursue this career path and how it fits your overall goals. Remember that this statement isn’t just about what you have done but should focus on why you are excited to pursue a dietetic internship. State how it will help you reach your goals.

Highlight Your Relevant Experiences

Your personal statement should also include information about your past experiences demonstrating why you are the best candidate for the position. This could be anything from volunteering at nutrition education programs to internships in healthcare or research settings.

Be sure to provide specific details about these experiences, such as what role you played or any accomplishments or challenges you overcame. Include examples of tangible outcomes gained from these experiences (e.g., increased knowledge of nutrition science) that can highlight your skills and qualifications.

Explain Why This Particular Dietetic Internship

Your statement should also explain why you are interested in this dietetic internship. Please provide details about what sets this program apart from other opportunities and how it fits into your long-term goals. It can be helpful to mention the experiences or skills they will gain from joining that program.

Also, include the mentors and resources available to them there. This is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that you have done your research. Add that you understand why this specific dietetic internship benefits those pursuing a career in nutrition.

Finish Strong With a Conclusion

Your personal statement should end on a solid note by summarizing your qualifications and emphasizing why you are passionate about nutrition and dietetics. Reiterate how the dietetic internship you are applying for perfectly fits your skills and long-term goals.

You can also include information about how the program will help you grow as a professional and prepare for a successful career in nutrition. A well-crafted conclusion can leave an excellent impression on those who review your application, so make it as impactful as possible!

Dietetic Internship Personal Statement Examples

Your dietetic internship personal statement should include the specifics of the program you are applying for. Here are examples of a strong opening introduction:

“I am passionate about making a difference in people’s lives through nutrition and dietetics. This is why I am excited to pursue this opportunity with your program. My lifelong interest in nutrition, combined with my experience at nutritional research laboratories, has prepared me. I can take on the challenges of becoming a successful dietitian. I look forward to learning from your world-renowned faculty as well as gaining valuable hands-on experience as part of this unique dietetic internship.”

“I am eager to join your dietetic internship program and use my knowledge and experience to help people achieve healthier lifestyles. My fascination with nutrition began at a young age, which led me on the path of food science and eventually dietetics. I have developed strong research skills through various internships in healthcare settings as well as extensive coursework in nutrition sciences. Your program offers an ideal environment for me to gain hands-on experience while also learning from world-renowned faculty members. I am confident that this invaluable opportunity will set me up for a successful career in nutrition.”

Final Thoughts

As you work on crafting your dietetic internship personal statement, remember that it should provide insight. It should be why you are passionate about this field and demonstrate why you are the person for the position . With careful thought and preparation, you can create a striking statement that will make your candidacy stand out from the rest! Good luck with your application!

Writing Compelling Dietetic Internship Personal Statement

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Dietetics Personal Statement Examples

1 Personal Statement Example Links
2 Career Opportunities
3 UK Admission Requirements
4 UK Earnings Potential For Dietetics
5 Similar Courses in UK
6 UK Curriculum
7 Alumni Network

Personal Statement Example Links

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Ever been inspired by the role diet plays in promoting health and preventing disease? Fascinated by the idea of using food and nutrition to manage health conditions and enhance well-being?

If so, a career in Dietetics could be your perfect journey. This scientifically rigorous field equips you with the knowledge and skills to translate complex nutrition science into practical dietary advice.

A dietetics course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to become a dietitian. You will learn about nutrition and how to develop healthy eating plans for individuals and groups. You will also learn about the science of food, food safety, and the principles of food service management. You will also learn how to assess and monitor the nutritional status of individuals and groups.

In addition to the theoretical aspects of dietetics, you will also gain practical experience. You will learn how to plan, prepare, and serve meals, as well as how to assess the nutritional needs of individuals and groups. You will also learn how to develop nutrition education programs.

👍 When writing a personal statement : Highlight your passion for the course, demonstrating your understanding of it. Use relevant personal experiences, coursework, or work history to showcase how these have fostered your interest and readiness for the course.

Career Opportunities

A degree in dietetics can lead to a variety of career paths in the health and nutrition field. Dietitians are trained to develop, implement, and monitor nutrition plans for individuals and groups.

1. Clinical Dietitian: Clinical dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy to individuals in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient clinics. They assess patients’ nutritional needs, develop nutrition plans, and monitor their progress.

2. Food Service Manager: Food service managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of food service establishments, such as restaurants, cafeterias, and catering companies. They plan menus, order supplies, and manage staff.

3. Nutrition Educator: Nutrition educators provide nutrition information to the public through classes, seminars, and other educational programs. They may also work with health care providers to develop nutrition plans for their patients.

4. Nutrition Consultant: Nutrition consultants provide nutrition advice to clients in the private sector. They may work with individuals, families, or organisations to develop nutrition plans and provide nutrition education.

5. Public Health Nutritionist: Public health nutritionists work in the public health sector to promote healthy eating habits and nutrition education. They may work in schools, community health centers, or other public health organisations.

6. Research Dietitian: Research dietitians conduct research on nutrition and health-related topics. They may work in universities, research institutes, government agencies, or the food industry, designing and conducting experiments, analysing data, and publishing their findings to advance knowledge in the field of nutrition.

UK Admission Requirements

In order to be accepted into a university course in Dietetics, applicants must meet the following entry requirements:

Grades: Applicants must have achieved a minimum of a 2:1 in an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, such as Nutrition, Food Science, or Health Sciences.

Prerequisites: Applicants must have a good understanding of the principles of nutrition and food science, as well as a basic knowledge of biochemistry and physiology.

Other Entry Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum of two years of relevant work experience in the field of dietetics, nutrition, or health sciences.

These entry requirements are generally similar to other courses in the field of nutrition and dietetics, although some courses may require a higher grade than a 2:1 in the relevant degree, or may require additional qualifications such as a Master’s degree.

UK Earnings Potential For Dietetics

The average earnings for someone with a degree in dietetics depend on the country and region of employment. In the UK, the average salary for a dietitian is £30,000 to £40,000 per year. Dietitians working in the NHS may receive a higher salary, as well as additional benefits such as bonuses and pension contributions.

In terms of job market trends, the demand for dietitians is expected to grow over the next few years. This is due to the increasing importance of nutrition in healthcare and the need for qualified professionals to provide advice and support to patients. Additionally, the rise of plant-based diets and the growing awareness of food-related health issues are expected to drive demand for dietitians in the future.

Similar Courses in UK

Other university courses related to Dietetics include Nutrition, Food Science, and Food Technology.

Nutrition focuses on the science of the nutrients and dietary components that are necessary for human health. It looks at the role of food in the body and how it can be used to prevent and treat diseases. It also looks at the social and cultural aspects of food, such as how food choices are affected by cultural and religious beliefs.
Food Science is a multidisciplinary field that combines chemistry, biology, and engineering to study the physical, chemical, and biological properties of food and its ingredients. It looks at how food is produced, processed, packaged, and stored, and how it can be used to create safe and nutritious products.
Food Technology is a field of study that focuses on the development, production, and marketing of food products. It looks at the various processes involved in food production, such as processing, packaging, storage, and distribution. It also looks at the safety and quality of food products, as well as the marketing of food products.

The key difference between Dietetics and these other courses is that Dietetics focuses on the use of food and nutrition to promote health and prevent disease, while the other courses focus more on the production, processing, and marketing of food products.

UK Curriculum

The key topics and modules covered in the University course Dietetics include:

Nutrition Science: This module covers the fundamentals of nutrition science, including the chemical, physiological and metabolic processes involved in nutrition. It also covers the principles of nutrition and its role in health and disease.
Food Science: This module covers the scientific principles of food production, storage, and preparation. It also covers food safety and hygiene, as well as food composition and its role in health.
Clinical Dietetics: This module covers the principles of clinical dietetics, including the assessment and management of nutrition-related health problems. It also covers the use of nutrition in the management of chronic diseases.
Food Service Management: This module covers the principles of food service management, including menu planning, food production and service, and nutrition education.
Research Methods: This module covers the principles of research methods and data analysis, including the design and implementation of research projects.
Public Health Nutrition: This module covers the principles of public health nutrition, including the assessment and management of nutrition-related health problems in populations.

In addition to the theoretical aspects of the course, there is also a significant practical component. This includes hands-on experience in food preparation and service, as well as nutrition education and research projects. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in supervised clinical placements, which provide the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the course.

Alumni Network

Notable alumni from the course of Dietetics include Dr. Joanne Slavin, Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Slavin is a widely respected expert in the field of nutrition and has made significant contributions to the field through her research and advocacy.

She has published numerous studies on the role of dietary fiber in health, and has been a leader in the development of dietary guidelines for Americans. She is also a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board and has served as a consultant to the World Health Organization and the US Department of Agriculture.

Alumni events and networking opportunities for Dietetics alumni include the annual Dietetics Alumni Reunion hosted by the University of Minnesota. This event provides alumni with the opportunity to reconnect with former classmates and faculty, to learn about the latest developments in the field, and to network with other professionals in the field.

Additionally, the University of Minnesota offers a Dietetics Alumni Association, which provides members with access to exclusive events, resources, and networking opportunities.

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I am applying for this course because I am very interested in becoming a dietitian. I have been interested in this career for a number of years. I enjoy chemistry and food related subjects and I am interested in working for the health service. As well as this I am intrigued about how the body works and the influencer nutrition has on this. My A-level in biology covers briefly the variations in dietary requirements as the life cycle takes place. I have enjoyed this subject and would like to study it in more depth. I have completed 1 week shadowing the dietitian's at ___________. I enjoyed every minute of it and I particularly enjoyed the dietitian's clinics. The clinic's allowed the dietitian to have one to one contact with the patient. This seems the most effective way to change a patient's behaviour. The majority of patients I came into contact with had some form of diabetes, but I also saw anorexia and obesity. The skills used during these appointments were fascinating. I often saw a cycle of a dietitian who managed to persuade patients who were not thinking about change to change some parts of their diets. These skills are essential in this career and are preliminary taught through the degree and improved in practice. This week was also helpful as it helped me confirm my career choice and therefore my university options.

My A -level subjects are very relevant to this course. The course is split into 2 main areas, academic and clinical work. In the first year the course covers a lot of biochemistry, and I believe my a-levels in biology and chemistry will help me here. The course will also contain numerous calculations especially in working out specific requirements. My mathematics knowledge will help me here. There will be many parts which are new to me and these include behavioural sciences such as psychology and sociology. Modules in professional studies will also be new to me although my work experiences has enabled me to observe some of these skills in practice.

My main career aim upon successful completion of the course is to practise as a dietitian in the UK, for the NHS. I then hope to achieve senior status.

As a person I view myself as organised committed and friendly. I think these are all qualities which will help me in the dietetic world. I am organised because I complete all my college assignments on time, and to a high standard. I like to organise my days in advance so tasks get completed on time, and free time is used effectively. I believe I am committed to my studies. I chose to attend a college with a higher profile than my local college event though this resulted in 90 minutes of travelling per day. I feel I am friendly, and can mix with other people in unfamiliar situations. This is important as communication skills are vital in a dietetic career.

In my spare time I enjoy voluntary work, leisure activities and part time work. I am currently a young Guide leader for my local Guide group. This has enabled me to work towards the Guide Association's leadership qualification. On completion I will, be qualified to be an assistant Guide Leader. The qualification aims at developing skills required in order to run a unit and also develops teamwork and leadership skills. For leisure I am a member of my local gym. This is primarily to improve fitness but it also builds self confidence and I meet new people. I am currently employed at my local Primark store as a till operator. The job has enabled me to develop customer service skills, which will be important in my future career.

As well as these activities I like to take part in my college's enrichment programme. I have participated in IT enrichment and Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. The IT enrichment have provided me with OCR qualification in text production up to level 3. I am continuing with these classes in order to obtain the Diploma in Text Production. I am currently working towards Duke of Edinburgh Gold award, and have completed the expedition and residential aspects of this award. For my residential I took part in an International Guide and Scout camp, where I was a staff member working on the catering team. Both exploration and residential helped me incorporate team work but in different scenarios.

Profile info

There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous.

Author's Comments

All course applied for include state registrataion as a dietitian.

Queen Margaret University (College) Edinburgh: 180 Points from at least 2 A-levels, including 2 sciences. (Accepted this offer even though i was predicted AAA)

University Wales Institute Cardiff: 260 Points from 3 A-levels including Biology and Chemistry

Leeds Metropolitan University: CCD: Including chemistry and one other science

Glasgow Caledonian University: Not sure (it was over 3 years ago!)

Surrey University: BBB: include 2 sciences preferably chemistry and biology.

Nottingham University: Rejected after interview for Msc Nutrition with state registration as a dietitian, accepted for Bsc Nutrition. BCC: Including chemistry and one other science.

Not sure if this was my final statement because of the length but the content is what was included, maybe i included it in a more concise way!

This personal statement is unrated

Related Personal Statements

Wrong profession.

Wed, 11/06/2008 - 12:53

Is this page not for dentists?

Thank you for posting this!

Tue, 19/07/2011 - 11:43

Thank you for posting this! Has been really helpful to read, as not many people seem to want to do Dietetics! Good luck with your application :)

what year did you apply?

Tue, 10/09/2013 - 10:01

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Dietetic internship personal statement examples

4 tips to improve your dietetics grades.

Dietetics Programs , Productivity , Student Life
by jennifer.westerkamp

Stand out with the best dietetic grades! These effective tips will help land you on the dean’s list and increase your chances of matching to your top dietetic internship.

It’s Tuesday, and you’ve already taken your fourth exam for the week, have a lab project due in organic chemistry tomorrow, and two presentations on Thursday. I feel you! Nutrition and Dietetics is an intriguing major but challenging one. As a recent graduate and future dietitian, here are a few tips that helped me survive the busy undergraduate workload.

Organize, Organize, Organize!

Every dietetics major understands the importance of staying organized during the semester. It is easy to fall behind and feel lost between meeting lab report deadlines, biochemistry exams, and submitting diagrams of micronutrient metabolism pathways. Keeping a planner and updating it is one way to stay on top of deadlines. A simple planner won’t cut it in this major; it will need to be loaded with details, deadlines, and study times.

In my undergraduate experience, I found it helpful to organize my planner around study times. To prevent over-studying (yes, that’s a thing!) and under-studying, I planned to study in 1-hour increments, sectioning off 45-minute studying blocks using the other 15 minutes to give my brain a break. By scheduling study times and staying organized, I felt that I was ahead of assignments and deadlines, which paid off in the long run.

Utilize Your Tools

We buy textbooks, lab books, and nutrition manuals because they are required of us, but what if we utilize them? One of my turning points in undergraduate was when I started using my materials. Simply reading the chapters before class and reviewing questions at the end almost always led to me acing the exam. I noticed professors pull a lot of study questions from the book or use them to form questions. Reviewing the PowerPoints won’t cut it.

