Students must meet the following criteria for entrance to the Dietetic Internship.
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree prior to the start of the internship
- Verification of completion of a ACEND(The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) approved Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) prior to the start of the internship
- A completed application and supporting documents for the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College Dietetic Internship
- Completion of an application to the The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics computer matching system for DI applicants (available through D & D Digital Systems 515-292-0490 or http://www.dnddigital.com/ada/
- Students who are accepted into the Dietetic Internship program are then required to apply for matriculated or non-matriculated admission status through the Office of Graduate Admissions at CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College after notification of acceptance.
A selection committee evaluates each applicant's promise as a dietetic practitioner. Acceptance into the program is not influenced by gender, age, sexual orientation, martial status, race, creed, national origin, color disabilities or handicap.
Applicants will be evaluated on: (1). Grade point average (GPA), Major and Overall, (2) Work Experience (3) Letters of Recommendation (4) Quality of personal statement (5) Honors, awards, activities (6) Availability of positions.
A note about grades: Most successful applicants will have a GPA above 3.0. However, exceptional work experience and leadership ability may compensate for a lower GPA. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 are not likely to achieve high scores in the selection process.
Preference will be given to qualified candidates who have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree at Hunter College, successfully completed at least 6 graduate credits in nutrition or general public health, and/or received an award for academic achievement or service.
Completed applications documenting compliance with admission requirements and screening criteria will be reviewed by the internship selection committee. All internship appointments will be made through computer matching. Applicants will be ranked and chosen for computer matching. D & D Digital Systems will advise all applicants of the disposition of their application.
Follow the application instructions. While an otherwise good applicant will not be rejected for one too many paper clips, excessive “packaging” of your application materials does not impress us, and it wastes resources. It also costs more to mail. Therefore, do not send unsolicited materials, ie: resumes, pictures of yourself, published articles, portfolios, or other things not requested in the application.
DO send a check or money order for the correct amount of the application fee.
Dietetic Internship Applications (Spring 2011)
Applicants to the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College Dietetic Internship must submit an applicant information form ( click for PDF <pdf> ) and an application fee ($75) check or money order payable to Nutrition and Food Science at Hunter College Dietetic Internship to:
These must be postmarked by February 15th at the latest.
For all other application materials - The CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College Dietetic Internship is using the on-line centralized internship application, DICAS, which may be accessed at https://portal.dicas.org (NOTE: The DICASportal won't be available until after December 8, 2010, for the Spring 2011 Match); email to: DICASinfo@DICAS.org. The on-line application must be completed for our program by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on February 15, 2011. The fee to use DICAS is $40 for the first application submitted and $20 for each additional application.
Applicants who apply to internships using DICAS will be asked to complete a personal statement in 1,000 wordsor less. Questions to be addressed in the personal statement include:
-Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession?
-What are some experiences that have helped to prepare you for your career?
-What are your short-term and long-term goals?
-What are your strengths and weaknesses or areas needing improvement?
How important is GPA?
It is important. Internship programs are evaluated by ACEND in part based on the % of DI graduates passing the RD exam on the first try. A strong academic background is a positive indicator of that a candidate might be able to do this. A candidate with a GPA < 3.0 is unlikely to be listed for the computer match.
What about GRE scores?
GRE scores are not mandatory to apply to the Internship. However, similar to the GPA, GRE scores are another indicator of test-taking ability.
What should I write about in my personal statement?
Please do not write about:
1. How your (or your friend or relative’s) diagnosis of (disease) “inspired” you to be a dietitian?
2. How much you love sports.
3. How much you have “always wanted to help people” …. “ever since I was little.”
In other words, don’t write the same tired, tedious prose as everybody else.
This is your best chance to tell us why our internship is right for you, and why we should select you for our program.
Read the description of our program before you start writing,
If you are applying to more than one internship, write a specific statement for each program.
Proof-read, proof-read, PROOF-READ!! Typos show that you are careless in your work. Also, there is NOTHING that is a bigger turn off to a DI Director / Selection Committee than an application that says “and that is why the (name of some-other-program) dietetic internship would be the perfect match for me!”
This is your opportunity to pull together all of the information you are presenting to us to help us “see” you as part of this DI. We want to know, “Can this person DO this DI with the challenges that our interns typically face?” For example, we have many far-flung sites all over New York City, and interns have to get to these on their own via public transit. Our interns are also expected to take responsibility for things like registering with the volunteer offices at their sites, getting medical clearance, and generally being independent in the nuts and bolts of each rotation. The clients / patients at our rotation sites are highly varied, so a level of comfort in many different settings is a definite plus.
