How to Choose What Dietetic Internship to Apply to?

In 2014 I started my bachelor's program in dietetics and it was then that I learned that I had to do a dietetic internship to become a Registered Dietitian, so I always kept my eyes focused on this. However, deciding which dietetic internship to apply to can be challenging, but it's an important decision because you only get matched to one program. So, how do you make that decision?

First, decide what YOU want out of your internship.

Do you want flexibility to be able to work?

Do you want to complete a Master's degree simultaneously?

Is there is a specific concentration that interests you?

Are elective rotations important to you?

At the end of the day, it's all about what you want and finding an internship that matches that. This will make writing your personal statement easier, and you will be able to clearly communicate to the internship director that you are a perfect fit for their program.

There's so many options. Determine what's best for you.

The programs I wanted to apply to kept changing.

• First, I wanted to do my dietetic internship with the VA because there's no tuition and they offer a stipend (YAY!) However, I'm not eligible for these programs.

• Then, I wanted to do my dietetic internship with Florida Hospital in Orlando, FL because it's in the Adventist Health System and I lived in Orlando prior to going to college. However, my parents moved to Fort Lauderdale, and I didn't want to relocate to Orlando so I scratched this off my list.

• I became interested in doing a coordinated program so I could also get my Master's and I learned about Samford University while attending a dietetic internship fair at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Their program offered either a MS or MPH + the dietetic internship, and I had a growing interest in public health. I really liked this school and their program and really wanted to go here! I asked the program director what they look for in their applicants and she literally said, among other things, "tell us why you want to come to a christian school." Which was a pretty easy question to answer because I was already attending a christian school and loved it there. But, it's in Birmingham, Alabama and I just didn't see myself relocating there either. It didn't really seem feasible. Also, they required GRE scores and I took a practice GRE and literally cried because that test is hard and although I do exceptionally well on tests in school, I do exceptionally terrible on standardized tests.

• When my senior year started, I had to get serious about making a decision. At this point, flexibility was very important to me. The undergraduate school I attended (Oakwood University) had a dietetic internship program and I knew all the ins and outs about it. I didn't really want to do a distance program, but I loved the flexibility that it offered. I'll write a post about distance internships soon, but in a nutshell, in a distance program you have to find all your preceptors and basically set up the whole internship yourself. This is challenging, but very possible!

• I met with the Admissions Director for Loma Linda University and learned that they also have a coordinated program (MPH + internship). This is ultimately the school I really wanted to attend. I loved their program, it's a school focused on health and wellness, it's located in one of the blue zones Loma Linda, California), I knew people at that school, so many reasons. I really felt like God wanted me at this school. They have rolling admissions which was perfect because when I met the admissions director it was March and the deadline to apply to internships was in February. Also, they WAIVED the GRE requirement because of my GPA.

Then, consider the other factors like:

• Cost: Can you afford the dietetic internship you are applying to? Can you afford the tuition AND living expenses? Some dietetic internships require you to pay out of pocket, some provide financial aid, and a few of them don't have any tuition.

• Duration: Are you trying to become a Registered Dietitian ASAP? The dietetic internship can last anywhere from 8-24 months, depending on whether you do a coordinated program or the internship by itself, and if you are completing it part-time or full-time.

• Location: Would you like to complete your dietetic internship where you currently live? Are you open to relocating? Is it feasible for you to relocate? Do you have a car? Is public transportation accessible? Depending on the program you apply to, you can expect to travel up to 50 miles to your rotation sites.

• Part-time or Full-time: Do you need the option to do your internship part-time while you juggle other priorities? Some people have to work during their internship to afford living expenses.

• Rotation Sites: What are the potential rotation sites for the dietetic internship programs you are interested in? It can consist of hospitals, schools, university dining halls, community centers? What type of experiences do you prefer?

So what did I do?

Although I really didn't want to do a distance dietetic internship, I applied to Oakwood University because I felt I had a good chance of getting accepted and I could complete my rotations in Fort Lauderdale, FL which is where my parents were living.

I searched for other internships in South Florida, but I only found 2: A distance internship and a hospital in Miami that only accepted 6 people. No bueno. I submitted my application through DICAS in February and I made up my mind to do the Oakwood Internship (yes, I matched).

Then, I met the admissions for Loma Linda University and I most certainly preferred to do their program, so I applied and got accepted. I accepted my acceptance and paid my deposit. I was preparing to go until they sent me my financial aid award letter (laughs out loud because that's what you do to keep from crying). My cost of attendance was $58,000 for ONE year (tuition + living) and they didn't offer much in scholarships. No bueno because although my undergraduate degree cost over $100,000 (sigh), I got scholarships and grants to cover about 93% of it.

I had the dilemma of dilemmas and just cried because I didn't know what to do. It was a really tough decision. This is what helped me make the decision:

1. My parents came to me and said they felt it would be best for me to do the Oakwood Distance Internship.

2. The Oakwood Dietetic Internship Director called me and asked me if I was going to Loma Linda University for sure. I still didn't know at this point, but she said I should attend the internship orientation (because it's mandatory) in case I don't end up going, so that's what I did.

3. What it came down to was: the Oakwood internship's tuition was $12,000 for the entire program and I had that EXACT amount of money (I'll tell you the testimony in another post), and Loma Linda's tuition was over $50,000 for just one year. Also, I didn't feel prepared for the rigors of graduate school and felt it necessary to take a little break from school.

So I did the logical thing and stuck with Oakwood. I decided this in late July which is really bad because like I mentioned it's a distance program and I would have to contact registered dietitians and ask them to take me on as an intern. July is kind of late to be doing this, and I am NOT one to procrastinate. I'm always on top of doing what I have to do. Most people do this BEFORE they even apply to their distance programs, and most places get booked with interns pretty fast. I did not want to do this AT ALL, but let me tell you, IT ALL WORKED OUT!

My fellow RDs2Be. We completed our undergrad dietetics degree together, now we are in the internship together.

Making Your Decision

• Decide what you want out of your internship

• Consider other factors like cost, duration, location, rotations

• Visit the internship program and meet with the director

• Contact previous interns and ask for their feedback

To learn about the endless possibilities of dietetic internships, you can visit the Dietetic Internship Database to search for programs or your can join All Access Internships and get a host of resources to help you navigate this process. All Access Internships is a relevant resource for you as you approach dietetic internship applications. They have a Facebook group of over 4,700 future dietitians, a filterable DI database, a weekly newsletter, free webinars, and more. Plus, they have a course and coaching program called The Get Matched Program. Their clients have an 85% match rate! Join for free here.

Until next time,