Study Well and Study Often

How do you learn the material effectively? Did you know that everyone realizes differently? Strategies that work for some don’t work for others. That’s why it is crucial to figure out how YOU retain information. This will be important for the registration exam as well. Be sure to check out Pass the Exam Prep, powered by the Study Smarter Method, to help you ace the board exam when your time comes. Science is not a subject that can be memorized, so it’s essential to comprehend the information thoroughly. Personally, speaking out loud (sometimes to my dog) always helped me learn the material. If you can walk through the steps of a process, like the Krebs cycle, then you have a strong understanding of the concept. If that weren’t effective, I would break out the whiteboard. Yes, I was one of those students! Writing can be an effective way to retain information and rock a nutrition exam.

As mentioned earlier, over-studying can happen. I found myself constantly over-studying in courses without even realizing it. The frustrating part is that after 45 minutes, the brain retains less information, which may mean you’re wasting time. If you find yourself stuck on a subject, reach out for help. Getting a second perspective can be helpful and make a difference in your grade. I utilized my professors and graduate assistance whenever I felt stuck, and I’m thankful I did.

Review, Review, Review!

Sometimes I got picked on because I would always request to review my exams, even when I made the highest grade. I think we don’t give review sessions the recognition they deserve. The main reason being is it’s so important to see what areas you are strong in and those you are weak in and may need extra practice. One perk of being a dietetics major is having nearly all comprehensive finals *cue the excitement.* Reviewing exams is important because you WILL see the information again on semester finals and possibly the registration exam, so make sure you evaluate your areas of understanding. I know that stinging feeling when you study all month for your macro exam, only to see you did less than average. It can be discouraging! Don’t brush it off. Review the exam, see where you need to improve, invest in a tutor, and better yourself. Your future dietitian self will thank you!

These tips sound do-able, right? I wouldn’t have been as successful in undergraduate without them. Studying effectively is such an important skill because it determines your GPA, dietetic internship acceptance, and passing the board exam.

I hope these tips will be useful and help you succeed as a future dietitian! Let us know if you used any of these tips or have any of your own effective studying strategies.

P.S. Don’t let a low overall or DPD GPA hold you back from having a happy Match Day. Get one-on-one support throughout the application process and increase your confidence by working with a coach.

P.P.S. 100% of Get Matched Coaching clients were matched to a dietetic internship in 2021. This can be you, too! Click here to see all that’s included .

From one future dietitian to another,

Dietetic intern with All Access Dietetics.

Dietetic Internship Match Rate Statistics

Dietetics Programs

It’s not easy applying and matching to dietetic internship programs. Thousands of applicants apply each year but the dietetic internship match rate is 60%.

Each year, The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics releases dietetic internship match rate statistics. These statistics include the number of internship openings, applicants who apply, applicants that match, and percentage of matched applicants.

What is Computer Matching?

D&D Digital Systems is a computer matching service contracts to facilitate the dietetic internship matching process. The website collects the applicant’s dietetic internship program rankings and helps internship programs match with applicants from their choices.

Changes in Number of Openings

The number of openings in which applicants can apply to has quadrupled over the last two and a half decades. Between 2018-2019 there was an increase of 2% in the number of dietetic internship openings. However, the number of applicants who apply annually is increasing causing a tremendous amount of competition.

Changes in Number of Applicants

Over the past decade the number of applicants has averaged 5,853 individuals and continues to grow while openings averaged 3,504. Likewise, only 67% (two thirds) of applicants match to a dietetic internship programs. Between 2018 and 2019, there was an 11% decrease in the number of applicants. The limited acceptance rate of interns each year may be deterring applicants from applying.

Changes in Applicants Matched

Over the past two and a half decades, the number of applicants matched to programs has steadily declined.

What is being done about this?

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is using incentives to encourage current dietitians to become preceptors. The academy has initiated Outstanding Preceptor Awards each year for six preceptors who are exemplary educators and mentors. This award includes a $1,000 reimbursement towards expenses for attending FNCE. As well as recognition at the Academy Member Showcase and NDEP Member Meetings at FNCE.

Those who chose to precept are offered up to 15 CPEUs per 5 year cycle. Preceptors can earn an additional 8 CPEU for attending a free Preceptor Training Program. These motivators have increased the number of preceptors available. More needs to be done to combat the recurrent issue of less than 60% of applicants being matched annually.

For more information click here to view the changes that have in the number of internship openings, applicants, applicants matched, and percentage of matched applicants since 1993.

Are you applying for a dietetic internship? Check out our blog on the Steps for Applying to a Dietetic Internship Program! Click here!

Steps for Applying to a Dietetic Internship Program

Applying for dietetic internships or rd programs can be a daunting task for many applicants. here is everything you need to know about the application process, first, review the list of dietetic internships or rd programs available.

There are a lot of factors to consider when applying for a dietetic internship or RD program. Applicants should consider the type of internship, tuition, admission criteria, location, number of students accepted, and additional experience dietetic internship directors expect from applicants.

Search programs by type and state. Sign up for our FREE Application Toolkit here to access our ACEND Accredited Program Database
Utilize our Get Matched Coaching program for application ease

Applying for dietetic internships using Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service (DICAS)

DICAS is an online application system many dietetic internship programs use. The application system allows applicants to upload and submit all application materials in one location and select the specific dietetic internship programs they wish to apply to.

DICAS charges an initial fee of $45 for the first application and $20 for each additional application thereafter. Follow these steps to ensure your application is complete prior to pressing e-submit.

1. Create a DICAS account

DICAS holds two application periods each year, spring and fall. Application material from one period does not save to the next. You will be required to pay application fees again to re-apply.

2. Request official transcripts from the institution(s) that met degree and DPD requirements

An official transcript can be sent to DICAS through your institution’s registrar. You should complete these several weeks prior to when you plan to submit your application. A transcript is needed from any institution attended. Dietetic internship directors want to see grades from all degree and DPD courses. For detailed instructions on where to send official transcripts click here .

3. Upload DPD information

Applicants will enter their DPD director’s contact information and submit it to DICAS. This will allow the DPD director to submit a Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent to DICAS on your behalf.

What is a Verification Statement?

A verification statement is a form your DPD director fills out verifying that you have met all program and degree requirements from an academy accredited DPD program. The form is mailed to students following completion of the DPD program. You should keep at least one original signed verification statement as part of their permanent record.

What is a Declaration of Intent?

A declaration of intent is a form listing all of the courses that a student still needs to complete to fulfill program and degree requirements. This form verifies the student’s intent to complete the bachelor’s degree and/or ACEND’s minimum academic requirements. The form is signed by the director and uploaded to DICAS. This allows the student to begin applying for dietetic internships prior to graduation.

4. Enter Coursework

Prior to entering grades you received on your transcript, you must first complete the section on colleges attended. Search the name of your institution(s) in which you received grades for degree and DPD courses.

Entering Course List

You will upload your DPD course list provided by your DPD director. Once this is complete, you will be able to enter each course and its corresponding grade for each academic term.

Entering Coursework

All DPD coursework must be entered under the correct semester exactly as it appears on your official transcript. If you repeated a class, you only need to include the higher of the two grades you received from the course. DICAS will then calculate your overall DPD professional and science GPAs. Refer to your GPA when considering internship programs to apply to, as many programs have minimum GPA requirements.

Visit DICAS Coursework to learn more about entering course work and how to input foreign degree and DPD courses taken.

5. Enter any awards, work experience, and volunteer experience

Describe any awards and work and volunteer experience you have in detail. While it may not be a requirement by the internship(s) that you are applying to, recognizing any activities that you partake in is a great way to stand out from other applicants. If work and/or volunteer experience are required, be sure to pay attention to required hours and document the total number of hours completed for each type of experience.

6. Write, revise, and review your personal statement

Stay within the word count limit

The personal statement is undoubtedly the most important part of your application. This is where you are finally able to express your interest in a specific internship program as well as your personality. The personal statement should not exceed the 1,000-word count limit. It should be written in essay format, keeping in mind these five questions:

Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession?
Discuss experiences that have helped to prepare you for a career in dietetics.
Explain your short-term and long-term goals?
What are your strengths and weaknesses or areas needing improvement?
Is there any other information do you consider important for the selection process?

Answer each question thoughtfully

Some internships might have additional questions which need to be addressed. Be sure to answer all questions in their entirety while staying within the word count limit. Most importantly, make reference as to why you would be the best candidate for the internship(s) you are applying to and how your skills and knowledge will add value to the program(s). When discussing your short and long-term goals, acknowledge how the dietetic internship(s) you are applying to will help to achieve these goals.

Lastly, proofread, proofread, and proofread again! To strengthen the quality of your essay and correct any errors have multiple people proofread it. Having even the smallest grammatical errors could be what places you at the bottom of the stack of applications.

Dietetic internship and RD program directors have stacks of applications to review every year. You want to make sure that your personal statement leaves a positive memory when they are narrowing the applicant pool.

7. Update and upload your resume

A resume is a great way to illustrate your previous experiences, organizational skills, attention to detail, and writing ability. Include experiences relevant only to the internship program you are applying to (you may have more than one resume depending on the type and number of internships you are applying to). Be sure to upload your final resume on DICAS in the form of a PDF.

8. Selecting References for Letters of Recommendation

Select three references who you believe will speak positively on behalf of your commitment to dietetics and refer to your skills, education, and performance in the field. Applicants must enter the contact information on each of three types of references:

A professor who is familiar with your academic work
An employer from a time you worked in a dietetics related job
A reference of your preference

9. Application Certification

Check the appropriate boxes in DICAS and electronically sign the application to confirm the accuracy of the information provided. The name you sign with must match the name you provided when you created your DICAS account, as the electronic signature substitutes for your actual legal signature.

10. Program Designations

In this section, you are able to designate which programs you plan to apply to.

Add program designations

To add program designations on DICAS, select the state/province in which your internship is located in the state dropdown menu. Click on the checkbox that contains the program you plan to apply to. Upload the appropriate cover letter, resume, personal statement, and any additional required application materials at this time. Once complete, click submit to save your selection. Repeat the above steps if planning to apply to more than one internship program and remember to select the appropriate application materials.

Removing program designations

Delete program designations by selecting the “delete” icon.

11. Submitting your DICAS Application

To submit your DICAS application, you will pay a final fee for each program. Please note that once you have submitted your application(s), you can make limited changes to your application. For more information regarding the submission process, please visit Submitting and Completing Your DICAS Application .

Most importantly, keep track of each application’s due dates as deadlines may vary among programs!

Creating an Account and Using D&D Digital Systems

D&d digital.

To create a D & D account go to http://www.dnddigital.com and pay the registration fee. The applicant will then generate a prioritized list of each program they applied to in DICAS. This is done by ranking the preference level of each program from highest to lowest and submitting the list prior to the deadline. In turn, internships submit a ranked order of applicants with the exact number of applicant positions available in that program.

Applicants are removed from the internship list if the applicant was not ranked on the internship’s final list. Internships are removed from the applicant’s list if the internship was not ranked on the applicant’s final list. An adjusted rank order list is created when an applicant and an internship pair up to fill holes once rank order lists are determined.

For more information on D&D Digital, go to our blog on D&D Digital- How it Works .

Computer Matching

On Match Day, the applicant will sign into their D&D Digital account and view the results.

The matching process

A match occurs when the applicant’s highest-ranked internship program has that intern listed within one of their open slots. Once a match occurs, the matched applicant’s name will be removed from all other internship lists. Additionally, the number of unmatched applicants in the internship’s window will decrease by one. Unmatched applicants will be considered for their first rank order internship program, cycling through unmatched applicants until no further matches can be made. Internships are no longer possible once the internship class is full, or once the internship’s applicant list is empty.

Appointment Day

The day following Match Day is Appointment Day. Applicants accepted into a program must contact the dietetic internship director prior to 6:00 PM to confirm acceptance (this time may change each year). The program is not obligated to hold openings for any applicant who fails to confirm their spot.

Applicants not matched to an internship

Beginning at 6:00 PM on Appointment Day, dietetic internships that still have openings can access the list of all unmatched applicants who gave permission to release their information if unmatched. Dietetic internship directors are then able to review the list and invite applicants on their original applicant list who did not match into the program or those unmatched by other programs who qualify for the program. Applicants invited into the program have until 8:00 PM the following day to accept or reject the offer made by the dietetic internship director.

For more on what to do if you didn’t get matched, visit our blog here .

P.S. Increase your chances of landing a spot in a dietetic internship or RD program by working with an expert coach! 100% of Get Matched Coaching clients were matched in 2021. Click here to learn and apply.

Starting a Nutrition Business as a Dietetics Student

Dietitian Career Advice , Productivity

Are you a dietetics student dreaming of starting your own nutrition business? We collaborated with Tony Stephan, RD, to provide you with his TOP five tips!

Dietitian entrepreneurship is quickly increasing in popularity. As a Dietitian Business Coach, I know, trust me! I teach R.D.’s to create profitable and impactful online nutrition coaching businesses through the I Believe Mastermind. I see firsthand how fulfilling and unique this career path is for R.D. to be and Registered Dietitians.

More and more R.D.-to-be’s are uninterested in working in a clinical setting, and that’s okay! There are so many other options out there for Registered Dietitians, like entrepreneurship. You do NOT need your R.D. credential or clinical experience to start your nutrition coaching business RIGHT NOW. You read that right; you can begin your nutrition coaching business while you’re still in school! Below, I have my TOP FIVE tips for the R.D. who wants to do just this!

#1: Take Action

If creating and owning your own nutrition coaching business is something you’ve been thinking about for quite some time, then what are you waiting for?! The first step toward success occurs when you take action!

If you’ve been planning, thinking, and waiting for the “right time” to pull the trigger and get started on your nutrition business and you haven’t been DOING, you are LOSING. I know this sounds harsh, but I’m saying it in the most loving way possible.

Let me tell you a little secret, and there is no “right time” for anything! Do one thing every day that will move you forward with your business. You need to put in the effort because success is truly YOUR responsibility, no one else’s.

#2: Have A Support System

Support is ESSENTIAL when it comes to entrepreneurship. In the I Believe Mastermind, I always tell my clients that you have two families, the one you are born into and the one you choose. You may or may not have family or friend support at home. Either way, it’s vital you also have support from other individuals going through the same entrepreneurial journey that you are.

My clients, in particular, have a multitude of excellent resources available to them. For instance, they can message me directly or turn to our Facebook or Slack community if they are stuck and confused about something. We are always there to root for each other, celebrate success, answer questions, and more.

Having a community to turn to for help or motivation is essential and can make the difference between having a successful or unsuccessful nutrition coaching business.