How important is work / volunteer experience?
It is important for two reasons:
1. It addresses the question of “Can she/he do what our interns do?”
And
2. It can support what you are saying in your personal statement.
Can I apply to the Internship without applying to the MPH program?
Yes, you can. It is not mandatory to apply to or be currently enrolled in the Hunter MPH degree program to apply to the DI.
However, all other things being equal, preference is given to Hunter MPH students.
What about reference letters?
These will ideally provide support for what you are saying in your statement. Therefore, it is more desirable to get such letters from people who know you well and speak of your unique qualifications for the DI, than to get a more generic letter from a well-known professor whom you only had for a large lecture class.
How can I be sure you received and read my application?
Include a stamped self-addressed post card in your application packet. We will check it and send it back to you after your application has been read. Be patient, as it may be a week or more after the deadline date before ALL the applications have been read.
Lastly, who else applies at the same time as you do also matters. Selected candidates are ranked before being submitted to D&D Digital for the computer match, just as candidates rank their internship preferences. A difference of even 1 position on the match list can make the difference between a match or no match. A strong applicant who didn’t match last year would be encouraged to re-apply for the following year.
I am not sure if I should try to be a Registered Dietitian. What is the process? What career options would be open to me as an RD?
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - Definition of RD
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - Student Center
See: http://www.eatright.org/CADE/content.aspx?id=146
What do you look for in an internship application?
See: Evaluation of Dietetic Internship Applications
What can I do to improve my chances of being accepted to your DI?
See: Evaluation of Dietetic Internship Applications
I applied to your internship and didn’t get a match. What can I do to prevent this from happening again?
See: Evaluation of Dietetic Internship Applications
I have been out of school for a long time. How can I find out if my courses / degree will still count?
December 31, 1999 was the last postmark date for submitting registration eligibility applications using Plan IV minimum academic requirements. Students who completed Plan V or Didactic Program requirements would be eligible to apply for an internship. The current eligibility requirements to sit for the RD exam are shown on the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Web site at http://www.cdrnet.org/certifications/rddtr/pathwaysrd.htm .
I have worked in nutrition after I finished my DPD coursework. Is there a way that I can get internship credit for this?
Does CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College Offer a Distance Dietetic Internship Option?
Yes, this is especially intended to include non-traditional interns who might find it difficult to participate in a conventional dietetic internship, but who never-the-less show potential as Registered Dietitians.
Distance interns must live witfhin a two-hour commuting radius of the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College Campus. This is essential because along with other interns the distance interns will attend a week of orientation and the weekly intern seminar, as well as participate in various activities on campus.
Distance interns must be able to locate supervised practice sites equivalent to those currently utilized in the program, including Medical Nutrition Therapy (acute care), Food Service Management, and Community/ Public Health Nutrition. Curriculum and evaluation materials will be provided by the internship.
Supervised practice sites must be reviewed by the Dietetic Internship Director prior to starting the internship. All sites will be required to sign an agreement with CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College prior to accepting interns for supervised practice. Here is the application for the Distance Dietetic Internship Option>>> <doc>
Application / matching will be via the D & D Digital computer match process starting with the 2010 – 2011 internship year.
I am a foreign student / applicant. Do I have to have my foreign degrees / transcripts evaluated before I apply? How do I do that?
See: International Students page for more information
What kind of visa do I need to be enrolled in the DI?
See: International Students page on Visa information
Can you help me to find housing for during the internship?
See: Student Services Information
Do you ever have an Open House for the Dietetic Internship?
Yes. There is an Open House once per year during the fall semester. Contact the Dietetic Internship Director for specific date and time.
Can I come for a tour of your program?
Our internship program includes sites throughout New York City. None of these are owned by the college. It is not possible to bring prospective interns to visit these sites.
This slide show features scenes from some of our internship activities so that you can get a flavor of what our program is like: CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College Dietetic Internship Slide Show
Follow the application instructions. While an otherwise good applicant will not be rejected for one too many paper clips, excessive “packaging” of your application materials does not impress us, and it wastes resources. It also costs more to mail. Therefore, do not send unsolicited materials, i.e.: resumes, pictures of yourself, published articles, portfolios, or other things not requested in the application.
DO send a check or money order for the correct amount of the application fee.
Policy: The Dietetic Internship participates in the Prior Assessed Learning program recognized by the The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ ACEND.
