How to Improve your Chances

I must correct how I say ADA, it's AND (Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics) now. AND posted "Suggestions to Improve Your Chances at Getting a Dietetic-Internship Position" for current DPD students and unmatched applicants. Suggestions include:

1) Meeting above the min. requirements for GPA & GRE (if required).

- DIs primarily request a min. 3.0 GPA, but competitive applicants bring a much higher GPA than that.

- Retake classes if needed to increase your GPA, and retake GRE if needed to increase your scores (V, Q, W).

2) Asking only the individuals who know you well enough to write strong letters of recommendation for you.

- Many DIs require recommendations from DPD faculty (sometimes even specifically the DI director and/or foodservice management professor) and an internship/work supervisor. Make sure to give your best impression and to do the best possible work you can, so they can sincerely write positively about you in great detail. That way, they truly believe in you, instead of feeling obligated to do so because of their position.

3) Communicate effectively, efficiently and professionally.

- Sound polite and professional throughout all your application materials that you submit to your internships. This can apply to your personal statement, resume, explaining your experiences, as well as your professionalism in social media, your phone voicemail and e-mail address.

- Speak well of your DPD program and experiences; any complaining, gossip and negative stories are not welcomed because they speak poorly of you. It's important to realize that every program/organization has their own quirks and dysfunctions, and even more important to work around them. Focus on improving your outlook on things, and motivate others to do as well!

4) STAND OUT! (don't you wish your application incorporated a hologram video of yourself to STAND OUT? lol yes, me too...)

- Gain volunteer/work experience in a variety of dietetics fields and focus more time on areas you are interested to work in for the future. You want to have experience in different fields (usually clinical, FSM & community), as well as narrow down to a specific area you're most passionate about.

- Become more socially involved on campus and AND through membership to dietetics organizations and membership associations; try your best to gain leadership positions in these organizations.

- Publish and present any research or projects for journals, conferences and poster sessions.

5) UP your odds of getting accepted.

- Make sure you meet all minimum (i.e. GPAs, GRE) requirements and you are okay with all internship costs and living expenses.

- Ratio of applicants to openings: the lower it is, the less competitive it is and easier for you to get in.

- If you are financially capable, apply to more programs and be more open-minded to apply to programs in different geographic regions (California and East Coast (esp. Boston) tend to be more competitive). Read up on their financial aid (i.e. stipends, scholarships, graduate assistantships, Stafford loans eligible) and the general internship schedule and whether or not you think you can handle a part-time job along with the internship. Maybe part-time or distance internships are better options for you.

- Contact program directors of every internship you're applying to so you can introduce yourself, ask for more details about the program that you cannot read on their website (read up their website thoroughly first), and also ask about what you can do to make your application more competitive and stand out from the rest. It's also a good opportunity to get a good feel of the director's personality and willingness to assist potential applicants.

6) Avoid the following:

- Posting embarrassing information on the Internet (i.e. blogs, Facebook); make sure that your entire application and any information the directors can look up on you are professional throughout.

- Criminal behavior (may make you illegible to work in healthcare facilities).

- Never misrepresent or falsify information regarding your education, work experiences or credentials. Be honest! When you look back in the past for things you have done leading up to this point, isn't it comforting to know that you were capable to juggle all of those things independently? Be the real you.


I also felt that Benedictine University's coordinated DI/Master's program posted up some helpful tips (see pg. 87-88) on how to succeed in their program, and I feel that they can apply to all dietetic internships. It's also to good to read them, understand them and practice them pre-dietetic internship phase!

Would you like to share your tips on how you improve your chances on getting matched? :)