You DO NOT need to build a business alone. The most successful people in the world have all had help from coaches, mentors, friends, etc., so do not think that help is a “bad” thing for one minute.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength!

#3: Do Not Have A Plan B…Commit!

Commit yourself to the process of creating and building your dream business. Yes, a plan B, or “safety net,” may be a way to protect us from the pain of the failure and tough challenges that lie ahead, but they can also take away our focus and determination toward what we want to achieve. If you give yourself too many options of what to do when things don’t work out, things will NOT work out. Write that down! However, if you don’t give yourself a plan B and C, you give yourself no other option than to succeed. When I started my entrepreneurial journey years ago, I quit my job and never looked back. It was the D.O. or DIE mentality that forced me to succeed.

Most people fail because they quit and because they gave themselves too many other options to fall back on. Be confident in yourself and stick to your ONE plan/business. When times get tough (because they will), don’t back down. Fight through those challenges, and success will come to you.

#4: Make Time For YOU

ALWAYS make sure you are making time for the things that make you happy.

As an R.D., I went through what you are going through. I remember those long days of studying for exams and working on assignments. Dietetics is not an easy degree! If you decide to start your own nutrition coaching business while in school, know that your workload is about to double! It’s 100% doable, but you need to be organized and ready to take the bull by the horns.

Make sure you’re blocking time off in your week for something you enjoy! Maybe it’s an hour blocked off for the gym every day; perhaps it’s family movie night on Saturdays or date night on Fridays with your significant other.

Taking time for yourself allows your brain to “reboot” while improving your focus, motivation, and concentration. You may not feel like you need time away from studying and working on your business, but you 100% do! Do not neglect your family, health, and other priorities in the process.

#5: Trust The Process

Building your own nutrition coaching business is TOUGH. It will most likely keep you up at night, stress you out, and probably make you miss out on some fun activities. HOWEVER, creating your own business brings so much fulfillment and impact that it’s worth the complex and stressful days it brings.

It took me YEARS to get to the point where I am at now, and it will take some time for you too. Building a successful nutrition coaching business can not be done in a day, so if this is what you’re expecting, this is probably not the right path for you, and that’s okay! Entrepreneurship is not for everyone.

You will 100% have demanding and stressful days, maybe even weeks, but the critical thing to remember here is that you need to FIGHT through the difficult times because success is on the other side. Struggle teaches us how to be stronger individuals and business owners.

If you are not an R.D., you CAN NOT give out medical nutrition therapy. You can only help individuals by providing general nutrition knowledge.

Follow me on my social media accounts, where you can learn more about me and the I Believe Mastermind!

Instagram

P.S. To get you motivated to start your own business, check out our blog post about the 4-Self Help books you need in your life. Click here!

Dietetic Internships & RD Graduate Programs Our Clients Have Matched To Since 2020

Matching to a dietetic internship or rd graduate program is not easy. get matched coaching is our famous dietetics admissions coaching program. we’re proud of the 100+ programs where our clients have been matched to.

It’s an honor to help future dietitians from across the nation land spots in some of the most competitive training programs. Check out where our graduates of the Get Matched Coaching program matched since 2020:

Andrews University
Appalachian State University
Ball State University
Baylor University Medical Center
Bayview Medical Center
Be Well Solutions
Boston University
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
California State Long Beach
California State University, Chico
Cedar Crest College
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Central Michigan University
Chicago Medicine
City University of New York
Columbia University
Cox College
Delicious Living Nutrition
Emory Healthcare
Florida State University
Garden to Table
Georgia Southern University
Golden Gate
Greater Los Angeles VA Medical Center
Harper College
Hunter College
Illinois State University
Iowa State University
James A. Haley Tampa VA Hospital
James J. Peters VA Medical Center
Johns Hopkins
Keene State College
Keith & Associates
Komplete Business
Lagniappe Wellness
Lehman College
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Life University
Long Island University
Loyola University
Maricopa County
Marshall University
Massachusetts General Hospital
Medical City Healthcare
Medical Science Campus
Meredith College
Metropolitan State University Denver
Michael E. DeBakey Houston VA Medical Center
Montclair State University
Morrison Healthcare
Napa State Hospital
National HealthCare Corporation
New York Distance
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
North Carolina Central University
North Oaks Health System
Nutrition Ink
Oakwood University
Oklahoma University
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
Pepperdine University
Prairie View A&M
Priority Nutrition Care
Queens College
Rush University
Sacramento State
Saint Elizabeth University
Simmons University
Stephen F. Austin University
Stony Brook University
Syracuse University
Texas Presbyterian Health
Texas Woman’s University
The Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
The Medical University of South Carolina
The University of Buffalo at SUNY
The University of Minnesota – Eating Disorders Concentration
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University California, Davis
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, San Francisco
University of Dayton
University of Delaware
University of Houston
University of Nevada Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Reno
University of New Mexico
University of Northern Colorado
University of Saint Joseph
University of Southern California
University of Texas Medical Branch
UT Southwestern
Utah State University
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Virginia Tech
Viterbo University
Wellness Workdays
Western Kentucky University

Congratulations to all of the #RD2BE’s who matched to a dietetic internship. We know you will make an amazing RD! If you’re applying for dietetic internships or Future Education Model Graduate Programs in the future, get the support you need with Get Matched Coaching.

Additionally, you can click here to check out our Amazon shop to purchase all the essential items you will need for the dietetic internship! Now go celebrate all #RD2BE!

Do any of these programs interest you? With an annual match rate hovering around 65%, it is difficult to land a spot. We have a proven track record of success. Click here to learn more and apply for Get Matched Coaching.

Taking your resume from average to awesome.

Dietetics Programs , Webinars

Are you struggling trying to develop a resume? Does your resume need a makeover to make you a stronger applicant for a DI? Check out our webinar below!

The approach:

Your resume should not look like one you find online or in a career center. You are applying to a Dietetic Internship, this resume is completely different than the standard one.

Dietetics Experience

Paid AND un-paid experience should be in one section. When a director looks at your resume they will see a large portion of the section relating to dietetics. Whereas the typical approach of separating paid and volunteer experience makes it harder for the director to read

One page rule

You want to add as much relevant experience as possible. As long it is relevant, it is okay for it to be two pages. If you do need two pages, make sure the second page is at least half way full! But, do not add fluff to do so!

This is your highlight reel

You are trying to present your case as to why you are prepared for the dietetic internship. This is where you sell yourself in the best way possible.

Do have bullet points, don’t have simple bullet points

Example: “Delivered food trays” This does not represent what you did or how you did it. Most people applying for dietetic internships have similar experiences. You want to make yourself standout not blend in!
Say it in a way no one else can. Utilize buzz words and action words! Take it back to grade school, who? what? where? when? why? how? Check out this link for examples of key action words you can use! Click here!

Remember this is the part of the application where you are illustrating why you will be a great candidate for a dietetic internship. Be sure to show what you did that others did not. How did you make yourself standout? You want to impress the directors and make them think, WOW this candidate is AWESOME!

Work with one of our coaches to help take your resume from average to AWESOME. At All Access Dietetics we know how to make-over your resume specifically for a Dietetic Internship! Click here to learn more!

How to study for the rd exam, do you feel overwhelmed and need guidance on preparing for the rd exam we’re breaking down the basics.

The RD Exam is a beast, it covers topics you have learned in your DPD program and while in the internship. It requires serious critical thinking skills and in-depth knowledge. Due to the amount of material on the exam, we recommended a solid 2-4 months of preparation before taking the exam. If you can, it is best to study in the last few months of your internship, and then really go HARD for about a month after you complete your internship.

RD Exam Basics

The RD exam updates every 5 years, and was last updated in January 2022. Hence, the next update will be in 2027.

It is an online multiple choice, linear exam – you cannot flag questions to come back. There is a minimum of 125 questions and a maximum of 145 questions, with 25 of the questions being piloted. Basically, this means that they don’t count towards your score, but you don’t know which questions those are.

The exam is based on a scale of 1-50, and a 25 is passing. However, this does not mean you only have to get a 50% to pass, each question is weighted differently. Since the exam is online, you will find out immediately if you passed.

If you do not pass on the first time, you are eligible to take the exam again after 45 days of the original test date. Please refer to the CDR website for additional details regarding the exam format.

The exam is broken down into 4 domains

Principles of Dietetics (21%)

Food, Nutrition, and Supporting Sciences
Education, Communication, and Technology
Research Applications

Nutrition Care for Individuals and Groups (45%)

Screening and Assessment
Planning and Intervention
Monitoring and Evaluation

Management (21%)

Functions of Management
Human Resources Management
Financial Management
Marketing and Public Relations
Quality Management and Regulatory Compliance

Foodservice Systems (13%)

Menu Development
Procurement, Production, Distribution, and Service
Sanitation and Safety
Equipment and Facility Planning

Preparing for the RD Exam

You absolutely need a study guide to prepare for the RD Exam. Although it may be possible to prepare utilizing your notes from your DPD courses and internship, it is not recommended. Our Pass Class program (used by 2000+ RD2BEs!) includes an extensive 650+ page study guide, review session recordings, and tutor-led community that will help you study smarter so you can pass the exam! Click here for more details regarding Pass Class!

Once you have Pass Class, RD exam prep program, you’ll want to begin by creating a study calendar.

Steps to creating a solid study calendar :

-Print out a monthly calendar online or utilize a planner and fill in your work schedule, class schedule, or any other activities you do throughout the day.
-Now, figure out when you can schedule in studying time based on the available time left in the day. You may only have time to study in the mornings or evenings, and that is OKAY. No one expects you to study 8 hours a day, this is why we recommend 3-4 months to prepare for the exam.
-Now you have your study schedule set, but what should your study sessions actually consist of? With our Study Smarter Method, we recommend to study utilizing practice questions. After all, practice makes perfect, right? It helps you to understand the “why” behind each question. Also, by answering practice questions you’ll get used to the types of questions on exam.
-Once you get used to answering practice questions, figure out the material you are really struggling with. You’ll want to create focus sheets or topic sheets and draw diagrams to ensure you really understand the material. Refer to Pass Class study guide for in-depth explanations!

While mastering a 650+ page study guide and answering practice questions may seem like a lot, when you put into perspective, it is not. (And once you learn the Study Smarter Method, you will realize you are NOT trying to memorize this whole binder!) Think about it, you have been studying this material for years. You just went through a 1200+ hour supervised practice implementing all the skills and knowledge you have acquired thus far. Some concepts will be easier for you grasp and master while others will be more difficult and take a little bit of time. You have to identify your strengths and weaknesses. You may know MNT really well but struggle with the research concepts. Or you may know Food Service really well but struggle with MNT. Remember, this is just one more stepping stone to achieving your dream.

Key Reminders When Studying

Learning is broken down in 3 phases.

Exposure – Identifying the material
Processing – Learning the material
Feedback – Assessing how well you’ve learned the material

Utilize active learning strategies

Draw a diagram – draw the Kreb’s cycle, identify the different types of vitamins and minerals need for glycolysis to occur
Make a worksheet – write out a list of the vitamins, their function, sources, deficiencies; write out the nutrition-drug interactions
Quiz yourself – what are the lab values associated with metabolic syndrome? what are the deficiencies of adrenal hormones? make sure you know and understand the why behind each concept
Talk it out – talk through concepts with friends and family members, teach them what you are learning
Summarize it – rephrase what you are learning into your own words

Lastly, there are essentially 4 parts to the exam

Actually learning the content
Managing stress
Developing a positive attitude around studying
Problem solving

Remember when you are practicing questions to really read through the question. Think about what the question is really asking you. Immediately, you should be able to eliminate two choices, as critical thinking is imperative in this setting. If you can’t figure out a question, don’t panic. Stop, take a deep breath and think. Use your clinical judgement. You are more than capable of passing this exam. We are our own biggest critic. You are competent, you are smart and you can do this! You have to believe in yourself, mindset is everything. Truly visualize yourself passing the exam, remaining positive and optimistic can do wonders!

Disclaimer: Bailey DeBarmore, creator of the Study Smarter Method suggests not relying too much on your performance on practice exams. She has tutored many students who failed the real exam, but “passed” multiple practice tests.

Avoid Common Mistakes

We’ve spoken with hundreds of future dietitians that have not passed the exam, and found there are very common mistakes students make when studying. Join Pass Class – the RD exam prep program designed to help prevent the common study mistakes!

Ready to dive into studying? Join Pass Class to make this time the LAST time you take the RD exam:

Pass Class – The first time RD exam pass rates are about 65%, which means there needs to be a NEW way to study for the exam! That’s why we created Pass Class, which addresses all the common reasons why students fail the RD exam. Learn more about Pass Class here.

Want to learn more about Pass Class as well as tutoring options? Schedule a call with a member of our team here.

Ps. before you leave, join over 6,000 rd2bes that used the free exam toolkit (including samples from pass class) to prepare them for the rd exam —> sign up here, careers in sports nutrition & entrepreneurship.

Dietitian Career Advice , Webinars

Are you interested in starting a career in sports nutrition or entrepreneurship? Jenny describes how you can make your dreams a reality in the webinar below!

View slides for presentation here

Background in Sports Nutrition & Entrepreneurship

Jenny Westerkamp, RD, CSSD is the founder of All Access Dietetics and Chicago Bulls Nutritionist. Jenny started All Access Internships in 2008 with Katie Proctor, MBA, RD. They developed the idea as way to provide as much info as possible in a way that was easy for other people interested in dietetics to use. They were both completing the Dietetic Internship full time and working for All Access Internships in their spare time. Katie then moved on to be a coach after about 2 years and Jenny managed All Access Internships. In 2019, Jenny changed the name to All Access Dietetics to incorporate all stages of the dietetics journey, including excelling in your dietetics program, getting a dietetic internship, passing the RD exam, getting hired, and starting your own business.

Jenny got exposure to sports nutrition the summer of her senior year of college by interning with Chicago Blackhawks dietitian Julie Burns, MS, RD, CCN. She emailed her with the subject “I want your life” and she sold her skills to Julie. Jenny has also worked for the Chicago Cubs and now works with the Chicago Bulls.

Key takeaways to make your dreams a reality:

Create and cultivate relationships. Figure out how you can get your foot in the door. Always think about who you can reach out to and how to create a positive relationship. How can you make opportunities for yourself? Keep looking for the right people to connect with.
Sell yourself. Be a go-giver instead of go-getter. Think about what you can give instead of what you can receive. She strongly believes that what you give you will get back in return. It is a constant flow.
Mindset is everything. Positively reframe your thoughts. As an entrepreneur you constantly need have a good attitude.
Ready. Fire. Aim. Explore, try new things, and adjust your interests accordingly.
Jump in and figure out how to fly on the way down. We tend to limit ourselves. We need to go for it and not withhold our gifts.
Find your joy! Make a list of what you want and what you do not want. Adjust accordingly.
Define your own version of success. Success is not a straight line up. It involves highs and lows. You have to know what you want to get what you want. Figure out why you are striving for this success.
Most importantly get out there and go make your dreams come true! The possibilities are endless!