The Prior Assessed Learning program is designed to grant varying degrees of internship credit in specific rotations of the internship based on the qualified applicant’s learning, as demonstrated through paid work or volunteer experiences. Experiences considered for PAL must meet competencies required by ACEND that are equivalent to an entry-level dietitian. Dietetic internship credit is given for learning and gaining knowledge through the work experience of a professional career. The credit is not for work experience, but is given when an applicant demonstrates an increase in knowledge and learning. Typically, the individual qualifying for this credit is an older, “non-traditional” applicant.
PAL will not be granted as a replacement for any of the didactic portion of the dietetic internship.
Experiences submitted for PAL will have taken place after completion of all DPD courses.
PAL credit will not exceed 1/2 of the total hours of the Dietetic Internship (currently = 600 hours).
The tuition and fees for the Dietetic Internship will remain the same, regardless of the amount of PAL granted.
Submission of a request for PAL credit does not guarantee that such credit will be awarded, in full or in part as requested.
Decisions regarding the awarding of PAL credit are at the discretion of the DI Director.
Applicants are encouraged to discuss potential PAL experiences with the DI Director prior to preparing and submitting the application materials.
Application for PAL credit shall include the following:
Experiences submitted for PAL evaluation must be classified as: Community Nutrition, Food Service Management, or Medical Nutrition Therapy.
Projects, reports, presentations, and educational materials produced by the applicant which demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills will be evaluated for PAL credit. Job descriptions, performance evaluations, letters from clients, and so on, can be used as supporting documentation of knowledge and skills, as applicable.
These supporting materials shall be clearly labeled as to which experience(s) they are applicable. They must be neatly bound in a folder or portfolio cover.
All materials must be typewritten. Hand-written materials are not acceptable.
Applicants should indicate which of the 2008 CADE competencies have been met by each experience submitted for evaluation.
Application for PAL credit should be submitted to the DI Director at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the internship term. Applications will be evaluated in a timely manner, and applicants informed of credit awarded (if any) prior to the start of the internship term.
Additional documentation / clarification of activities must be provided to the DI Director upon request. Failure to do so in a timely manner may preclude obtaining PAL credit.
The format for application for PAL consists of:
1. A Summary Page, (see example below)
2. A Narrative describing each experience, what was done, what was learned, and how these apply to the CADE learning objectives. (See example below.) If more than one experience is being described, a separate narrative is to describe each one. These are to be presented in the same order that the experiences are listed on the Summary Page.
and
3. Supporting Materials. Supporting materials include samples of projects, photos, reports, presentations, publications, newsletters, and educational materials produced by the applicant that demonstrate the competencies described. Supporting materials may be returned to the applicant if requested, after they have been evaluated. Original Summary Form and Narrative(s) will be maintained in the Dietetic Internship file for the Intern.
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Summary Page Example: |
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Date(s) of experience(s) |
Position (s)/ Location(s) |
Activity - Documentation |
CADE Learning Objective(s) met |
Hours of Credit Requested |
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1/5/1995 to 8/10/1997 |
Nutritionist at Cholesterol Countdown Program – Institute of Human Nutrition |
1. Job description |
SP 1.3, |
170 hours |
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New York, N.Y. |
2. Newspaper Articles |
SP1.5, |
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3. Promotional Flyer for Heart Health Fair |
SP 2.2 |
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3. Promotional Flyer for Heart Health Fair |
SP 2.2 |
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4. Recipe Hand-outs with Nutrition Analysis |
SP 2.4 |
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5. Report on analysis of program participation statistics |
SP 3.1 A |
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SP 3.2 |
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6. Job description |
SP 3.7 |
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7. 2004-2005 Performance Appraisal by Supervisor |
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8. Spanish language “Glucose Control Tips” booklet |
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Diabetes Program Assistant – Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, New York, N.Y. |
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SP 2.2 |
120 hours |
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9. Diabetes Counseling worksheet developed for use with clients |
SP 2.3 |
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10. Job Description |
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10/14/1997 to 10/19/2005 |
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SP 2.4 |
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11. 2006 – 2007 Performance Appraisal by Supervisor |
SP 2.6 |
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SP 2.7 |
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12. Quarterly Cycle Menu with Nutritional Analysis |
SP 2.7 |
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SP 3.1C |
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SP 3.1C |
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13. Budget for Monthly food purchasing |
SP 3.1D |
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13. Budget for Monthly food purchasing |
SP 3.1D |
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SP 3.2 |
