Tips for DICAS: Things Dietetics Students MUST Know When Applying For An Internship

[@nilu1121]

Just seeing this. I graduated in dec 2016, never applied to dicas and I lost my way. I wasn’t prepared and I know I did this to myself. I was too embarrassed to go to my professor on my personal statement cause I was way to personal. I feel ashamed but I want to at least get into an internship so I can at least do something as an rd! I have self pitied far too long. I want to blog recipes as I want to do it for fun. I had so many reasons to not Pursuing to be an rd. Cost of internship, long application which felt off putting cause I didn’tknow I had to do another internship after graduation (found out later taking a class that is how this whole thing works), it made me feel like I fell out from my passion cause of the shock. But something about learning more about food really interests me. I am now going back and see if I can do rdt (registered dietitian technician) I heard they are not existing anymore (I don’t know if that is true). Thank you for this video! It was a good refresher

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

Hey there Nilu! I definitely don't blame you for feeling overwhelmed by DICAS/the process to becoming an RD. That's why I made all these videos... because I know exactly where you're coming from! You have a big passion for your future career, but it's so easy to get into decision fatigue and overwhelm. Try not to let that discourage you if you truly want to be an RD.. because remember... it's all temporary 💙 I have a whole playlist of videos for future RDs.. so if that would help, you should check it out! kzbin.info/aero/PLxMd7IICOzKpJhykev9uUFZyRuplCX5h4 Also to answer your question.. I do think from what I've heard DTR jobs are fewer and far between, but not totally gone yet! You could go the health coaching route too.. but with all you've already done, I highly suggest to keep going! -Katie

[@TofuMrMonster]

Thanks for the advice! I’m thinking about going into Dietetics

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

dawsita I’ll have more videos up in the future on advice for dietetic internships since I just completed mine! Just so you know ❤️ thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to see the world on dietetics grow. It’s a great field and it’s going to continue to grow!! Much love 😘 -Kat

[@Rania-vh7wg]

Hiii again, so I have a question. What kind of volunteer and work experience did you have? I’m just wondering how much I need to be competitive

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

I worked as a manager at a Quizno’s for several years during undergrad, then worked at a Health Food store during the second half of undergrad. And for volunteer work I did Girls on The Run and another program that helped pack and hand out lunches for kids during summer who are typically on food assistance during the school year (it’s called TWIGS for kids but it may be called something else where you’re at!) My best advice is do what you can that relates to nutrition, food, or something like supporting education or food assistance programs in your community. There’s lots of opportunities out there! They don’t all have to be clinical related 💙

[@samanthacamacho2883]

Hii thanks for your video! It was very helpful, I was wondering if by any chance you know if we can submit the DICAS application without transcripts posted? I sent my transcrips from school a few weeks ago and my school confirmed to me that DICAS received them but it has not been posted in the portal...

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

Hey Samantha! It's been several years since submitting my stuff in DICAS, so I'm trying to recall what I did. I believe I had to do something like upload an "unofficial transcript" on my DICAS application and then (upon your request) your school submits the official transcripts over? I could be totally wrong with how it works nowadays. I would ask a professor of yours and maybe touch base with DICAS's online support to get the best, most up to date answer. Wishing you the best of luck in your matching process this year 💙

[@shaniadaurie2885]

Thank you so much for this. I'm currently in my second year of university for nutrition and dietetics but in Canada. its a very similar process so the tips are great! Would you have any studying tips that'll help with getting A's in classes

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

Shania Daurie That makes me sooo happy that these tips were able to benefit you! While every class is different, my overall advice is to find YOUR best method of studying. I had friends who did flashcards, but I found myself wasting a lot of time making them and not studying. So for example, for me I found that re-writing my notes in various colors or using highlighters, really helped. I also used KZbin videos if I needed another explanation of how something like metabolism worked. I can do a video on this sometime 😁💕 happy new year! Much love!