For daily positive thoughts check out notes from the universe.

Check out Jenny’s complete career story here!

PS. We created a have FREE sports nutrition handout! Make sure to check it out.

Navigating DICAS, Virtual Tour!

Are you applying to dietetics internship programs through dicas dicas is a beast, if you need help navigating this process check out our video below.

Lets break down the basics of navigating DICAS .

Applicant information.

Contact information
Personal information
Background information

Match Information

Provides you your D&D digital number where you rank your programs

Educational Information

DPD course list form: You will receive this form from director and or advisor and enter the information exactly as it appears. ONLY DPD COURSES IN THIS SECTION
Colleges attended: You will enter EVERY college you attended, both DPD college and any other college (community college, if you transferred, etc.)
Session and coursework: Be sure to enter in this information carefully, it needs to match your transcript EXACTLY
Tests: GRE scores
Remember you have to send a transcript for every college you have attended. A pdf form will be populated, information of college, DICAS number. You will take this form and give it to your college registrar and they will mail it to DICAS. Requests your transcripts ASAP.

DPD Program Information

DPD contact info: If you are still in enrolled in program your director will send in a declaration of intent to complete the DPD program. If you already completed a DPD program your director will send in a verification statement.

Required Information

Awards, experiences & volunteer activities: Utilize complete sentences in this section, you are explaining your experiences.
Personal statement: You will be adding multiple personal statements. You will be adding one for each program you are applying to. Copy and paste your personal statement into the text box and name it according to the program. 1000 word limit. It should be tailored to each program.
Resume: The resume will be uploaded, it works best and keeps your formatting best if you upload it in a pdf.
References: Three references are need, you will enter in the contact information of your references and DICAS will send them forms to fill out.
Application
Certification: Review and sign

Program designations

You will enter in all the programs you are applying to. A pop-up will appear and this will be where you attach your personal statement to each program you are applying to. You will do the same thing with references.
Depending on the program you may have to enter a supplemental form.

Does this whole process still seem confusing and overwhelming? Schedule a free coaching call with us and we can create a game-plan together. Click here !

VIDEO: What to do if you Were Not Matched?

Did you apply to a dietetic internship and not match don’t give up, there is still second round matching we have a video explaining the details.

Timeline if you were not matched:

Typically the first Sunday in April you are notified through D&D digital if you’ve been matched
The Monday after match day you are required to email the director of the program you’ve been matched to and accept your spot.
The Tuesday after match day internship directors with openings may contact unmatched applicants who were originally on their prioritized list of applicants. What this means is essentially it is a free for all. Internship directors can contact any unmatched applicants and offer them a spot.
On Thursday after match day, programs that did not fill their class size release their name to D&D digital. Applicants are able to apply to these programs.
The applications for second round matching are open until June or the spots are filled.

The strategy for second round matching:

Reach out to directors immediately, let them you are applying and ask a GOOD question or two.
Apply as early as you can since programs fill spots as they review applicants. We know this is already a stressful time but you really need to be aggressive and show your interest!
If you’ll be applying through DICAS again, change your personal statement.
You can add new references as well.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with this process, schedule a free coaching call with us and we can create a game-plan! Click here!

Other options:

ISPP – typically, you will set up your own rotations
Graduate school = will enhance your knowledge and expertise
DTR = gain real experience, makes you more competitive as an applicant
Retake classes = boost your GPA
Apply again! DICAS is open in both the fall and spring!

For additional resources regarding the computer matching for dietetic internships click here !

If you were not matched don’t let this deter you, this is just one small obstacle. Keep going, perseverance is worth its weight in gold!

How to survive the dietetic internship.

Dietetics Programs , Featured

You’ve matched to a dietetic internship, now how do you survive? We’re breaking down the basics of each rotation and providing you with essential tips!

Congratulations! All your hard work has FINALLY paid off and you have matched to a dietetic internship! The end is near! But first, you have to complete the internship. The thought of beginning the dietetic internship can be overwhelming. What should I expect? What should I bring? Wait, do we have to touch the patient? Don’t worry #RB2BE, we’re highlighting the key components of each rotation so you can plan accordingly! We not only want you to survive the dietetic internship, we want you to thrive!

First things first, depending on your program you will have assignments to complete before each rotation so you can brush up on your skill set. Assignments can vary but for clinical they can include case studies, similar to the ones you completed in your undergrad MNT class.

Next, you will have orientation, the length will vary depending on your program and whether it’s a DI, or DI + MS (or a Future Education Model program!). Orientation will provide you with a glimpse of each rotation and what to expect throughout the internship.

Now it’s go time! The moment you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived.

Clinical 101

Oh clinical, I think we can all agree the clinical rotation is the most terrifying rotation to begin. Gaining clinical experience before the DI is hard, so this may be your first time in the hospital setting. In other words, your anxiety may be through the roof! But don’t worry, the thought of beginning clinical is more intimidating than actually starting clinical.

Your preceptor is not going to throw you to wolves and expect you to see patients by yourself on day one. You are going to be their shadow for the first few days, where they go, you go. Once you get a solid grasp of ADIME and the charting system, your preceptor will assign you patients to see YOURSELF. I know, I know SCARY. The first few times they will hold your hand (figuratively, but you may need a literal hand hold). They will go in to the patients room with you to make sure you are comfortable completing assessments yourself. Honestly, having them in the room made it even more intimidating. But just remember they are there to GUIDE you through the process, they are not expecting you to be perfect. Once you’re comfortable it is time to fly coop, the training wheels are off and it is showtime!

Tips for surviving clinical:

It is okay if you forget to ask a patient something during your initial assessment. You can go back and speak with them again. When I first started I had to go back into a patients room three times! It’s a learning experience, the more you do it the better you’ll become.
Be familiar with the Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE). If you have not had prior training for the NFPE ask your preceptor to train you! It’s a great tool to have under your belt and unfortunately malnutrition can be quite prevalent at some hospitals.
Do ask questions if you need clarification about anything and everything. Ask for help if you need it!
Do attend the interdisciplinary rounds and ask questions! Contribute your knowledge.
Make yourself known! Talk to the Physicians and Pharmacists, show them your value and that you are essential. Hey, they may even call the office and ask for YOUR recommendation for a patient! (BEST FEELING)

Let’s talk about the staff relief rotation . Staff relief may be the most unnerving part of clinical but trust me it is not. Since it is at the end of your rotation you will have gained SO much knowledge by this time that it should be smooth sailing. Your preceptor will still be there for you if you have questions or a complicated patient. But trust yourself, you are more than competent and capable of thriving! Having confidence is key! Remember, you are the captain of your ship.

Food Service Management 101

Pop quiz! How many times can you stir muffin batter before a tough and dry crumb results? Just kidding, we don’t know either.

Seriously though, if you enjoy management and all things food then food service is the rotation for you! Be prepared to put on a hair net every day and be put to work. There will be many days when the kitchen is short staffed and you have to jump on tray line, and deliver meal carts. Depending on whether your hospital is room service or not you may have to work a few shifts in the dietary call office taking orders. Which big shout out to them because there are so many different buttons and options to press and patients spew there orders out so fast. Talk about STRESS. But after a few times of trial and error you will get the hang of it!

It is so important to remain positive throughout this rotation. You can easily go down the rabbit hole of this is a waste of time, it’s not utilizing my skill-set. BUT, IT IS! You are learning how to manage a team and part of being a GREAT manager involves stepping in when your team needs you! If there’s a fire you don’t just let the place burn, you get in there and you extinguish it!

Tips for surviving the food service rotation:

Get a planner and plan out your weeks and what assignments you will accomplish. The food service rotation usually consists of many projects and competencies you need to complete. You can easily get bogged down and stressed out if you are not organized.
Do something EVERYDAY. The last thing you want is to be at the end of the rotation and still have A LOT of projects to complete.
Contribute what you know and develop ways to improve their food service system.
Look over the menu’s, offer suggestions and improvements. Conduct in-services! Be creative!
Most importantly, have a positive attitude even if food service is not your niche.

Community 101

Assessment. Goals. Plan. Manage. Funding. Support. Implement. And again. Assessment. Goals. Plan. Manage. Funding. Support. Implement. These are the steps for completing a community nutrition program. Engrave this into your brain, tattoo it onto your arm, whatever you need to do to remember it. It will come up everywhere in community and you NEED to know it for the RD Exam.

Community is less fast paced and not as high demand as clinical and food service. However, this doesn’t mean its a walk in the park. There are still projects and assignments you need to complete so stay ORGANIZED.

All of the rotations are fun if you let them be but community is especially fun because you get to focus on providing nutrition education to groups and individuals! You get to express your creativity and knowledge. Depending on your program you will have to complete a variety of nutrition education presentations and develop marketing materials. Canva is the ABSOLUTE BEST site to create anything and everything. And its free to sign up, bonus!

Tips for surviving the community rotation:

Assessing the needs of the community is key when providing a nutrition education program. You may want to do a presentation on the benefits of a plant-based diet but during your assessment you may find that it is not the best fit!
Have fun with your presentations. Engage the audience throughout it. If you mess up, roll with it. Remember you are the expert!
If you get to choose your own community sites choose ones that interest you, not ones you think will look good on a resume!
If there’s an RD you are really interested in working with but they are not in your area see if you can do an online rotation!

Now lets talk about the essential items you need to survive the dietetic internship:

Nutrition Focused Physical Exam Pocket Guide for all your malnutrition needs. Get it here.

Lab Coat – Check with your preceptor before purchasing a lab coat, the hospital may provide you with one or your site may wear scrubs! Get it here.

A clipboard with storage is SO vital. It’s a great and convenient way to to store notes, charts, and reference books. Get it here.

A clipboard with calculations, tube feeding formulations, malnutrition scores, and more. Get it here.

Meal-prepping will save you some much needed time during the week. They are glass so be careful and don’t drop it and lose your lunch for the day. RIP. Get it here.

Practice what you preach and stay hydrated throughout the day! Get it here.

For even more essential items for the internship check out our amazon store!

To survive the dietetic internship remember to be positive, open-minded, respectful and remain engaged. You’ve worked so hard to get this point, give this internship your all. This is the FINAL step before you are eligible to sit for the CDR exam and become an RD. You can do this! We believe in you!

Are you in a Distance program? Do you need help finding preceptors? Check out our blog post on how to find preceptors!

Disclosure: The amazon links in this post are affiliate links and if you go t hrough them to make a purchase this blog will earn a commission. Please keep in mind these products are linked because they have been purchased and deemed essential by previous dietetic interns.

PS. Check out one of our FREE toolkits to help you feel confident and prepared during your rotations.

Be sure to engage yourself in the dietetics field! Know what the hot topics are and stay abreast of current research and media trends. A large part of the dietetic field involves communications. You should know how to translate evidenced-based research into layman’s terms for the public. A few ways to stay current is with the American Dietetic Association’s Daily News. After you sign in to eatright.org, go to ADA Member Updates and sign up for the Daily News. You will get daily emails about what is going on with food and nutrition in the media and with new research. You can learn so much just by reading this everyday! This will help you to gain AWESOME dietetic experience!

Check out our Q&A with Deanna Wolfe, MS, RDN – Deanna created her own consulting Business

Making Connections Is Key

Let’s say it again, MAKE CONNECTIONS. And once more for the people in the back, MAKE CONNECTIONS. I cannot emphasize this enough! Dietetics is such a small world especially when you narrow down your niche. Dietitians truly want to help you, they’ve been in your shoes and know how hard and stressful this time can be! But to be helped you need to put yourself out there! Think of it in terms of wishes, you can wish all you want but there is no magic genie who is going to make that wish come true. Be your own magic genie and go make that wish come true!

The internet and social media have made it ridiculously easy to reach out to registered dietitians for guidance. It sounds intimidating, but it is not as hard as it seems. Networking is simply communicating with a purpose. Make connections in the classroom, go to your professor’s office hours, get to know them. More than likely they will know at least one dietitian they can connect you with. Make in-person connections with dietitians at professional meetings and conferences. If there’s a dietitian you admire email them and introduce yourself. Ask them about how they got into the field, if they have any tips for #RD2BE’s and if they take interns or assistants. Always be on the lookout for growth opportunities that can help you gain AWESOME dietetic experience!

Find a mentor

Having a mentor was the most beneficial aspect of my dietetics journey so far. My first mentor was Julie Burns, MS, RD, CCN a Chicago-based dietitian and owner of Sportfuel, Inc. (an integrative sports nutrition and wellness practice).

Our mentor-mentee relationship was more valuable to me than any traditional dietetics student job or any course in school. Julie provided honest and constructive feed-back, helped me develop self-awareness, challenged me to grow beyond my perceived limitations, connected me with the movers and shakers in nutrition, motivated me to join professional organizations, and above all, she was easy to communicate with. I could ask her any question I had about the real world, because she was in it.

Since the mentorship is between a mentor and a mentee, it is equally important to be a good mentee in order to have a successful experience. Here are some essential ways to foster a meaningful relationship:

􏰀 Bring something to the table. Your mentor may have a lot of experience and valuable advice, but give your skills and time to them too. Offer to take on small projects or teach them your tech-savvy ways. Pass along an interesting article or recommend a book. The mentorship is mutually beneficial when the mentor believes he or she can learn from you and wants to invest more in your relationship.
􏰀 Be respectful. The key to any great mentorship is respect. Make sure to show up for scheduled meetings, listen carefully, take notes and make sure you always express your appreciation. Above all, be willing to take the mentor’s advice. Mentors will be encouraging, but they will also challenge you because they know this will benefit you, so be open to feedback.
􏰀 Ask a lot of questions, but have answers too. Your mentor will be a wealth of information, but don’t expect him or her to tell you exactly what to do to be successful in your career. Give this some thought on your own and bounce your ideas off of your mentor.
􏰀 Remember, this mentorship is a two-way street. Know what your goals for the mentorship are and communicate your needs, desires and objectives with your mentor.

Check out the Academy’s Mentoring Resources!

AWESOME dietetic students making it happen

Join a Local Dietetics Practice Group

Joining your local dietetic association or a dietetic practice group is another effective avenue for networking with RDs and even other students. It also shows involvement in profession—what selection committee doesn’t like that?

