Month: March 2020

  • Dietetics Programs, How to Become a Dietitian, Student Life

    How to Get Awesome Dietetic Experience

    The competition among peers within the dietetic major is fierce! We’ve developed a guideline to help you stand-out with AWESOME dietetic experience!

    Research the Field

    Clinical Nutrition, Food Service and Community Nutrition may be the common areas dietitians are employed, but it is NOT the only area. The dietetics profession has significantly changed within the last fifty years! Let’s take it back to Economics 101 and the concept of supply and demand. Different demands, such as the increased need for weight loss solutions due to the rise in obesity mean an increased need for the supply of dietitians that specialize in weight loss. Telehealth is another booming industry for dietitians right now!

    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!

    AWESOME dietetics students networking

    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

    CONTINUE READING

  • Dietitian Career Advice

    Best Job Search Tips for New Dietitians

    You’ve done the hard work- completed a DPD program, a Bachelor’s degree, a 1200 hour dietetic internship, and passed the national registration exam. You are now a registered dietitian! You’re ready to land your first job as an RD, but… where do you even begin? Below are my top tips to help you land the position of your dreams.

    Get clear on your goals. 

    After completing rotations in various areas, you may know what position you would like to work in. Was clinical not your thing? What about food service? Narrow down your niche, and then use LinkedIn, practice groups, Instagram, and even Google to help you create your goals and find inspiration from other RDs.

    Network. 

    Dietetics is a relatively small field, so use your current network to help you succeed. Is your past preceptor connected to a dietitian you admire on LinkedIn? Reach out and ask for an introduction. There’s no harm in trying, and it’s ok to do some creepy searching for the sake of your dream job!

    Use social media.

    Before you begin job searching, make sure your social media presence is professional and represents you well. Next, join virtual groups dedicated to RD job searching, research potential organizations through their social media pages, and learn more about open positions by studying them online. This will help you learn about the organization and role you are applying for and can help you have a great interview.

    Use the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

    The Academy has various resources that can help you learn your worth, such as the compensation packet. This packet shares up-to-date knowledge of salaries for different niches in the field. Use the salary calculator to determine the average income for your education, experience, and even location! 

    Prepare. 

    Once you land an interview, do your best to be ready. Our Get Hired Coaching will teach you how to restate the question, provide 2-3 points or a STAR theory, and answer with a clear conclusion that ties into the company or role. Extra preparation for an interview can set you apart and help you land your dream job sooner. 

    While the job application process may be new and overwhelming, using these tips and tricks will lead you down the right path. Do you think you would benefit from extra help in this process? Check out the Get Hired Course to help you showcase your talents, sell yourself to employers, and stand out from the competition. 

    PS. We have so many great career resources to help you land your dream job!

    CONTINUE READING

  • Dietetics Programs

    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!

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  • Dietetics Programs

    Tips from a Dietetic Intern During COVID-19

    COVID-19 may change the routine of your dietetic internship program. One dietetic intern provides advice so you can stay on track to become an RD!

    Gina Grace, a previous Get Matched Course client and current distance dietetic intern recently shared her experience living through COVID-19. Novel Coronavirus has changed where and how we work, with many of us working remotely- even dietetic interns. Gina is no exception, but she is using this time working from home as an opportunity to succeed. Below you’ll find Gina’s top tips for staying on track throughout this uncertain time.

    Get up and get learning.

    As Gina explains, “As much as I want to sleep in every day until 10 am, I have to remind myself I still have an 8 hour day ahead.” While it can seem enticing to sleep in and pretend you are on summer vacation, remember that you are still required to make your routine work! Gina suggests getting dressed out of your pajamas and sitting at a desk, away from the television. These are two simple, but important, steps in getting into a routine that helps you stay on track academically.

    Find opportunity in the nerves.

    When Gina was first alerted that her dietetic internship rotations would be transitioned to home, she felt “nervous and disappointed.” However, Gina reports that after switching her mindset and finding opportunity she is, “feeling calmer and grateful that I am still able to continue my internship experience despite everything going on.” Some ways Gina has used COVID-19 as an opportunity to advance her passions include participating in more webinars and virtual meetings. These have helped her learn more about growing a private practice and an online voice. Plus, many webinars are free to register for! These are just two examples of the many ways to use working from home to our advantage.

    Final Thoughts

    Gina encourages you to take it one week at a time. This too shall pass.

    A Bonus Tip from Jenny

    I’m not a dietetic intern, but have been trying to put myself in your shoes. I think that if I was in this situation, I would try to find solutions to my problems and get creative. For example, if I wasn’t able to do my clinical rotations then I would look for a preceptor in another hospital that could take me for a later month (once hospitals can accept interns again), and present this alternative to my director. Yes, I might have to finish later, but now I have a clinical rotation lined up. Many programs aren’t able to do this for all of their interns, so I suggest you do it for yourself! 🙂

    P.S. All Access Dietetics is taking virtual dietetic interns for elective, concentration, and wellness rotations. Email Jenny Westerkamp if interested in doing supervised practice hours with us – jenny@allaccessdietetics.com. We really, really want to help during this crazy time!

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  • Featured, RD2Be Fun

    Instagram Q&A with Deanna Wolfe, MS, RDN

    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.

     

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  • Student Life

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

    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)

    Link to book here

    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

    Link to book here

    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

    Link to book here

    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 🙂

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  • Student Life

    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! 

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  • Student Life

    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! 

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  • Dietetics Programs

    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.

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  • Dietetics Programs, Student Life

    How To Write The PERFECT Thank You Note

    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.

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  • Dietetics Programs

    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!

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