1. Career Pathways for Nutrition & Dietetics Graduates
Nutrition and Dietetics
Didactic Program Director
Joanne Christaldi, PhD, RDN
HSC 222B

2. Five Different Paths Supervised practice (dietetic internship or DI)
Graduate school + Supervised practice
Graduate school
Other graduate school or professional school
Job

3. Supervised Practice Information

4. Supervised practice/internship
Today
BS in nutrition
Supervised practice/internship
Take RD exam

5. Supervised practice/internship & Master’s Degree
January 2024
BS in nutrition
Supervised practice/internship & Master’s Degree
Take RD exam

6. Supervised Practice Characteristics
(all types)
ACEND accredited
Full or
Part-time
Rotations:
Clinical
Food service
Community
9-12 months (1200 hours)
Program Fee

7. Supervised practice
Stand alone
Coordinated
Certificate
Distance Ed

8. Stand alone Stand Alone Supervised Practice Private loan possible
1200 hours then sit for the RD exam
No financial aid
Private loan possible
No graduate school needed
248 in US

9. Supervised practice plus graduate school
Coordinated Program
Internship & grad classes
You must finish the graduate degree
Certificate program
Do not need to complete grad degree
Financial aid option (affiliated with university)

10. Supervised practice plus graduate school
Coordinated Program
Internship & grad classes
You must finish the graduate degree
Certificate program
Do not need to complete grad degree
Financial aid option (affiliated with university)
University of Pittsburgh
Immaculata University

11. Distance Ed internship Student finds preceptors
Student finds own experiences (sites)
Example:
University of Delaware

12. Supervised practice (SP)
Stand alone
Coordinated
Certificate
Distance Ed
Tips
Do your homework!
Never assume financial aid or deferment of loans
Inquire of specific SP
ANDF Scholarships & PANDF Scholarships

13. Be sure to Read WCU Dietetic Internship Guide
Includes
5 step application process outlined (in detail) on pages
Tons of other relevant information
A great resource for all career pathways

14. The Process “The Internship”

15. Procedures for Applying to SPs
(help site)
ACEND website (
Application Guide to Supervised Practice
Start with10-20 possibilities
Obtain application checklists ASAP
If required or preferred, apply to take GRE’s ( and click on tests and pick GRE, general test; Kaplan or Princeton Review to study)

16. Choosing a Supervised Practice
Geographic area
Pick SP’s strategically by looking at your credentials and those SPs that are applied to less often (less competitive)
Look for high ratios (In Applicant Guide for Supervised Practice look for high ratios of positions to # of applications (e.g., 10 positions and 30 applications rather than 2 positions and 100 applications
Length of Program
Minimum 1200 hours
Part-time or Full-time

17. More Things to Consider
Financials/Costs
Know all expenses
Some have stipends (more competitive)
Education institutions with tuition (financial aid)
Corporate-sponsored/private (no financial aid)
Low-interest loans (if explain to bank)
Grad assistantships (if available) may offset costs
Costs of living

18. Yes, Even More Things to Consider
Miscellaneous
Transportation (Car? Does public get you where you want to go?)
Food
Can you hold an outside job?
Incidentals (books, lab coat, etc.)
Location (warm climate, near city, college- town – more competitive)

19. How Many Do I Apply To? Individual decision
4-5 programs (look at your personal situation)
Include at least one non-competitive program or distance internship
Do not list those you will not accept
Fee per internship on DICAS
Application fee per internship
What is your application budget?

20. Completing the DICAS Application(
Register on DICAS website
Do this through DICAS
Declaration of Intent (before you graduate)
Verification Statement (after you graduate)
Request Declaration of Intent from Program Director
Request from every school you attended
There is a form you download from DICAS
Form and official transcripts are sent to DICAS by each school
Request transcripts
Access this from the Nutrition Department website
Access this on NTD 409 course homepage
Director has on file
Get WCU DPD Course List from Program Director
3 references
Preferably 2 professors and 2 supervisor
One professor should be a nutrition professor
Get to know your professors
Request references
Go to the writing center for help
Go to the career center for help
Write an impeccable Personal Statement
Do not leave any sections incomplete
Proofread
Check and double check
Be sure to complete the application