To have AWESOME dietetic experience you must seek out opportunities! Volunteer, network, attend meetings or take on small projects. If your state doesn’t have much opportunity for students, ask how you can change that! Dietetic association board members are leaders that you should get to know. Reach out to them immediately! Involvement with this group early on will allow you to create a foundation of experience that you can use to prove you are devoted to the profession. You will inspire other students to follow your lead and before you know it, you have cultivated a passionate and enthused group of students to promote and advance the profession in the right direction! Do you see why this is so important? Hey, it looks like you have AWESOME dietetic experience in your application too.

Check out the Academy’s DPG frequently asked questions!

AWESOME dietetic students working for it

Create Leadership Opportunities

Why is leadership essential to the application? Well, time and time again, directors are stating this is what they look for in an applicant. It is plastered all over their websites, requested in the application letter, and often comes up in an interview. A career counselor once advised me that if you are going to put down that you are in an organization, you should only list it if you had a position with responsibility, as opposed to just a membership. This advice really stuck with me. Most selection committees would agree that being a leader in the field of dietetics is important, since it is the leaders that can impact the field in a positive way.

Also, note that there are about 226 didactic programs in dietetics (DPDs). Let’s assume half of them have student nutrition clubs. Let’s again assume that there are 5 executive board members. This is about 565 applicants that will have nutrition club leader- ship on their application. While this is impressive for any applicant, consider how you can be even more competitive by showing both leadership AND entrepreneurship. You can do it! In order to stand out you have to have AWESOME dietetic experience!

Check out what 6 DI Directors said about getting matched to their program!

AWESOME dietetic experience opportunities

Have a wide variety of experiences

If you ask any dietetics student about what it takes to be more competitive with their internship applications you may hear, “Start volunteering soon and often!” Then, he or she will emphasize that you should get as many experiences as you can before you are in the process of applying. Your experience says a lot about your interests as well as your personality traits. Be proactive about gaining experiences by taking the initiative. Show that you have the ability to juggle multiple things at once. A great example is holding a part-time job during the semester. You also want to convey your willingness to learn new skills and show your enthusiasm for learning. Take on a position that may be extra challenging. As directors review your experiences, they will notice qualities like professionalism, multitasking, leadership, and solid communication (just to name a few).

Your experiences are what you will use to show that you have the skills to excel in the internship. If you can’t find good experiences offered through your school or within your community, start a new club or work with an RD that can be your mentor and provide invaluable one-on-one experience. It shows that you are a go-getter and are not afraid to take initiative!

During the internship, each rotation may be very different from the others. Racking up exposure in a lot of different areas will make your internship year less intimidating. Getting experience in basic clinical, food service, and community areas are crucial since these are required rotations for every DI. Once you’ve done that, expand to more specialized areas like research, business, entrepreneurship, sports nutrition, pediatrics, or communications. Not only will you have your bases covered with “typical” student positions, you can bolster your application with impressive add- ons that allow you to rise above the crowd.

How exactly are you supposed to go about finding these impressive add-ons? Let me be the first to tell you that Google can only take you so far! As dietetics students, we all crave opportunities to prove ourselves in the professional world. However, you must be willing to take some risks. I want to let you in on my own personal secret called “making the ask”. Here’s how it works. If you haven’t already spent some time on the Internet researching companies, hospitals, professional organizations, dietitians in private practice, etc., then it’s time you got started. First, do the obvious. Check and see if they offer established internships or volunteer experiences. If they don’t, make the ask! If you don’t ask, your answer is always NO. To gain AWESOME dietetic experience you should ALWAYS MAKE THE ASK.

Click here to learn how to gain more nutrition experience!

awesome dietetic experience showing initiative

Dietetics is a profession that is capable of transforming into a passion if you know what you want and you go for it. The paths that we can take to achieve a lifetime of fulfillment are boundless, so long as we listen to ourselves and hone in on what it is that we want to achieve.

Remember, only YOU have the power to make your dreams come true. Get out there and gain AWESOME dietetic experience! You got this!

awesome dietetics experience, rooting for you

Download our E-book for information on how to be an AWESOME dietetics student

Choosing Between the Get Matched Course and Coaching

Determine the best solution to complete dietetic internship applications, so that you feel 100% confident in getting a dietetic internship..

Applying to dietetic internship programs can be overwhelming, stressful, and altogether new. At All Access Dietetics, we’ve designed programs to help you land the dietetic internship of your dream! You’re not in this process alone, and with a little extra help, you can gain the confidence and clarity in yourself to succeed.

The Get Matched Course is like a tool kit, in that it has every tool I’ve learned about how to stand out in the DICAS application.

It teaches you how to take every step of the process seriously, and how to approach each step wisely. Many students find the personal statement the hardest area of the application to navigate, and as we know, it is one of the most important pieces. Our course’s biggest module focuses on the personal statement, and we literally guide you through how to answer each of the standard DICAS questions.

To me, EVERY area of the application is important. Choosing where to apply is absolutely going to affect your chances of getting matched. Other underrated areas of the application, like director communication and references, are equally important, too. The Get Matched Course teaches you how to increase your chances of getting matched by using our strategies in every aspect of the application process.

Get Matched Coaching is going to provide you with support and guidance, so you don’t feel like you are doing this alone.

Our clients say they are less stressed, since they know they are on their journey with an expert coach. Plus, they feel more confident in themselves and their hard work. Our clients know they are representing themselves well and truly selling themselves as future dietitians- and doing it better than their competition. I always say that, if matched head to head against another applicant with a similar GPA and work experience, I would feel confident our client would get ranked higher because of the quality of their application, their director communication, and their interview skills.

The Get Matched Course is a great option if you want to apply the techniques your own way. But, coaching is a great option if you want more personalized advice and support along the way.

You’ve never applied to a dietetic internship before, so it is normal to feel overwhelmed and confused. My clients often ask 100 or more questions regarding the process and their applications, and I am sure you will have 100 or more questions, too. You’ve never been taught how to effectively put together an application for this purpose.

Because of that, my final advice is to use all the resources you can to inform yourself about the process. The more you understand, the better. Go all in on your application process, and start early, too. If you are in school, the best thing you can do is start your application during your summer break. It is night and day to wait and start your application in the fall, when you are then bogged down by classes. And if you wait until winter break, you are way too late!

Instagram Q&A with Deanna Wolfe, MS, RDN

Featured , RD2Be Fun

Special thanks to Deanna Wolfe, MS, RDN ( @dietitiandeanna ) who recently did an Instagram Q&A for our Instagram community ! Her insightful responses will help you navigate your RD2BE journey as you work towards landing your dream job.

Q: What is your advice to stay positive during the dietetic internship?

I did a Coordinated Master’s, which means I did the internship and Master’s combined in 2 years (instead of 3)! I would be in my training during the day and then have classes in the evenings. The first year was focused on community, corporate wellness, long-term care, WIC, retail, outpatient (diabetes, cancer, etc.), and a psych hospital (eating disorders). The second year was a FULL YEAR internship in a hospital plus rotations in a burn unit with a GI doctor, oncology, and a children’s hospital. It was a hard two years, but I stayed positive by enjoying downtime with friends on the weekends when I could (I also worked as a dietary food aide and a bartender) and enjoying where I was at in life. It was nice to have another year to focus on what I truly wanted to do with my life instead of jumping right into the real world. 🙂 Take it as a year to learn and grow!

Q: Do you have any dietitians that you look up to or have had as a mentor?

I have been a part of a mastermind with other celebrity/influential dietitians and love seeing how others have grown their business and made an impact.

Q: How much experience would you recommend before starting your own consulting business?

I would hire a mentor/coach and dive in. You don’t need ‘experience’ before starting your business- you have the knowledge you need. I had never worked a clinical job before I started. You don’t have to either.

There are also tons of business tools and systems you can put in place to help with back-end things you may be worried about. Dietitians are known to be Type-A perfectionists. I would have never gotten to where I am or started my business if I had waited for the perfect name, perfect website, etc.

Q: What are your tips for finding opportunities on the business side of health and wellness?

The best thing I did for my career/entrepreneurial spirit was dive into roles in corporate wellness. This expanded my ability to understand products, technology, sales, and marketing on a large scale with Fortune 500 companies.

If you love social media, other avenues would be social media PR agencies or even working with brands.

Q: As a student, how did you gain dietetics-related experience?

I worked as a dietary aide at UPMC Shadyside (a local hospital), getting the meal tickets ready for the tray line. This made me realize that clinical wasn’t my favorite. 🙂

I also was the food science laboratory assistant at PITT, which meant I grocery shopped for the food science labs each week! I loved that job, haha. I also was the president of the Student Dietetic Association. I networked with my professors, stayed in contact with people I admired. Get out and network!

Q: How did you build your Instagram?

1. Being authentic.

2. Understanding marketing and sales.

3. Consistent hard work. No one sees the years I spent hustling on the side to create the brand I have now. It wasn’t luck but hard work. If you procrastinate, find a business partner or mentor who will set goals and challenge you. The first business I opened with a partner.

Q: What are your tips for starting out as a nutrition influencer?

Focus on building a community FIRST, and the sales will come. Don’t just focus on ‘followers.’ Every single follower wants to learn something from you, so provide that knowledge. If you’re going to ‘influence,’ you will need a community of people who know, like, and trust you.

Q: How did you begin marketing yourself?

Understand who I was talking to. Understand what they need to hear. Being a person first, not a dietitian. I am sharing my mistakes, not just being an expert.

Q: How did you get to where you are?

Wow, maybe this would be best reserved for a book. 🙂

P.S. Did you find this collaboration helpful on your dietetics career journey? Could you share it with your fellow RD2BE friends? Also, don’t forget to follow Deanna on Instagram and let her know how this interview resonated with you.

Nutrition Nerd Alert: The 5 Textbooks to Never Ever Sell!

Student Life

When studying nutrition and dietetics, there will be some textbooks you will want to learn from for life! These are the top textbooks you should never sell.

Have you ever watched the show Hoarders ? I think it’s crazy interesting. Namely because I am the exact opposite of a hoarder and find it extremely fascinating that people actually like keeping stuff.

I would consider myself more clutter phobic…willing and ready to recycle, sell, trash, or give away practically anything. This can be a blessing or a curse depending upon the situation.

In the case of selling off textbooks that in hindsight I actually needed…it’s more of curse. So that’s why I’m here, to give you some useful textbooks that you should never get rid of!

Start your journey to a happy Match Day today! Explore Get Matched Coaching.

1. Krause’s Food and the Nutrition Care Process

Link to Book Here: Krause’s Food & the Nutrition Care Process, 14e (Krause’s Food & Nutrition Therapy)

Why: It’s the bible. Well, not exactly. But it is one of the main books used by most nutrition programs. It comprehensively covers most conditions/diseases dietitians would encounter, the nutrition care process, life cycle nutrition, as well as all of the nutrition basics. Essentially, if you could memorize everything in this book, you would make a bomb dietitian.

2. Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference

Link to book here

Why: This book literally has every lab test known to man and explains what the test is for, normal results, abnormal results, and test explanation and physiology… all in alphabetical order. Definitely handy if you are going to be in a clinical setting.

3. A Food Service Management Textbook (recommendation, Foodservice Management: Principals and Practices)

Why: This one isn’t specific, you just need to make sure you have a textbook that involves the principals of food service such as quantity food productions, accounting/financial management, food safety, menu planning, etc. Given that food service systems comprises 17% of the RD exam, it’s an area to know well. It’s also great to have a textbook on hand that reminds you how to perform all of those pesky calculations. 🙂

4. Life Cycle Nutrition: An Evidenced-Based Approach

Why: This is a personal fav. I found this book randomly in the library and fell in love. Because it has an emphasis on “evidenced-based”, it gives you the actual studies from which the nutrition recommendations are based on. Plus the book is new (2015) so all of the research is newer findings compared to stuff from the 80s. It is broken down into diseases the way Krause’s is, but also includes quick reference charts, case studies, medical terminology, and more. I love it for the research aspect, but it’s a great textbook all-around!

5. ASPEN Nutrition Support Core Curriculum

Why: Quite simply, because no other book goes into nutrition support in enough detail. Face it, during the internship or if working in a clinical setting, you’re going to be working with enteral and parenteral nutrition. There’s a lot of information to know, so it’s crucial to have a reference text to go back to and refresh your memory. Plus it has practical clinical scenarios that are useful to run through.

Notable Mentions:

Any quick reference text- Great for during the internship process so keep those if you have them. Plus, they are small and store easily.
Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism- DETAILED, yet super relevant, and can be a great biochem review.
Any Community Nutrition book- Personally, I have an old, old book but keep it on hand in case I need a refresher on the theories of educational readiness or stages of change.
Nutrition and Diet Therapy Reference Dictionary- Another great reference text. It’s a dictionary made just for nutrition and medical terms that is full of suggested nutrition therapy and dietary guidelines, perfect for when you come across a word you are unfamiliar with!

In addition to these books, click here to view some of my go-to websites for evidenced-based nutrition information. If you have recommendations on great books to keep, please comment below! Sharing is caring 🙂

6 Things to Know about Being a Distance-based Dietetics Student

There’s a lot of pros and cons to any program, but when deciding if a distance based dpd program is right for you, here are 6 things you should know..

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) has approved three online Didactic Programs in Dietetics (DPD) and even more distance based internships . These online programs are allowing students that need flexibility or are geography-bound to fulfill the requirements to become a Registered Dietitian. But as you may have guessed, online programs are highly different than traditional classroom based programs.

Click her to schedule your free call with Jenny to discuss your background, address any of your concerns, and decide on the next steps for you dietitian journey!

Below are some key points to think about when deciding if a distance-based program is the right decision for you.

You may feel alone.

It’s a lot easier to connect with your professors and your fellow students when you’re in a classroom with them a few times a week. But when you’re taking online courses, you lose that forced connection. Instead, you will need to find opportunities to connect virtually, like creating a Facebook group for your cohort, scheduling Skype study sessions, or meeting at conferences. Your professors are also an email or phone call away and some offer online office hours. You may feel alone but it just takes a little more work to connect with your fellow students and professors.

Self-teaching happens.

Some professors record their lectures and post in discussion boards. Others provide you with a PowerPoint and handouts. And since you don’t have to attend a lecture, sometimes you feel like you’re teaching yourself the content. Some professors are not great at responding to questions via email so they might not fully answer your question and respond with, “Look in your book.” Some classes end up consisting of a lot of reading, searching for videos that give a deeper explanation of the topic, and chatting with other students who are just as confused as you are. Being in a distance-based program means you have to be comfortable with self-teaching and researching for answers.

Due dates exist.

In the DPD programs, the online courses follow the same calendar as the in-classroom classes. Due dates for assignments are assigned. Along the same lines, group projects exist. Nearly every online DPD course I have taken has had a group assignment. So this goes back to you are not alone and finding virtual ways to connect with your fellow classmates is essential to your success.

You have to be organized and disciplined.

