1. Food & Nutrition Programs Youngstown State University Student Workshop on Applying for Supervised Practice and/or Graduate School

2. Supervised Practice Dietetic InternshipsDietetic Internships Coordinated Program in DieteticsCoordinated Program in Dietetics

3. APPLYING TO CPD CPD Director – Dr. Sue Leson

4. CPD Requirements You may apply to CP if you: 1.Have completed all the pre-requisite courses on the DPD and CPD curriculum sheet. These are designated by a black bullet next to the course name. 2.If you have completed the DT program.

5. Application Process Annually, applications for CPD are available the week following Thanksgiving. They may be obtained from the secretary of the Human Ecology Department or downloaded from the CPD webpage accessed through the YSU website. CP Applications are due February 15 th, annually: – Completed application – Medicals - Physical Exam by physician – Proof of Health Insurance – References – Handwritten letter if interest – Background check/Fingerprinting – Video

6. Successful Application Letter of Interest - Handwritten – Many facilities still have medical charts with handwritten notes – yours must be legible. – Use a black pen – Avoid blotches or scratching out, wrinkles, etc. Video – Your video should emphasize your strengths, which support your interest in CPD. – avoid just filling time with weird facts – Script yourself so you don’t forget or stumble over content – Dress professionally – Avoid giggling – Avoid a busy backdrop

7. Successful Application References – Do use professionals who know you well – minister, supervisor at job or volunteer site. – Provide a list of your accomplishments to help them write your letter. – Do not use family members or spouses. Medicals/Health Insurance – CPD rotations are strenuous and require stamina – good health or well-managed diseases are important. – Practicum sites may expose you to health risks so health insurance coverage is necessary.

8. Successful Application Background Check/Fingerprinting/Drug Testing – Facilities require these for anyone who comes into contact with medical patients, children, the elderly or other protected groups. – You can get fingerprinted at any police station. Electronic fingerprinting and background checks take less time usually than Ink fingerprinting, but both may take a significant length of time to process. – A Criminal Background check will search any convictions the individual may have had. – Drug Testing - a urine drug test is adequate

9. Characteristics of Successful Applicants Completion of prerequisite courses from an accredited program. Minimum GPA of 3.0 overall, and 3.0 in the major. Transfer students must have an overall GPA ≥ 3.0, and ≥ 3.0 in the major. Transferred credits will be evaluated by the Admissions Office and by the CPD Director. Graduates from an accredited Dietetic Technician program must submit a valid Verification Statement. Availability of resources for the student to carry the required course load as scheduled. Dependable Transportation to clinical sites.

10. CPD Class 12 Students are accepted to the CPD Junior class every Fall semester. Applications are reviewed by three preceptors from supervised practice sites and three YSU faculty who evaluate all admissions materials. Acceptance is granted to applicants whose abilities, preparation, and personal characteristics predict the greatest likelihood of succeeding in the program and becoming successful practitioners. Students accepted into the CPD will receive notice of acceptance on March 31 st annually

11. Continuing the CPD Retention in the program requires the maintenance of a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students will be evaluated each semester to assure steady progress: – Performance in coursework – Performance at preceptor sites Professionalism Knowledge and application

12. APPLYING TO DIETETIC INTERNSHIPS

13. What are the CADE approved Dietetic Internships?

14. Dietetic Internship DI’s are in short supply – 244 facilities nationwide take between 1 and 12 interns, annually. – The number of DPD graduates applying, far exceeds the number of internships available (~50% match rate). – Read the guidelines very carefully – complete a mock application on paper first so you have all the information ready. – Your application must be perfect – you cannot correct errors once you submit your application through the electronic DICAS portal.

15. Dietetic Internship The process is imperfect – The first round of matching begins in February. – The Matching system does not automatically re-match students who do not match the first round. – Students who do not accept their matches are not removed from the system so vacancies are not published. – Students who do not match may re-apply for 2 nd round matching in November.

16. Dietetic Internship If you plan to apply to a program that uses DICAS, you will need to submit the application through DICAS at https://portal.dicas.org

17. Computer Matching Computer matching is one part of the process necessary to obtain an appointment to most DIs. ADA has contracted with D&D Digital Systems to facilitate matching through a computerized process. An applicant is "matched" with the highest ranked program that offers the applicant a position. In this way, computer matching helps applicants to obtain a position in the DI of their choice and helps DI programs obtain the applicants of their choice.

18. Computer Matching

19. Applicants Positions Matched to Internships 2056 (50%) Filled DI Positions 2056 (94%) Not Matched to Internships 2064 (50%) Unfilled DI Positions 139 (6%) Data on the April 2009 First-Round Match Computer Matching

20. Application Phase Applicants are responsible for obtaining current application materials from the Dietetic Internships (DI). The basic steps in this process are: Obtain current application materials from selected DIs at least 6 months prior to the computer match in April and November annually. Please note that DI application forms are not available on the ADA Web site or from ADA staff. You must get all required application information from the DI programs. Discuss application materials with your Didactic Program Director.