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SP 3.3 |
90 hours |
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SP 3.4 |
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Food Service Manager – Golden Years SNF, Albany, N.Y. |
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SP 3.6 |
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9/1/2006 to 8/17/2007 |
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SP 3.6 |
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SP 3.7 |
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SP 3.7 |
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SP 4.1 |
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SP 4.1 |
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SP 4.2 |
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SP 4.2 |
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SP 4.9 |
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TOTAL = |
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TOTAL = |
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380 hours |
Narrative example for the 1st item listed on the Summary Page
Type of Experience: Community Nutrition
Dates: January 5, 1995 to August 10, 1997; Hours: 35 hours/ week
Position: Nutritionist
Location: Cholesterol Countdown program, Institute of Human Nutrition
375 West 168th Street, New York, N.Y. 10027
Reporting to: Susan Wilt, DrPH, Program Director
Phone: (212)-574-8696 E-mail: swilt@columbia.edu
From January 5th 1995 to August 10th 1997 I was employed as a nutritionist in the Cholesterol Countdown project at the Institute of Human Nutrition. As can be seen in the attached job description (1), the duties of this position included; writing articles on heart healthy diet for a community newspaper read by a diverse population; preparing hand-outs for a multi-cultural client population, with modified recipes – including nutritional analysis; obtaining diet histories from and providing diet counseling to – participants at Heart Health Fairs conducted by the program, and collecting and analyzing statistics on Health Fair participants.
These activities are documented by the following Supporting Materials: examples of newspaper articles written by me during this program (2); a promotional flyer I created for the Heart Health Fairs (3); a complete set of my recipe hand-outs with nutritional analysis (4); and a report I compiled to present the statistics collected on program participation to the program’s sponsor agency (5).
Through these experiences I learned a great deal about the preparation of educational materials for a diverse client population, having participated in Heart Health Fairs in many different locations, including Columbia University, JWT Advertising Agency, and Long Island Lighting. I also developed skills in interviewing, evaluating, and counseling people from all walks of life.
At the conclusion of the program cycle, I acquired skills in statistical analysis and presentation of statistical results as part of preparing the program evaluation report sent to the program’s sponsor.
I am requesting 170 hours of Community Nutrition credit for these activities, by which I have met the following CADE Learning Objectives:
SP 1.3 Justify programs, products, services and care using appropriate evidence or data.
SP 1.5 Conduct research projects using appropriate research methods, ethical procedures and statistical analysis.
SP 2.2 Demonstrate professional writing skills in preparing professional communications (e.g. research manuscripts, project proposals, educational materials, policies and procedures).
SP 2.4 Use effective education and counseling skills to facilitate behavior change.
SP3.1a. Assess the nutritional status of individuals, groups and populations in a variety of settings where nutrition care is or can be delivered.
SP 3.2 Develop and demonstrate effective communications skills using oral, print, visual, electronic and mass media methods for maximizing client education, employee training and marketing.
SP 3.7 Develop and evaluate recipes, formulas and menus for acceptability and affordability that accommodate the cultural diversity and health needs of various populations, group
The Dietetic Internship Program within the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College Program's specialization in Nutrition and Food Science at CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation/Approval for The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 216 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312/899-4876.
The Dietetic Internship (DI) is housed in the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College (SPH) program, which also grants a Masters in Pubic Health (MPH) degree. The curriculum includes strategies of preventive medicine; models of health care delivery, and health policy designed to prepare graduates for careers in public health nutrition at local, national and international levels. Students who have applied to or been accepted into the Dietetic Internship Program may also apply to the MPH program prior to beginning the DI program in September or during the internship program.
Twelve graduate credits are granted for successful completion of the DI at CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College. Students who have applied and been accepted to the MPH program prior to or during the internship may have these credits applied toward the MPH degree in the Urban Public Health program. The remaining 12 graduate courses (36 credits) required to complete the MPH degree may be completed during or following the DI.
Eligibility Requirements for the MPH Program:
Graduate Application for Admissions in the Arts and Sciences can be found by clicking on 'application procedure' from the menu on the left side of this page. Eligibility requirements for the MPH program include:
• Official transcript of undergraduate courses.
• At least one year of work or volunteer experience related to nutrition and/or public health nutrition, or community organization
• Aptitude section of the Graduate Record Examination
• Two recommendations completed on the standard graduate school Recommendation Form
• Completed graduate school Student Immunization record.
For graduates of non-English speaking nations, a TOEFL score of 600 or higher.
