AAI Free Video Series Line Up

It is a great time to sign up for the All Access Internships listserv, because Jenny is sending free videos to assist with the DI process! :) These videos are posted on their Youtube channel: AllAccessInternships.

The video lineup includes the following so far (the following info is copied from AAI emails):

1. Choosing the right program for you

Finding your “perfect fit” is no easy task. Figuring out where you will have the best chances of getting matched is tough to do. You can determine relative competitiveness based on the number of applicants that the program gets each year, as well as the average GPA of current interns. These two objective stats will point you in the right direction of where you could realistically get in (based on your GPA alone). Going a step further, take inventory of your experiences and your goals. Finding a program that “matches” what you’ve done and what you want to do will make you an easy sell to the selection committee. In addition you should define what you want out of a program.
Let me explain in this 7 minute video on FINDING YOUR PERFECT FIT.

2. Computer matching and ranking strategies

Computer Matching, done through D&D Digital, is a pretty confusing subject for many applicants. Often, our coaching clients over-think all the different scenarios that they could be in, based on how they rank their programs. While it is true that there are many variables involved in this process, which then determine a match, it is IMPOSSIBLE to predict how all these variables will play out in your case. My best advice is to stick to the basics and rank in the order you really want them. And if you don't have strong preferences, and want to be strategic, I have a couple ideas. View the next video here on computer matching. I'll also share how many programs I think you should apply to!

PS It cuts off at the end because I started talking about DICAS, but that's next week!!

3. DICAS - top 10 things to know

4. Resume - what to add, keep, and delete

We are getting back on track here with video #4 on the resume! You might think this is a small document, but it can have a BIG impact on your application. It is just another way to sell yourself. I probably could have talked for another hour on the resume, but tried to touch on the most effective strategies for selling yourself in just 1 or 2 pages.

5. Personal Statement Part 1

Part 1: why are you interested in dietetics

6. Personal Statement Part 2

I'm back with PART 2 on the THE BIGGEST, MOST IMPORTANT, SIGNIFICANT PART OF YOUR ENTIRE APPLICATION!!! Today's video is on the "meat and potatoes" of your letter --the experience, your strengths, and weaknesses that really SELL you as an applicant. There is a very simple template you can use when sharing your experiences with the selection committee!

7. Personal Statement Part 3

I am finishing up PART 3 on the THE BIGGEST, MOST IMPORTANT, SIGNIFICANT PART OF YOUR ENTIRE APPLICATION!!! Today's video is on your short term and long term goals as well as why you want to go to a specific program. It's "the closing argument" on why you are the perfect fit for that dietetic internship!

I am very happy to learn that AAI is constantly improving their services and providing more free resources for the large underserved DI applicant community, so please check the videos out! :)

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!

FREE Ebook: Getting In, The Keys to Unlocking the Door to a Dietetic Internship

Valerie Buchanan published an ebook through smashwords.com called "Getting In, The Keys to Unlocking the Door to a Dietetic Internship." This reference is most suitable for undergraduate dietetic students in their junior and senior years, or even earlier (the earlier you prepare for DIs the better!). I felt that this resource was very realistic and uplifting even as a graduate, so feel free to skim through this page and get inspired for your own application. :) Please keep in mind that this ebook was published in 2009, so application requirements have changed since then (adapt her tips to current requirements).

My favorite quote from this ebook:

"The competition is tough but you are tougher. By planning ahead and persevering until every box is checked you will be able to more fully enjoy the journey, achieve a wonderful sense of accomplishment and have a greater chance of being accepted into an internship program of your choice."

Let me know what you think about this ebook! :)

April's Fools

So April's Fools came, and like I expected, I did not get matched yet again. :(

...

A
P
R
I
L
'
S

F
O
O
L
S
!!!

Of course I got matched! ;) I am super excited for this new path in my journey to become a RD! I feel like creating this blog combined with the AAI DI Bootcamp directed my focus to complete my applications successfully and lead me to the successful match!