21. Application Phase If required, apply to take Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Obtain the Declaration of Intent to Complete form or a Verification Statement from your Didactic Program Director. One of these standardized forms is provided by the Didactic Program Director and is required as part of the DI application materials. Request references from advisor/faculty/employers and order official transcripts as needed for each DI application. Complete each DI application according to instructions provided with the application and submit the materials to the DI director by the designated deadline date. Questions about completing applications should be referred to the DI Director or your DPD Director.

22. Application Phase Provide telephone number(s) with applications where you can be reached on Appointment Day. Send all materials before the postmark deadline and by receipted mail for proof of mailing date and delivery. Enclose a self-addressed stamped postcard if you want to be notified of receipt of the DI application from the program. Applicants must register on the D&D Digital Web site, pay the $50.00 computer matching fee with a credit card and submit their prioritized list of selected dietetic internships online to D&D Digital before the designated deadline dates (Refer to Dates for the Computer Matching Process for each appointment period).

23. Application Phase Applicants should call D&D Digital prior to the deadline if they do not receive an e-mail with login information. If you do not receive a match, you must register with D&D Digital for each Spring and Fall computer matching period

24. APPOINTMENT PHASE Applicants who receive a computer match DI appointment are responsible for accepting or rejecting the match by telephone or fax by 5:00 pm (of the program’s time zone) on Appointment Day. Applicants who submitted a Declaration of Intent to Complete form with their DI applications must obtain a signed DPD Verification Statement from their DPD Program Director and official transcript documenting completion of the bachelor’s degree before they may begin the DI.

25. COMPUTER MATCHING PHASE Applicants are responsible for notifying D&D Digital, in writing, of a decision to withdraw from the matching process if circumstances will prevent them from accepting a match that may occur. Applicants are responsible for telephoning D&D Digital if they cannot access the D&D Digital Internet site to view their personal matching results on Notification Day

26. IMPORTANT APPLICANT RESPONSIBILITIES Participants in the computer matching process are expected to adhere to the results of the match and accept a match that may occur. It is unethical to decline a match in order to pursue appointment to another program. Programs with open positions will be posted on the D&D Digital Web site the day following Appointment Day. Applicants who do not receive a computer match must not contact any program with open positions until the day following Appointment Day. This allows the DI programs time to confirm acceptance from their matched applicants and determine the process they will use to fill open positions.

27. DI/Graduate degree Combinations Some DI’s are combined with Master’s degree. When applying for these combined options, you must also complete the graduate application requirements as specified by the individual program* * See Graduate School application section of this presentation.

28. APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL

29. Common Grad School Requirements Transcripts GRE or other standardized test scores (GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, etc) Letters of recommendation Admissions essay(s), also known as a personal statement

30. Transcripts Official transcripts – sealed and sent directly from the Registrar’s office to Grad School Admissions Many Graduate Programs have a GPA requirement. Take some graduate courses if you are sitting out a semester after you complete your undergrad program. Choose graduate credits that are likely to transfer.

31. GRE admission test Study for it – there are preps, some free and online or you may purchase printed or CD study materials. It lasts 3 hour 45min and is taken on computer Analytical Writing - Tests ability to communicate complex ideas in a concise and effective way, evaluate claims and evidence, support ideas using logical reasoning and relevant examples, and use standard written English to prove an argument – 2 Essays (an "issue" essay, an "argument" essay) 40 minutes for each essay, 80 minutes total Quantitative - Problem Solving, Quantitative Comparison, Numeric Entry (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data interpretation) – 2 Sections: each section approximately 20 Questions, 40 min each Verbal - Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence – 2 Sections: each section approximately 20 Questions, 30 min each

32. GRE Scores Verbal and Quantitative sections, the score range is 400 to 1600 Desirable score is set by the grad school - > 50 or > 60th percentile etc. Analytical Writing section, the score range is 130 and 170 Desirable score is set by the grad school - > 50 or > 60th percentile etc.

33. Nutrition or Other There are Master’s degrees and Doctoral degrees in many areas of Nutrition – they offer concentrations in specific areas of nutrition such as: – Animal nutrition, Human Nutrition, Clinical nutrition, Community nutrition, Culinary nutrition, Food science, Food Systems Management, Exercise Science & Nutrition, Wellness, etc. – There are over 350 graduate programs offering degrees related to nutrition http://www.gradschools.com/search-programs/nutrition/ – There are combined DI/Grad degree options http://www.eatright.org/cade-di/

34. Graduate degrees - Good matches to nutrition? – Medicine – Pharmacy – Physical Therapy – Communication Media – Business – Psychology or Social Work – Facility Design – Anthropology – Food Chemistry – Public Health – Epidemiology – Gerontology – Management

35. Timing Entering in the Fall or Spring semester – plan your graduate admissions tests and other application materials to meet deadlines Apply for graduate assistantships – some pay tuition as well as a stipend. Minority scholarships – to increase minority enrollment in graduate education.

36. Further Graduate Studies? If you plan to do a PhD, try to choose a Master’s degree program which requires a Thesis. This will better prepare you for a Doctoral Dissertation. There are Clinical doctorates in Nutrition and Dietetics – the emphasis here is on disease management and research in clinical practice.