We have all heard this one before and it applies to traditional style DPD courses but it applies even more to students who complete their DPD courses online. You have to set up a manageable study schedule for yourself and be disciplined to stick to it. Students who succeed are those who log in and make progress every day. I use an app called Egenda and at the beginning of the semester I put my assignments in with their due dates. The app pushes reminders to my phone and I can see what’s due.

Tests are proctored and assignments are photographed.

My school uses an online proctoring service, which includes a proctor controlling your computer and connecting with you via video chat. Other schools require you to find a local testing center to complete exams. Depending on your school, the fees for proctoring may be an expense that you are responsible for. For many assignments, you have to take photos and some require signatures from participants that you recruited. Since you don’t have a captive participants in a classroom, some assignments require you have to recruit your own participants.

Find unique ways to connect with your professors.

Since most internship applications require at least one of the letters of recommendations come from a professor, it’s pretty important to create a strong relationship with your professors. Being a distance student makes it a little more difficult to form those relationships but not impossible. You can offer to help your professor with any research they may be doing, or schedule monthly check-ins with them, or ask if they would be willing to be your mentor.

You may also have to explain your program to everyone you talk to since you may not live in the same state as your program. But being in a distance-based program can have a lot of advantages and can help prepare you for career experiences. This kind of learning requires you to learn on your own and demonstrates that you can be successful.

P.S. Do you have more tips about being a distance student? DM us with your best advice on Instagram (@allaccessdietetics) and we’ll share!

Gaining Nutrition Experience While Still in College

We all have one classmate who seems to have years of nutrition experience, even though they’re still in school. take our advice and gain experience, too..

Nutrition experience can help you succeed in matching to a dietetic internship program and getting one step closer to becoming a Registered Dietitian. But where do you begin? Instead of comparing yourself to another classmate, follow this list and you’ll be racking up shadowing dates and volunteer experiences in no time.

1. Befriend your Professors

Your professors are key to making connections in the nutrition field. Many of them have work experience outside your university, so they can help guide you in the right direction. Plus, they can give great advice that will help you succeed.

2. Go to Local Conferences

Your future mentor might just be sitting next to you! Conferences draw RD’s from all over your state, so you never know who you will meet. Plus, the presentations will teach you something new and may even inspire your niche.

3. Join a Club

Clubs at school can help you find opportunities in and out of your university. They can also help connect you with faculty or outside professionals to score a volunteering or shadowing opportunity.

4. Use Technology

Scout LinkedIn for professionals in your area who are working in the field you are interested in. Find someone? Don’t be shy and send them a message.

5. Put your Foot in the Door, Sometimes Literally

Want to work in a hospital one day? Start by volunteering and work your way up. Is food service your calling? Snag a job in a restaurant. Being able to get a feel for your desired environment is key to finding more opportunities.

P.S. ARE YOU IN YET? Join thousands of future dietitians on our free weekly newsletter!

Preparing For ISPP Applications

An ispp is another route you can take to accomplish your supervised practice and become a registered dietitian nutritionist. let’s break it down., have you heard of ispps.

Have you heard of ISPPs? ISPP stands for Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway. They are an option for those that don’t get matched, and many people don’t fully understand how they work. Completion of an ISPP can still provide you with experience so you can sit for the national exam and become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics shares more about ISPPs here . We’re sharing a few tips on how to prepare for ISPP applications:

1) Research.

Just like traditional DIs, ISPP programs will have their own application requirements. Some ISPPs require a Ph.D!

2) Contact Directors.

Introduce yourself and have questions prepared that are not already answered on the program’s website.

3) Secure preceptors.

ISPP tracks are a similar model to distance dietetic internships. While preceptor searching is a lot of upfront work, the benefit is being able to CHOOSE your own preceptors and create your own schedule. Click HERE to learn five strategies for finding preceptors.

4) Keep an open mind.

Click HERE to read a 2017 success story and how the Purdue ISPP helped Natalie finally become an RD! An ISPP is a great option for you to stay on track and achieve your goal of becoming an RD.

P.S. ARE YOU IN YET? The Get Matched Course is a 17-module e-course to walk you through EVERY step of the application process and increase your chances of landing a dietetic internship.

How To Write The PERFECT Thank You Note

Dietetics Programs , Student Life

Writing the perfect “thank you” note after your dietetic internship interview can help you stand out from the crowd. Use our formula below!

You’ve landed the dietetic internship interview, but did you thank the Director and selection committee for their time? Check out our top five tips on how to craft the PERFECT thank you note after a DI program interview:

1) Send a handwritten card.

In a world of emails, a handwritten note is greatly appreciated by all and will help you stick out from other applicants.

2) Address the note to the Director AND the selection committee.

All members are key in the decision making process. By including the the selection committee in your note, you are extending your appreciation to all members of the team for their time.

3) Keep it concise.

Time is valuable. Thank the Director and the selection committee for taking the time to interview you and express your appreciation for their consideration of your application. Keep this short and sweet!

4) Include two new things you learned.

Mention two NEW things you learned about the program during the interview. This demonstrates that you were fully present during the interview and gives you even MORE reasons why that program is your perfect match.

5) Bring it all together.

In two concise sentences, summarize why that program is your TOP choice and remind them why you’re a perfect fit for their program culture and curriculum.

Now you’re ready to put a stamp on it! Have it out in the mail by the next morning after your interview. Address the envelope to the mailing address on the dietetic internship’s website.

A strong “thank you” note is a KEY element of your application. If this post resonated with you and helped you increase your confidence after the interview, please share it with your #RD2BE friends.

P.S. Now that you’re ready to land your dream dietetic internship, we encourage you to think more long term! The RD exam is right around the corner. Schedule your free 15-minute coaching call with Jenny to discuss how Pass the Exam Prep and Career Coaching will help you to land your dream job after the dietetic internship.

Jenny’s Top 5 Tips for Getting Matched to a Dietetic Internship

With a match rate of less than 50%, it is difficult to get a dietetic internship these days. what can you do to stand out among the competition.

You hear about getting a lot of experience and keeping your GPA as high as possible, but what else can you do to land the dietetic internship of your dreams? After coaching hundreds of students individually, I have seen some strategies, both major and minor, that have helped students gain the edge they needed to get into a dietetic internship. Here are my top 5 unconventional tips for getting matched:

Click here to get our FREE DICAS Starter Pack with DI Database, Top 10 Mistakes, Personal Statement Checklist and 10 more resources!

1. Make sure your personal statement is not generic.

You don’t want your personal statement to look like ANYONE could write it. Answer each question in a way that only you can. Too often, I see letters that are generic and the answers are not well thought out. It will take a lot of brainstorming to decide how to creatively answer each question, but directors will be able to tell that you put in this extra effort!

2. Every sentence of the personal statement sells you in a convincing way.

Many students have a hard time really “selling” themselves. They feel like they are bragging, and it is uncomfortable. But, guess what? If you don’t tell them how great you are, they will never know! There needs to be concrete examples and evidence to back up your skills and preparation. If you don’t do this, the selection committee will not be totally convinced you would do well in their internship.

3. You have clear goals, and include leadership goals.

Many times I read the goals paragraph of personal statements and they are very general or wishy-washy. Students will say that they are interested in a wide variety of areas and they will use the internship to decide what is best. While this seems like a safe approach, it is better to commit to clear, specific goals then to leave it open-ended or unoriginal. For example, having your short-term goal be to get an internship and a long term goal to become a dietitian will NOT set you apart from the rest. Maybe you don’t know exactly what you want to do, but you want to show the selection committee that you have some idea of the direction your career could go. This really shows how passionate you are for reaching some of these goals in the future and how passionate you are about becoming a dietitian. Bonus points if you share some ways you hope to be a leader in the field–what internship doesn’t want to train future leaders!?

4. Your DICAS is free of any grammar or formatting errors.

Simple mistakes, incomplete sections, and grammatical errors can all leave a bad impression on the person reviewing your materials. With competition so fierce, you don’t want something that is easily avoidable to ruin your hard work of getting good grades and finding awesome experience. Our coaches find an average of 20 mistakes with every DICAS Review coaching service they do. Make sure you get your application materials reviewed by someone. Print out all your materials and review slowly to catch any errors. It helps to not wait until the last minute, too!

5. You explain why you want to go to that specific program.

Don’t use reasons like, “the variety of rotations,” or, “a fantastic teaching hospital,” to describe why you want to go to the program. Rather, choose specific rotations that line up with your own experiences and goals. If you can’t think of 3 good reasons, then consider whether or not that really is the right program for you, or get help from a coach! Of course, if you are limited to certain internships by location or cost, then this may not be as possible to do, but at least explain what unique factors about their program you are most interested in. And yes, you can have slightly different versions of your personal statement for each program you apply to!

Hope that helps! Don’t forget to grab your FREE DICAS Starter Pack here!

Since 2008, we've made it easier to become a dietitian by coaching thousands of future dietitians to get accepted to dietetics programs, pass the RD exam, and become confident dietitians. [email protected]

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Dietetics Personal Statement

Sample Diatetics Personal Statement

The importance of diet for people’s well-being and identity has not been lost on me as I have moved between Poland, the UK and the US in the last seven years, starting as a help in the family catering business in my native Poland and rising to restaurant supervisor in a major UK restaurant. Despite the pressures of my rapidly progressing career and the challenges of adapting to new places, I have made time to strongly develop my practical and scientific knowledge of food and nutrition, gaining respected qualifications in food preparation, cooking and nutrition. From my study and from working in restaurants in Warsaw, Manchester and New York among people of different cultures and backgrounds, I have discovered a gift for promoting healthy eating and for tailoring menus and diets to different people with different dietary demands. This was the catalyst for my decision to study Dietetics at degree level so that I may gain the scientific knowledge and practical experience to become a registered dietitian, promoting healthy living and advising patients to help them achieve a better quality of life.

I pursued my scientific interest in nutrition by studying for an HND in Nutrition at Manchester Metropolitan University. I quickly discovered my gift for rigorous scientific study when I gained a Distinction in my first year. In the second year, I had a chance to put my knowledge to the test, when, as part of a team, I had to devise lesson plans that promoted healthy eating and create healthy menus for school lunches in a Manchester-wide competition. Thanks to our hard work, my team were awarded the runners-up prize, which proved to me that I have a gift for thinking creatively about how to promote healthy living and a knack for tailoring a menu to suit a particular group of people. I had another opportunity in that year to test my ability to promote healthy living among the public when I was given an assignment to create a business plan for a nutrition-related business. My idea of a ‘We Buy You Health’ personal shopping and nutritional consultancy company was praised highly by the examiners who gave me a very high Merit for the assignment.

Earlier, I had pursued my practical interest in food by taking an NVQ Level 2 in Food Preparation and Cooking, which taught me how to adapt not only menus but individual recipes and meals to different people, depending on their cultural, biological or religious needs. This will be of great use when I come to give people practical advice on how to adapt their food choices to meet their dietary requirements.

Outside of the classroom, my demanding job as a sales consultant has taught me how to resolve customers’ problems, discover their needs and exceed their expectations, all skills which will be of use when I come to communicate with patients to discover and meet their dietary needs. Despite the pressures of my job and caring for my daughter, I have tirelessly sought to prepare myself for the academic side of the degree as well by regularly reading subject-relevant books and scientific journals and attending public lectures and seminars.

To prepare myself for the day-to-day reality of hospital work, I have also been shadowing dietitians in the outpatients department at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester, observing how they deal so compassionately with parents and their children suffering diet-related health problems. The experience made me anxious to involve myself in offering advice and support but also anxious for the parents, with whom I could really associate given that I felt anxious myself for my daughter whose iron deficiency I failed to prevent.

This sample Dietetics personal statement will be a good point of reference when writing your individual and unique personal statement.

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I'm a Dietitian—Not a "Nutritionist"—Here's The Difference & Why it Matters

Plus, tips on how to spot common red flags in nutrition misinformation.

“ Carbs are NOT good for you.”

“ Berberine supplements are nature’s Ozempic and will help you drop pounds fast.”

“ Detox diets can help you flush out toxins.”

I often see wildly inaccurate messages like these as I scroll through social media or scan story headlines in my news feed. And most of the time, these messages are being touted by self-named “nutritionists” or people with zero nutrition expertise or credentials. And as a registered dietitian (or RD), I find nothing (like nothing ) more frustrating. Not only because of the time and energy I spent obtaining and now maintaining my degrees and dietitian status, but also because it reinforces the confusion folks already feel around what’s considered healthy.

Misinformation about nutrition can do more than negatively impact physical health—it can also lead to lasting damage to one’s relationship with food. And as a nutrition professional with a deep love for food, that's the last thing I'd ever want someone to experience.

So, what’s the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist in the first place? And how are you actually supposed to know what information to trust? Here I’ll break it down and cut through the confusion to help you feel confident in what nutrition advice to trust.

What Is a Registered Dietitian?

Just as a registered nurse, medical doctor or dentist must complete schooling, hands-on training in their respective fields and pass board exams before they can begin practicing, the same goes for registered dietitians. My path to becoming a registered dietitian started with a bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics from Michigan State University (go green!), followed by a master’s of science degree in dietetics at the University of Vermont (go cats!). Beyond coursework, I spent a year doing supervised practice, where I trained one-on-one with registered dietitians in varying industries. Once I completed all of that, I was finally eligible to take my board exam to become a registered dietitian.

While the path to becoming a dietitian can look slightly different person to person (and country to country), there are a few must-have requirements in order for someone to become a dietitian in the U.S., as outlined by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and its credentialing branch, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

You must complete a 4-year bachelor of science degree in nutrition or dietetics at an approved university (or another degree with required nutrition and dietetics coursework completed)
You must complete a master’s degree (or other graduate degree) at an approved university
You must complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised practice
You must receive a passing grade on the registration exam

It’s important to note that while some may genuinely be interested in becoming a registered dietitian, not everyone has the privilege of pursuing higher education and years of unpaid professional experiences. There are amazing organizations like Diversify Dietetics dedicated to making it more accessible for people to achieve the coveted “RD” credentials, and to increase the ethnic and racial diversity of the profession to be as diverse as the folks registered dietitians work with. Their important work is a big part of making appropriate, culturally-informed, evidence-based nutrition information available for people of all backgrounds.

Related: With Food, Culture Matters: This App Matches People with Dietitians Based on Culture

The work didn’t stop once I earned my RD badge. Even now as a registered dietitian, I’m required to log 75 hours of continuing education credits every five years to maintain my registration and align with a code of ethics to ensure I’m practicing at the highest standard.

As you can see, becoming a registered dietitian is no simple feat. While you don’t typically see people pretending to be registered nurses, medical doctors or dentists, it’s unfortunately common for people to pretend to be nutrition professionals who are not—especially on social media.

