The DICAS dietetic internship program application requires your references to address your weaknesses. What should you add? Read below!
I was asked a great question this week about helping your reference answer the DICAS application question about weaknesses or areas of improvement. My advice is below, but in general you want to take the same approach as in your personal statement, which is to focus on how you are CURRENTLY improving something and have a positive spin on it. More on that in a minute….
First, make sure you read my post The Fool-Proof Ways to Decide on Your Best References!
The second question is to comment on the areas that the applicant can improve on. This is definitely trickier to address, so I will do so now!
Think of something you improved throughout your time as a student and are continuing to work on.
It is a similar approach to the personal statement. You will want these to be different from what you used in your own personal statement and also be different for each reference you send this information to. If you and all 3 of your references said you had the same weakness, I’d probably think it was a big issue!
Avoid actual skills that directors are looking for.
Don’t say you are working on leadership, team work, communication, etc. Rather, think more in terms of professional development like public speaking, learning a language, confidence (we can ALWAYS be more confident), gaining more experience in your area of interest, seeking out mentorship, getting even more involved in dietetics groups. It is focused more on your GROWTH than on your SHORTCOMINGS 🙂
Keep it short and positive.
Reread it and ask yourself if there is anything that makes it sound more negative than it needs to be? Can you delete any random detail? Are you SHOWING how you are improving with an example or evidence?
Some examples….
For your professors, usually the weaknesses I suggest have nothing to do with the class, but more on a professional growth level based on conversations they have had with you outside classes.
Example – Jenny is currently working on getting more involved in professional dietetics groups related to her area of interest. While she has attended some local meetings as a member, she is planning to find a student leadership role in Oncology Nutrition dietetic practice group to prepare for her career as an oncology dietitian.
For your supervisor, this can be more work related so something that you have already improved on (like your confidence in applying the knowledge you learned) and then say how you are going to continue to gain more confidence.
Example – Compared to when Jenny started as a volunteer, her confidence in her decisions has improved tremendously. That said, I see her continuing to trust in herself and the application of her knowledge in the dietetic internship.
Final Note
The, “area of improvement,” answer can be super short. There isn’t a minimum number of words needed. The same goes for the, “what are strengths and weaknesses,” area. It is super silly that they even word it like this (sorry DICAS, I still love ya!) I always tell references just to focus on strengths for the first and then a real quick “area to improve” for the second question 🙂 My guess (I truly don’t know) is that DICAS keeps the first question open-ended to welcome anything negative the reference wants to share, but really your hope is that the reference should be overwhelmingly positive.
Hope that helps!
Jenny