I received my 3rd choice for my match. My co-worker got matched to her #1 choice, so I am super happy for her as well!

And my location is, the home of the blues & rock and roll. Elvis town. As my co-workers say, the heart of the obesity epidemic; ribs, ribs and ribs.

*Drumroll*

University of Memphis in Memphis, TN.

When does it start? This upcoming August.

For how long? Through December of next year.

What type of program? Combined MS/DI.

Bring it on. :)

Thank you very much for my family, friends and readers for your continued support! For applicants who also applied during this round, I hope you got matched successfully! If you haven't, please participate in second round matching right now! There are many new opportunities available like never before, including ISPPs and graduate school and DI combined programs.

Of course, I will continue blogging about dietetics and my program, as well as more dietetic internship application tips. I look forward to share my new dietetic adventures with you.

Two More Days for D&D Digital Rearranging!

The official end of "online reordering," or rearranging our D&D Digital matching internship choices is on Monday, March 26th by 11:59 pm CST (or 8:59 pm PST). See the Spring 2012 timeline here.

I am still unsure of my final internship choices, and I hope to finalize my decision soon. How you rank your internships is a huge deciding factor on whether and where you get accepted, and I hope that you will get accepted to your best choice! :)

I was talking to a co-worker about the low rate of applicants getting matched to a program, and we were discussing the benefit of non-interview internship programs releasing applicant info, either their highly ranked applicants or "discarded" applicants, to their applicants. Wouldn't it be great to know that you didn't stand a chance in certain programs you applied for, so you can rank the internships you are most likely to get into higher? I think that would greatly increase the match rate, because there are many resulting programs with open spots that are unfilled. Unfortunately, only two of my internships require interviews, so I am unsure of how well I rank in the other four internships I applied for.

I am currently comparing my applied internships forwards and backwards to finalize my priority of possible matches.

What are your decision criteria for ranking your internships?

- Program focus
- Length of program
- Location
- Types of rotations
- Available rotation sites
- # Hrs spent in each set of rotations
- Compatibility with director through contact (e-mail, open house, phone call, interview)
- Cost (cost of program, available stipend, cost of living, transportation)

I feel like applying to these internships is so much harder than applying to college! Just knowing that you need to choose the right programs which will help expose you to all the different areas of dietetics and help you grow as a dietitian is pretty challenging. I feel that the most important thing is you are enthusiastic about what the program has to offer; you can deal with the other decisions, like how am I going to pay for this?, later. This is serious professional training, a giant step that separates us from nutritionists to dietitians. I really hope that we will get matched to good programs this round. :)

Good luck with your internship rankings!

Happy RD Day! and interviews, oh my!

How has everyone celebrated National Nutrition Month so far? AND's NNM theme for 2012 is "Shape Up Your Plate" in reference to the newest MyPlate. Today also happens to be RD Day, so if you see a RD around, congratulate him/her for their dedication to dietetics! And for the rest of us who are RD hopefuls, we can still celebrate today as a reminder of our fueling desire to work in the dietetics field. :)

For those of you who applied for the Spring 2012 match (on a Sunday and April Fool's no less!), this time is critical for interviews and rearranging our D&D Digital internship matching choices (D&D deadline: Monday, 3/26 11:59 pm CT). My co-worker who is finishing up her last quarter at UCD recently received her interview, and I have two interviews in the near future! I am feeling very excited, nervous and determined, and yet feel clueless on how I am planning on rearranging my D&D choices.

I wanted to share Jenny Westerkamp's 30 min Interview Prep video: http://www.justin.tv/allaccessinternships/b/306478423

Also, AAI posted articles on interview tips: http://allaccessinternships.com/articles.php?category=Interview%20Tips

Congratulations if you already completed your interviews, and good luck if you have future interviews! And for those of you who don't need interviews for their internship choices, lucky you! Let's get matched and be one step closer to being a RD! :)

All Access Internships

I am currently going through the DI Bootcamp program through All Access Internships, and I must say, it definitely includes a lot of helpful information through webinars and handouts that they provide. The DI Bootcamp includes good information on brainstorming through internships, how to find your perfect fit internship, how to interact with directors of your interested DI programs, how to write your personal statement and resume, and how to prepare for interviews. The bootcamp also includes two 15 minute phone calls with Jenny for you to answer personal questions about your DI application process. Has anyone else tried the DI Bootcamp, or other services by AAI?