A Word on Titles…

I’ll admit that titles can be a little tricky, which certainly adds to the confusion. Registered dietitians (or RDs) may also go by registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), based on a 2010 amendment made by the AND to help clarify the title. There are consumer protection laws in certain states where only licensed professionals can give health and nutrition advice, so you may see some registered dietitians also refer to themselves as licensed dietitians (LD) or certified dietitians (CD), if they practice in one of those states.

Other common nutrition credentials can include being a certified nutrition specialist (CNS), certified diabetes educator (CDE) or dietetic technician (DTR), both with their own sets of professional requirements. Those with masters and doctorate degrees in nutrition sciences may also refer to themselves as nutritionists.

What Is a Nutritionist?

Simply put, a registered dietitian could call themselves a nutritionist, but a nutritionist cannot call themselves a registered dietitian. The term “nutritionist” refers to a broad category of those who aim to help people eat healthy, and it does not have one definition. In isolation, it doesn’t reflect specific training, schooling, credentials or experience.

I’m also starting to see more and more titles pop up, like “certified nutritionist” and “holistic nutritionist”. It seems like folks use these titles after taking abbreviated courses—some as short as a few weeks. And while they may sound official, they’re not.

This does not mean that all nutritionists are misinformed. But because the term is unregulated, it can make it difficult to know who to trust. Here at EatingWell , we work with a number of nutrition professionals and nutrition writers who may not be registered dietitians, but their personal and professional track record aligns with our brand, and we trust them with our content. To add an extra layer of confidence, we also have registered dietitians review every single piece of nutrition content before publishing.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to decipher what to trust when it comes to nutrition advice. Your best bet is to start by verifying whether the person sharing the information is a credentialed nutrition professional. And even then, it’s still good to think critically about what’s being shared and run through this list of red flags. As with any profession, just because someone is a registered dietitian or has advanced degrees in nutrition or another health field, doesn’t mean everything they say is always completely accurate.

Here are some of the most common red flags to watch out for to help you identify what advice to pass on.

Fear-mongering or calling specific foods “toxic”
Suggesting specific foods or entire food groups should be avoided
Claiming the need for a “detox” or “cleanse”
Promising weight loss or fat loss from a very specific food, supplement or habit
Failing to cite or share scholarly sources
Sharing advice that’s associated with an advertisement
Advocating for extreme fasting or restriction

The Bottom Line

Would you want to get a root canal from someone who isn’t a trained dentist? Or heart surgery from someone who isn’t a cardiologist? Probably not. Which is also why you shouldn’t receive your nutrition information or personal nutrition counseling from someone who isn’t a qualified nutrition professional. I feel passionately about this topic because I’ve lived it.

Here at EatingWell we take our nutrition content and reporting seriously. We have numerous on-staff and freelance registered dietitians who work hard to create, edit and review all of our nutrition articles, recipes, meal plans, videos, social posts and more. Even if a dietitian creates content, it is reviewed by another dietitian to ensure it’s accurate and captures multiple perspectives. All this is done to help ensure the nutrition content we share is factual, serviceable, clear and non-damaging.

In the age of social media, misinformation can travel further and faster than ever before. So it’s more important now than ever to proceed with caution when it comes to where and from whom you get your nutrition advice. Knowing the difference between a registered dietitian and someone without professional nutrition expertise can help you critically decide what advice to consider.

So, the next time you have a question about your eating habits, talk to a registered dietitian—a specialized nutrition professional. And if you see a “nutritionist” influencer telling you you need to cut out carbs, processed foods or seed oils, keep scrolling.

Read the original article on Eating Well .

Design elements: Getty Images. Collage: Cassie Basford.

Cost of living: if you can’t afford as much fresh produce, are canned veggies or frozen fruit just as good?

Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Accredited Practising Dietitian, University of South Australia

Disclosure statement

Evangeline Mantzioris is affiliated with Alliance for Research in Nutrition, Exercise and Activity (ARENA) at the University of South Australia. Evangeline Mantzioris has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, and has been appointed to the National Health and Medical Research Council Dietary Guideline Expert Committee.

University of South Australia provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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The cost of living crisis is affecting how we spend our money. For many people, this means tightening the budget on the weekly supermarket shop.

One victim may be fresh fruit and vegetables. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suggests Australians were consuming fewer fruit and vegetables in 2022–23 than the year before.

The cost of living is likely compounding a problem that exists already – on the whole, Australians don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables. Australian dietary guidelines recommend people aged nine and older should consume two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables each day for optimal health. But in 2022 the ABS reported only 4% of Australians met the recommendations for both fruit and vegetable consumption.

Fruit and vegetables are crucial for a healthy, balanced diet, providing a range of vitamins and minerals as well as fibre.

If you can’t afford as much fresh produce at the moment, there are other ways to ensure you still get the benefits of these food groups. You might even be able to increase your intake of fruit and vegetables.

Fresh produce is often touted as being the most nutritious (think of the old adage “fresh is best”). But this is not necessarily true.

Nutrients can decline in transit from the paddock to your kitchen, and while the produce is stored in your fridge. Frozen vegetables may actually be higher in some nutrients such as vitamin C and E as they are snap frozen very close to the time of harvest. Variations in transport and storage can affect this slightly.

Minerals such as calcium, iron and magnesium stay at similar levels in frozen produce compared to fresh.

Another advantage to frozen vegetables and fruit is the potential to reduce food waste, as you can use only what you need at the time.

A close up of frozen vegetables (peas, carrot and corn).

As well as buying frozen fruit and vegetables from the supermarket, you can freeze produce yourself at home if you have an oversupply from the garden, or when produce may be cheaper.

A quick blanching prior to freezing can improve the safety and quality of the produce. This is when food is briefly submerged in boiling water or steamed for a short time.

Frozen vegetables won’t be suitable for salads but can be eaten roasted or steamed and used for soups, stews, casseroles, curries, pies and quiches. Frozen fruits can be added to breakfast dishes (with cereal or youghurt) or used in cooking for fruit pies and cakes, for example.

Canned vegetables and fruit similarly often offer a cheaper alternative to fresh produce. They’re also very convenient to have on hand. The canning process is the preservation technique, so there’s no need to add any additional preservatives, including salt.

Due to the cooking process, levels of heat-sensitive nutrients such as vitamin C will decline a little compared to fresh produce. When you’re using canned vegetables in a hot dish, you can add them later in the cooking process to reduce the amount of nutrient loss.

To minimise waste, you can freeze the portion you don’t need.

Fermentation has recently come into fashion, but it’s actually one of the oldest food processing and preservation techniques.

Fermentation largely retains the vitamins and minerals in fresh vegetables. But fermentation may also enhance the food’s nutritional profile by creating new nutrients and allowing existing ones to be absorbed more easily .

Further, fermented foods contain probiotics, which are beneficial for our gut microbiome .

5 other tips to get your fresh fix

Although alternatives to fresh such as canned or frozen fruit and vegetables are good substitutes, if you’re looking to get more fresh produce into your diet on a tight budget, here are some things you can do.

1. Buy in season

Based on supply and demand principles, buying local seasonal vegetables and fruit will always be cheaper than those that are imported out of season from other countries.

2. Don’t shun the ugly fruit and vegetables

Most supermarkets now sell “ugly” fruit and vegetables, that are not physically perfect in some way. This does not affect the levels of nutrients in them at all, or their taste.

A mother and daughter preparing food in the kitchen.

3. Reduce waste

On average, an Australian household throws out A$2,000–$2,500 worth of food every year. Fruit, vegetables and bagged salad are the three of the top five foods thrown out in our homes. So properly managing fresh produce could help you save money (and benefit the environment ).

To minimise waste, plan your meals and shopping ahead of time. And if you don’t think you’re going to get to eat the fruit and vegetables you have before they go off, freeze them.

4. Swap and share

There are many websites and apps which offer the opportunity to swap or even pick up free fresh produce if people have more than they need. Some local councils are also encouraging swaps on their websites, so dig around and see what you can find in your local area.

5. Gardening

Regardless of how small your garden is you can always plant produce in pots . Herbs, rocket, cherry tomatoes, chillies and strawberries all grow well. In the long run, these will offset some of your cost on fresh produce.

Plus, when you have put the effort in to grow your own produce, you are less likely to waste it .

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Personal Care

Summer Eye Protection: 7 Tips to Keep Your Eyes Safe

Grab your sunglasses -- summer is almost here. Here's how to keep your eyes safe from the sun's rays.

We've all heard about the importance of wearing sunscreen to protect our skin from UV rays -- but did you know that taking care of your eyes in the sun is just as important?

According to the World Health Organization , there are 15 million people in the world who are blind from cataracts, and for up to 10% of these individuals, the cause of their condition may have been exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

However, there are simple ways to prevent the sun from damaging your eyes. Keep reading to learn how to protect your eyes against the elements this summer. And for more eye care tips, check out the best places to buy glasses and contact lenses online .

Protecting your eyes from the sun in the warm weather

From wearing sunglasses to following a balanced diet, there are plenty of ways to protect your eyes in the heat. Here are some science-backed tips for summer eye care.

Wear sunglasses

One of the easiest -- and most stylish -- ways to take care of your eyes is by wearing sunglasses during the day. When your eyes aren't protected in the sun, they're exposed to multiple types of UV rays, which can increase your risk of certain diseases , including photokeratitis and cataracts.

Consider polarized lenses : Polarized lenses are designed with a special chemical that filters more light than other sunglasses. They also reduce glare from reflective surfaces, like water and snow, so they're a good option if you spend a lot of time outside.

Choose the right lens color : While it may seem like darker lenses would provide more protection from UV rays, the opposite is true. Extremely dark lenses force your pupils to open wider , allowing more sunlight into your eyes. Instead of dark lenses, opt for gray or smoke-colored lenses to get the most sun protection.

Keep your eyes hydrated

During summer, your eyes can dry out quickly , particularly if you live in a dry climate, sit in air-conditioned spaces regularly or spend lots of time in swimming pools. Dehydrated eyes can have uncomfortable consequences, causing burning, irritation and light sensitivity, which may get worse if you wear contact lenses .

Avoid alcohol : Drinking alcohol can also dry out your eyes, so reducing your booze intake may help keep your eyes more lubricated and stave off dehydration.

Use eye drops if your eyes are dry : If you have a moderate case of dry eyes , you may find some relief from over-the-counter eye drops. But if the irritation continues, talk to your doctor about getting prescription-strength drops.

Eat a well-balanced diet

Following a nutritious diet can have benefits for your eye health as well. Specifically, you'll want to aim for a well-balanced meal plan that includes a variety of antioxidant-rich foods that support eye health.

For example, vitamin C may help lower your risk of developing cataracts . Good sources of this vitamin include raw bell peppers, oranges and carrots. Similarly, vitamin E protects your eyes from free radicals, which can damage and break down the tissue in your eyes. You can find vitamin E in seeds, nuts and sweet potatoes. Finally, vitamin A also supports proper eye function and is found in foods like leafy greens and orange vegetables.

In contrast, there are also foods that aren't great for your eye health . Sugary drinks and fried foods, for instance, can raise your risk of diabetes and, later, diabetic retinopathy.

Limit screen time

Staring at a laptop or phone screen for too long can irritate your eyes and lead to a condition called eye strain. Common symptoms of eye strain include headaches, light sensitivity, itchy eyes and blurred vision .

Unfortunately, depending on your job, avoiding screen time may not be realistic. However, there are some eye care tactics you can use to limit the effect that digital screens have on your eyes. Notably, the American Optometric Association recommends following the 20-20-20 rule while you're using electronic screens. This means taking a 20-second break from all screens at least once every 20 minutes to look at an object that's 20 feet away.

Other strategies to protect your eyes from digital screens include lowering the brightness on your devices, switching to dark mode and wearing blue-light-blocking glasses , though research is iffy on these glasses for eye health.

Man with glasses staring at a computer screen.

Avoid looking directly at the sun

Staring at the sun for too long isn't just uncomfortable -- it can cause serious, and sometimes permanent, damage to your eyes. When the sun's UV rays enter your eyes, they can form free radicals and harm your retinas, potentially causing a condition known as solar or photic retinopathy .

Milder symptoms of solar retinopathy can range from watery eyes to eye discomfort to headache. If your case is more severe, you may experience blurred vision or blind spots . For some people, these effects are irreversible. If you've noticed that your vision has worsened after viewing an eclipse or looking at the sun, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

Protect your eyes while outside or playing sports

Aside from wearing sunglasses, there are other effective ways to protect your eyes while you're spending time outside.

For example, if you're gardening or hiking, you can wear a wide-brimmed hat or visor to keep your eyes covered. If you're headed to the beach or pool, grab a pair of goggles to protect your eyes from the water, salt and chlorine and ward off swimmer's eye. Similarly, if you're playing sports, make sure to put on protective glasses to lower your risk of eye injury.

No matter what you're doing, you should also wear sunscreen on your face to prevent burns on your eyelids or the sensitive skin around your eyes.

Get quality sleep

If you've ever woken up from a poor night's sleep with dry and itchy eyes, you've experienced how a lack of quality sleep can impact your eye health, and science backs that up. In one study , researchers found a correlation between low-quality sleep and dry eye disease, noting that subpar sleep quality can aggravate the effects of DED.

Read more: Poor Sleep? Try These Easy Tricks

When you're tired, you're also more likely to rub your eyes , which could lead to eye damage or an infection . Separately, not getting enough sleep has been linked to other irritating but nonserious health issues, including myokymia (eye twitching) , bloodshot eyes and puffiness and under-eye bags .

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What’s Up: June 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA

Planets rule the a.m., and what's that bright light?

Saturn and Mars meet up with the Moon, Jupiter returns at dawn, and tips for identifying some common objects seen in the sky.

All month – All the planetary action continues to be in the morning sky, with Saturn and Mars rising in the early morning hours. They are joined later in the month by Jupiter.
June 2 – In the hour before sunrise, reddish Mars hangs just beneath the crescent Moon. Find the pair low in the east with Saturn lurking nearby, toward the south.
June 3 – The crescent Moon sits beneath Mars in morning twilight. Look for them low in the eastern sky.
June 6 – New moon
June 21 – Full moon
June 24 – Jupiter is now visible low in the east before sunrise. Look for the bright planet around 10 degrees above the horizon this final week of June, forming a line with Mars and Saturn that stretches toward the south.
June 27 – Look for the Moon rising in the east with Saturn around midnight. By dawn this morning, you'll find them high in the southern sky. They appear super close together – close enough to appear in the same field of view through binoculars.