[@yordano41]

Great info I have a couple of questions do you need to complete your internship in order to get to diploma, I know that without completing the internship you cannot work, reason I ask is because I'm studying dietetics & nutrition right now but I plan to apply to Physician Assistant School,. And I don't know if the university will give me the diploma without doing the internship. Also did you find classes like DIE and FOS classes harder or easier than classes like chemistry, organic chemistry, anatomy and physiology. The DIE and FOS normally are the upper dietetics and nutrition classes that you probably took the last two years of completing your bachelor. Thanks

[@vanillahandle8317]

You will get your diploma if you finish the course work at your college, your degree and the internship are two completely separate things so getting your degree is not dependent on the internship. You can still work in some jobs with just a straight up nutrition degree, although there are not as many. And I know you weren't asking me, but from my experience, the upper level nutrition and dietetics courses are easier than the hard science courses since they are more geared to specifics related to nutrition that can be applied rather than just memorized. Good luck in PA School!

[@yordano41]

Vanilla Handle thank you very much for the info, I really appreciate it

[@warchiefv5207]

I didn’t know each school makes u write separate stuff. Feel even more stressed since there’s less than 2 weeks left

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

I hear you! But you got this 💙 take your main personal statement and look up the school’s requirements for a personal statement on their website (some have them - some don’t but just like a job application I would try to tweak it just a little bit to make it personal!) You don’t have to overhaul the whole thing - just focus on what you can. And if all else fails - just focus on tweaking your top two picks 💙 hope that helps!

[@Rania-vh7wg]

What are the different types of internship?

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

All internships have community, clinical and Foodservice rotations, but depending on who you go through for your internship.. (what school/hospital/etc runs it) they determine what the focus area of the internship is. I have a newer video answering commonly asked questions about dietetic internships if that’s something you’re interested in learning more about! kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2ezn4OgipmKjtk

[@Rania-vh7wg]

@@DarkBlueNutrition thank you!

[@marcela4881]

Thank you so much! I'm a Junior :P but I'm looking into this :D

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

Good for you for looking into things early!! That's key. If you have any other questions let me know and I'll do another video on this topic in the future :)

[@prityislam2242]

What is the Duration of internship for clinical dietitian in here? I mean 1 year? Or..?

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

So your entire internship would be about 8 months. That gets broken up into rotations including clinical, community and foodservice. All internships have slightly different timelines so you can check with the individual internship! (Mine was 3 months clinical, 3 months (hospital) foodservice, 2 months community)

[@prityislam2242]

@@DarkBlueNutrition actually um Dietitian at sikder hospital in bangladesh. But now I wanna be registered dietitian in usa.. so that I think first I have to do internship in usa thn I should face register Dietitian exam.. is this procedure good?

[@prityislam2242]

@@DarkBlueNutrition ooo.. I have done Master Degree in Food &Nutrition Science and doing MPH ( almost finished) degree.. and also 5 years working experience..

[@khylagrant358]

How much volunteer experience would someone need to get picked in the matching process?

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

Khyla Grant There isn't exactly a number they're looking for, but just the fact that you're "balanced". So if you get straight A's but never worked or volunteered in college, that could hurt you in the matching process. Try to be as balanced as possible. Work in a hospital or food service setting, volunteer wherever your heart desires, and try to keep up your GPA (they expect a lot, I know!!). I volunteered for Girls On the Run and I definitely recommend looking if there's an organization around you! Best of luck. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@armondo22]

I wish the whole process was simpler and streamlined it can get so confusing and overwhelming

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

I couldn’t agree more! They need to revamp the application process among many other things in the Dietetics community. So many factors make our profession extremely inaccessible to some, and I venture to say pretty traumatizing for the people who do make it in internships 😅

[@avagrace747]

i am thinking to do my bachelor in nutrition and dietetics in my home country but i want to do my master abroad... Is it possible to get internship there????

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

Avabanti devi Unfortunately I wouldn’t be the best to answer this question- I would definitely ask your school advisor because I imagine there might be some way to do this. I know for students in the US, there is some way to study abroad during the DI, but as far as other countries go, I’m unsure! Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!

[@graysonhull8864]

I'm pretty sure that some Graduates Schools choose to send some of their students abroad to do an internship! :) I'm not 100% sure, but I have heard of this before!!!

[@MadetoOrderNutrition]

Great tips! I think I blocked the whole DICAS process out of my memory haha

[@DarkBlueNutrition]

Made to Order DICAS was the absolute WORST! Can't wait to finish up my internship and get into the field :) 💕

[@MadetoOrderNutrition]

I finished up in November and it feels so good haha Good luck!