21. Reference Requests Choose 3 people for references
Send professionally written asking for reference/letter of recommendation
Enter each name and info into DICAS app (double check for accuracy)
References are sent an from DICAS electronically

22. The Process “Computer Matching”

23. Matching Procedures D&D Digital (www.dnddigital.com)
Follow instructions carefully
Two match dates
April (February Deadline)
November (September Deadline)
Check for earlier deadlines with each internship
Each internship has their own requirements
Pay attention to detail
Notification day
Go to D&D digital to check
Instruction will be provided
24 hours to accept
After match procedures
Will be provided by D&D Digital and the program director

24. Criteria for Acceptance
GPA > 3.3
Work experience (nutrition & non-nutrition related)
Volunteer experience
(nutrition & non-nutrition related)
Science grades
DPD GPA
Impeccable personal statement
Interview skills

25. Valued skills Transferrable skills Prolonged work/volunteer experience
Customer service
Management (supervisor)
Leadership (SDA officer)
Prolonged work/volunteer experience
Written skills
Oral/speaking skills
Time management
Organization
Interviewing skills
Acceptable GRE scores (if a requirement)

26. Valued Personal Attributes
Maturity
Self-directed
Independence
Interpersonal Skills or People Skills
Goal-directed
Leadership Ability (SDA or other university club officer, supervisor at work)
Responsible
Ability to accept feedback/criticism
Committed

27. The Process “Graduate School + Internship” Coordinate vs Certificate Programs

28. Graduate School + SP Financial Aid Graduate application Procedures
Same as stand alone SP
GREs might be required
Check to see if deadlines are different from SP computer matching
Financial Aid
Available with university affiliation
Check early
Graduate application
Separate from DICAS & DD Digital
You must look at each program for their requirements
Graduate assistantships
Academic requirements
GPA <3.3
Grad school increases your chances for acceptance to SP

29. Coordinated Graduate Program
Coordinated program (University of Pittsburgh)
GPA 3.0 or higher
Go to:
For Accredited Education Programs
Must complete both SP and graduate degree to sit for RD exam
Application process is separate from DICAS and Computer Matching process (D&D Digital)
Requires a completely separate application and deadline (usually December)
Certificate program (Immaculata University)
SP and graduate courses
Do not have to finish graduate degree after completed the SP (Internship) to sit for the RD exam

30. What About Professional Schools?
Some WCU have gone to nursing, medical, pharmacy, public health, health administration, physician assistant, or physical therapy school
Research programs that you are interested. They will all have their own requirements
You may have to take additional courses before you apply
Send for materials, discover entrance requirements, and follow app procedures

31. Choosing Employment

32. What can your degree do for you?
With BS in Nutrition and Dietetics qualified to work in a number of areas
Health education, foodservice, nutrition education, community nutrition (W.I.C.), health administration, pharmaceuticals, health insurance, dietetic technician

33. Job Interviewing Have resume with you (2 copies)
Research the company or institution
Write out five minute overview of who you are
Have prepared questions
Role play
Relax
Be on time
Be polite
Dress professionally
Smile and give confident handshake
Thank interviewer

34. Job Interviewing (cont.)
Listen well
Let the interviewer lead
Don’t answer too quickly
Prepare examples of your work
Hypothetical problems
Give more strengths than weaknesses
Say, “I don’t know.”
Have notebook and pen to take notes
Nice briefcase or bag
Deep breathing and visualization

35. Final Advice Seek help during the process
Be confident that you have a degree and experiences of great worth
Have confidence in your research skills
Take it one step at a time
Don’t set up as success or failure
See obstacles as opportunities

36. Job Websites www.nutritionjobs.com www.jobsindietetics.com
(employment agency)
(lots of job info)

37. So what do you do now?
Look at the WCU career guide on Nutrition Department website
Start looking for potential internships/grad schools (eatrightacend.org)
Start thinking about and reflecting about what you want to do
Make a list of all nutrition-related volunteer and work experiences - keep a running list of place, contact person, contact info, dates you were there and what you did there