"Planet Parade" note : Some online sources have shared excitement about a "parade of planets" visible in the morning sky in early June (June 3 in particular). In reality, only two of the six planets supposedly on display (Saturn and Mars) will actually be visible. In early June, Jupiter and Mercury will be at or below the horizon in morning twilight and not visible; Uranus and Neptune are far too faint to see without a telescope, especially as the morning sky brightens. The closest thing to a planet parade will be June 29, when Saturn, the Moon, Mars, and Jupiter will line up across the morning sky. This arrangement persists into July, and we'll talk more about that lineup in the next "What's Up" video.

An illustrated sky chart shows the morning sky facing eastward, 1 hour before sunrise on June 24, 2024. The planets Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn are pictured as small white dots. Jupiter is quite low in the sky, left of center. Mars is higher to its right, just below center in the image. Saturn is seen higher, toward the upper right corner of the view. The bright star Capella is seen at far left, slightly higher and to the left of Jupiter.

What's Up for June? Saturn and Mars meet up with the Moon, Jupiter returns at dawn, and tips for identifying some common objects seen in the sky.

On June 2nd in the hour before sunrise, reddish Mars hangs beneath the crescent Moon. Find the pair low in the east with Saturn lurking nearby. The following morning, on June 3rd, the Moon has moved so that it sits beneath Mars.

During the last week of June, giant Jupiter re-emerges as a morning planet, after passing behind the Sun, from our point of view on Earth, over the past couple of months. By June 24th, you can find it about 10 degrees above the horizon as the morning sky begins to brighten. It climbs a little higher each morning after that as July approaches.

Then on June 27th, look for the Moon with Saturn. The pair rise around midnight, and by dawn you'll find them high in the southern sky. They appear super close together this morning – close enough to appear in the same field of view through binoculars.

An illustrated sky chart shows the morning sky facing eastward, 1 hour before sunrise on June 3, 2024. The planets Mars and Saturn are pictured as small white dots. Mars is low in the sky, below center. Saturn appears higher, right of center. The crescent Moon also sits low in the sky, below and to the left of Mars. The bright star Fomalhaut is seen at far right, halfway up the sky.

When you spot bright or moving objects in the night sky, it might not be immediately clear what you're looking at. Is that a planet, or just a bright star? Is it a satellite, or maybe just an airplane? Here are a few quick tips on how to tell the difference.

First, there are five planets that are easily observed with the unaided eye. Of these, two planets – Venus and Jupiter – can sometimes appear incredibly bright, like shining beacons in the sky. The other planets are much less bright, but still generally shine as brightly as bright stars.

The big tipoff that you're looking at a star and not a planet is that planets tend to shine steadily, whereas stars twinkle. Stars are so far away that they're just points of light,

and ripples in our atmosphere easily distort them, causing the familiar flicker. The planets are relatively closeby, being here in our solar system. Through binoculars or a telescope, instead of a single point, planets show us a tiny disk or crescent that's illuminated by the Sun. So even though they appear star-like to the eye, the light from a planet is coming from a slightly more spread-out area, making planets appear more constant in brightness. Both planets and stars rise in the east and set in the west, and they move very slowly across the sky during the night.

But what if you see an object that's moving? Distant aircraft are usually pretty easy to identify, because they follow a slow, steady path that's straight or gently curving. They have exterior lights that flash in a regular pattern, often including a red beacon.

Satellites tend to be most visible in the hour or so after dark or before dawn, when it's night here on the surface, but the satellites are high enough in the sky to be illuminated by sunlight. They're generally fainter than aircraft, and move in slow, very steady, very straight paths. They might briefly flare in brightness, but they don't have lights that blink.

The International Space Station leaves a streak of light over a desert twilight landscape.

The International Space Station is an exception, because it's very bright, and is often visible for long enough to observe the curving path of its orbit. But it doesn't have flashing lights you can see from the ground, and it does something else satellites do: Satellites often fade out of view as they travel into Earth's shadow, or fade into view as they emerge. And occasionally you might see a train of satellites moving slowly and silently in formation.

One other sight that's sometimes confusing is rocket launches that happen soon after sunset or before sunrise. Similar to spotting satellites, this is when it's darker here on the ground, but launching rockets climb high enough to be illuminated by sunlight. When rockets launching at these times of day get really high in altitude, their exhaust can be brilliantly illuminated, and sometimes you might even see spiral or circular shapes that slowly grow and then dissipate, as a spent rocket stage empties its propellant into space.

With so much to see in the night sky, it's helpful to be familiar with some of these common sights, so you can get on with your skywatching and investigate whatever mysteries and wonders you're in search of.

Here are the phases of the Moon for June.

The main phases of the Moon are illustrated in a horizontal row, with the new moon on June 6th, first quarter on June 14th, full moon on June 21st, and the third quarter moon on June 28th.

Stay up to date on NASA's missions exploring the solar system and beyond at science.nasa.gov. I'm Preston Dyches from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and that's What's Up for this month.

IMAGES

Dietitian Personal Statement
Dietitian Personal Statement
10 Tips
Top Tips for a Dietetic Internship Personal Statement
Personal Statement
A registered dietitian nutritionist can help you in more ways than you

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COMMENTS

PDF Tips for a Strong, Stand-Out Personal Statement
students who have transitioned to Registered Dietitians; many have oﬀered to read and critique student personal statements. The overall goal here is to have many sharp, critical eyes look at your letter before you submit it. Overall, your personal statement is a reﬂection of everything that makes you the best candidate for your program of ...
Dietetic Internship Personal Statement Checklist
2. Discuss what has prepared you for a dietetic internship. -Choose a leadership experience. It's very important to show you were a leader and how. -Choose an experience in your interest area in dietetics, in the same realm of goals, if possible. -Choose an experience in any work experience where you had management skills or a lot of ...
Top Tips for a Dietetic Internship Personal Statement
1. Misspelling the name of the Dietetic Internship Program on your Personal Statement. Yikes! This is an easy mistake to make but a deadly mistake. Go with the rule of data entry from research, always copy and paste when given the options. Copy the exact program name from their website. 2.
How to Write the Best Personal Statement for a Dietetic Internship
Example #1. Here's a personal example from my statement that I tailored to MSU: After completing my undergraduate degree, I'll complete the dietetic internship at MSU, become a registered dietitian, and earn a master's in nutrition science. Although my undergraduate degree and the internship will provide a great foundation for my career ...
Don't Make these 5 Dietetic Internship Personal Statement Mistakes!
1 1️⃣ Mistake 1: You don't do your research. 2 2️⃣ Mistake 2: You bounce around with no theme or direction. 3 3️⃣ Mistake 3: You only focus on what you've done and not what you will do. 4 4️⃣ Mistake 4: You don't get feedback. 5 5️⃣ Mistake 5: You're not genuine. 6 👉 More dietetic internship application advice.
Nutrition and Dietetics Personal Statement Example
Office Hours: 9am - 6pm, Monday to Friday UK Address Personal Statement Service. The Old Dairy 12 Stephen Road Headington, Oxford, OX3 9AY United Kingdom. VAT Number 425 5446 95. 24/7 0800 334 5952 London 020 364 076 91 [email protected]
Dietetic Personal Statement Examples
Dietetic Personal Statement Example. I am excited to apply for the dietetic course because of my long-standing interest in nutrition and my desire to work in the healthcare industry. My passion for chemistry, food science, and understanding how nutrition impacts the human body led me to pursue this career path.
PDF The AAD Personal Statement Checklist
DISCUSS WHAT HAS PREPARED YOU FOR A DIETETIC INTERNSHIP. • Choose a leadership experience- very important to show you were a leader and how you did this . • Choose an experience in your interest area in dietetics, in the same realm of goals, if possible. • Choose an experience in any work experience where you had management skills or a ...
PDF Let's Get Personal
In your personal statement, please address the following items. 1. Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession? 2. Discuss experiences that have helped to prepare you for your career. 3. What are your short-term and long-term goals? 4. What are your strengths and weaknesses or areas of needing improvement? 5.
WEBINAR: How to Write a Powerful Personal Statement Conclusion
How to Write a Powerful Conclusion Paragraph. In conclusion, there are three specific strategies to perfect your conclusion paragraph. Strategy 1: Do your research on the program. Read the internships website, attend open-houses, contact the directors or past interns! Strategy 2: Ask the right questions to get quality content for the conclusion.
PDF Dietetic job interview tips
Dietetic job interview tips Top personal statement tips • Always give examples • Make sure to meet all the points in the person specification ... • Think about skills needed for a dietitian e.g. communication, organisational skills, confidence, caring etc. Demonstrate how you have done this and will continue to do
Future Dietitian Resources + Dietetic Intership Advice ⋆ Fork in the Road
Here's everything you'll need to know about the DICAS application — from personal statements, resumes, letters of recommendation, to D&D Digital. Get the info you'll need to get matched! Dietetic internship resources for nutrition students and future registered dietitians including application guides and personal statement tips.
Tips for a Successful Application
Writing a great personal statement takes time. We highly encourage you to seek feedback on your drafts from mentors and peers. A strong personal statement: Articulates a clear focus related to pursuing a nutrition degree and intention in applying to the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Michigan Public Health.
Writing Compelling Dietetic Internship Personal Statement
When crafting your dietetic personal statement, it is crucial to think strategically about what should be included. Your goal should be to convey why you are passionate about nutrition and dietetics. Add the skills and experiences that make you stand out as a strong candidate. You should also provide examples of how you have taken the ...
PDF Personal Statement
Provide examples of ALL strengths. Leadership strength: explain organization's accomplishment or a successful project that you led. Communication: explain the variety of communication styles that you are able to connect through or if you maintain a blog, are a great public speaker, and so on. Time management: explain strategies to time ...
Dietetics Personal Statement Examples
Dietetics Personal Statement Example 2. "Can I have the sirloin steak served with the oven dried tomatoes and pizzaiola sauce? This was the order of a girl between the ages of 10-14yrs. This choice of dish made me evaluate people's reasons behind the food they eat and whether these choices are influenced by the people around them or their ...
Dietetics Personal Statement Examples
The average earnings for someone with a degree in dietetics depend on the country and region of employment. In the UK, the average salary for a dietitian is £30,000 to £40,000 per year. Dietitians working in the NHS may receive a higher salary, as well as additional benefits such as bonuses and pension contributions.
Dietetics degree personal statement example (1a)
This is a real personal statement written by a student for their university application. It might help you decide what to include in your own. There are lots more examples in our collection of sample personal statements. I am applying for this course because I am very interested in becoming a dietitian. I have been interested in this career for ...
Dietitian Personal Statement
Personal Statement Service. The Old Dairy 12 Stephen Road Headington, Oxford, OX3 9AY United Kingdom. VAT Number 425 5446 95. 24/7 0800 334 5952 London 020 364 076 91 [email protected]. USA Address. 3979 Albany Post Road #2042 Hyde Park, NY 12538 USA New York 646-568-9741
Dietetics Personal Statement Example 1
This personal statement is unrated. I am applying for this course because I am very interested in becoming a dietitian. I have been interested in this career for a number of years. I enjoy chemistry and food related subjects and I am interested in working for the health service. As well as this I am intrigued about how the body works and the ...
Personal Statement, Advice : r/dietetics
Personal Statement, Advice. Hello everyone! With the fall semester finally coming to an end, the time a lot of us have been waiting for is finally here... FREAK OUT ABOUT THE DI APPLICATION TIME! I was wondering if anyone had any specific advice of how to approach the beast of the personal statement (s). Before I began writing, the 1000-word ...
Dietetic internship personal statement examples Archives
As a recent graduate and future dietitian, here are a few tips that helped me survive the busy undergraduate workload. Organize, Organize, Organize! ... Personal statement: You will be adding multiple personal statements. You will be adding one for each program you are applying to. Copy and paste your personal statement into the text box and ...
Dietetics Personal Statement
Sample Diatetics Personal Statement. The importance of diet for people's well-being and identity has not been lost on me as I have moved between Poland, the UK and the US in the last seven years, starting as a help in the family catering business in my native Poland and rising to restaurant supervisor in a major UK restaurant. Despite the ...
I'm a Dietitian—Not a "Nutritionist"—Here's The Difference ...
Here at EatingWell, we work with a number of nutrition professionals and nutrition writers who may not be registered dietitians, but their personal and professional track record aligns with our ...
Personal Statement Tips for College and University Applications
The Free Guide to Writing the Personal Statement. Kick things off with the two greatest brainstorming exercises ever, learn about options for structuring a personal statement + example outlines, check out some amazing example personal statements, and get on your way to writing your own killer personal statement for university applications.
Cost of living: if you can't afford as much fresh produce, are canned
Author. Evangeline Mantzioris Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Accredited Practising Dietitian, University of South Australia
Summer Eye Protection: 7 Tips to Keep Your Eyes Safe
For example, vitamin C may help lower your risk of developing cataracts. Good sources of this vitamin include raw bell peppers, oranges and carrots. Similarly, vitamin E protects your eyes from ...
What's Up: June 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA
June 21 - Full moon. June 24 - Jupiter is now visible low in the east before sunrise. Look for the bright planet around 10 degrees above the horizon this final week of June, forming a line with Mars and Saturn that stretches toward the south. June 27 - Look for the Moon rising in the east with Saturn around midnight.

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Dietetic Personal Statement

Dietetic Personal Statement Example

Successful Personal Statement Examples

Tips for a Successful Application

Creating an Application that Will Help You Stand Out

Writing Your Personal Statement

Showcasing Your Professional and Volunteer Experiences

Highlighting Your Academic Record

Securing Strong Recommendation Letters

Addressing Missing Prerequisite Courses

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Writing Compelling Dietetic Internship Personal Statement

What Should Be Included in the Dietetic Personal Statement?

How to Write a Dietetic Internship Personal Statement

Start With a Strong Introduction

Highlight Your Relevant Experiences

Explain Why This Particular Dietetic Internship

Finish Strong With a Conclusion

Dietetic Internship Personal Statement Examples

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Dietetic internship personal statement examples

Stand out with the best dietetic grades! These effective tips will help land you on the dean’s list and increase your chances of matching to your top dietetic internship.

Organize, Organize, Organize!

Utilize Your Tools

Study Well and Study Often

Review, Review, Review!

Dietetic Internship Match Rate Statistics

It’s not easy applying and matching to dietetic internship programs. Thousands of applicants apply each year but the dietetic internship match rate is 60%.

What is Computer Matching?

Changes in Number of Openings

Changes in Number of Applicants

Changes in Applicants Matched

What is being done about this?

Steps for Applying to a Dietetic Internship Program

Applying for dietetic internships using Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service (DICAS)

1. Create a DICAS account

2. Request official transcripts from the institution(s) that met degree and DPD requirements

3. Upload DPD information

4. Enter Coursework

5. Enter any awards, work experience, and volunteer experience

6. Write, revise, and review your personal statement

7. Update and upload your resume

8. Selecting References for Letters of Recommendation

9. Application Certification

10. Program Designations