Moreover, the All Access Internships website has free resources open to DI applicants to use as well, such as their internship profile listing, articles and application tips. They are also hosting some free webinars this month, including (this information is pulled from the AAI listserv e-mail):

7 Strategies for a Rocking Resume

Free online presentation by Match Maker Kristen Carlucci, RDdiscussing the 7 key strategies for a rocking resume! We've seen a lot of AVERAGE resumes in our day AND a lot of GREAT resumes. See how to take yours from AVERAGE to GREAT!

When: (TWO TIMES!)
January 11, 2012 at 9:30 PM EST
January 12, 2012 at 9:30 PM EST

Where: www.justin.tv/allaccessinternships

No need to register, just go to that link at either scheduled time!

PS There will not be any recordings available, so hope you can make it :)

Top 10 Ways To Impress In a Personal Statement

Free online presentation by Match Maker Katie Hamm, RD discussing the TOP 10 Ways to Impress in a Personal Statement! The #1 problem for internship applicants is WRITER'S BLOCK. Do you have no idea what to write about? Do you feel like you can't sell yourself? See how to take get the creative juices flowing and impress directors one sentence at a time!

When: (TWO TIMES!)
January 18, 2012 at 9:30 PM EST
January 19, 2012 at 9:30 PM EST

Where: www.justin.tv/allaccessinternships

No need to register, just go to that link at either scheduled time!

PS There will not be any recordings available, so hope you can make it :)

Interview Prep in 30 Minutes

Free online presentation on "Interview Prep in 30 minutes" hosted on Justin.TV! This live presentation, hosted by Jenny Westerkamp, will feature the must-know interview strategies, so you feel MORE prepared and LESS nervous!

When: (Two times available)
January 24 at 9:30 PM EST
January 26 at 9:30 PM EST

Where: http://www.justin.tv/allaccessinternships

No need to register...just head over to this link above at any of the scheduled times!

PS This will not be recorded, so hope you can make it!

Mark your calendars, especially if you're applying to the February deadline! The resume webinar starts tonight! :)

Navigate the DI List

The ADA website has a list of accredited Dietetic Internship programs that are organized by states, distance education programs, and graduate degrees (either can offer the graduate degree (in which, you'll have the opportunity to take longer than the length of the program to finish the degree) or a combined DI+Master's program). There are currently 244 programs for you to browse through, and they list the general information (name, address, DI director information, internship website, # internship slots, cost, program length, emphasis, computer matching months).

Unless you are fine with those search criterias, you are going to have to click on each of those 244 links to narrow down your options. I personally think that there should be an advanced search option, where you can choose the focus criteria (general, clinical, community, foodservice management), needs GRE/doesn't need GRE, and most importantly, the GPA criteria (i.e. 2.5-2.9, 3.0-3.5). It would make DI applications so much easier!

There is also the 2011 Applicant Guide to Dietetic Internships available to browse through, and this lists more information than what you can find on their websites, such as how many applicants they had previously and their ranking of priorities of application materials.

Moreover, I found that there were extra programs on the ADA website that were not on the applicant guide and vice versa, and some information on the individual DI program website (i.e. GPA/GRE/interview requirements) that conflict with the applicant guide, so it's very important to cross check information!

So I am formally introducing my navigation through the DI list. It lists the current required GPAs (overall, DPD, science), GRE scores, and misc. (i.e. req. hours of work exp., pre-select for students/employees). Keep in mind that I am not listing closed DI programs (i.e. for WIC employees only & own DPD/graduate students).

Please view the page entitled "Navigate the DI GPA List" and start researching your dietetic internships if you haven't already! :)

Any feedback is welcome and very encouraged.