Are you a dietetics student aspiring to become a dietitian?
If so, you may have found yourself wondering:
- What steps can I take to stand out as a dietetic internship applicant?
- How can I learn more about the field of dietetics and uncover my interests?
- What can I do now to help myself prepare to be a dietitian?
From gaining hands-on experience to networking with dietitians, this comprehensive guide will walk you through key actions to take now as a student. Whether you’re just beginning your dietetics journey or approaching graduation, these steps will help you build a strong foundation for success as a student, dietetic intern, and future dietitian.
Let’s dive in!
Gain Relevant Experience
Hands-on experience is a great way to stand out as a dietetic internship applicant. The more exposure you have to different areas of dietetics, the more confident and prepared you’ll feel when starting your dietetic internship. It can also help you identify areas of interest you may enjoy working in after becoming a dietitian.
Be Well Solutions dietetic interns have the opportunity to customize their internship experience and complete an elective rotation to explore their interests further.
Start gaining relevant experience as early on as you can. Seek opportunities to volunteer, shadow, intern, or work in the field. Sometimes, you must be willing to get creative or network to establish these experiences. Some opportunities may require persistence and creativity to secure.
What are examples of relevant experience dietetics students can obtain?
The following are a few ideas to get you started:
- Volunteer with Meals on Wheels to understand food delivery services for older adults.
- Get a job as a nutrition assistant, diet clerk, or dietary aide in a healthcare setting.
- Volunteer at your local food bank, soup kitchen, or community garden.
- Assist with nutrition programs at a YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, or after-school program.
- Become a tutor for nutrition or science courses at your university.
- Shadow a private practice dietitian to learn about patient counseling and business operations.
- Support a corporate wellness program by helping with health screenings and lunch-and-learn sessions.
- Practice authoring blog posts while interning for a media dietitian.
Build Your Professional Network
Networking refers to building relationships with people in and around your field or industry. As a dietetics student, your network may include professors, registered dietitians, food service managers, healthcare professionals, and other industry experts.
Building these connections can open the door to valuable guidance, career insights, and future opportunities. Whether you need a letter of recommendation for your dietetic internship, a job reference, or advice on career paths, a strong professional network will be valuable.
However, it’s important to remember that networking is not a one-way street. Instead of approaching networking only with a “what can this person do for me?” mindset, think about how you can contribute to the relationship.
Showing appreciation, actively engaging in conversations, volunteering, or offering your help on small projects are all ways to nurture genuine connections over time.
How can I start networking as a dietetics student?
- Engage with your professors: Don’t hesitate to ask questions, seek advice, and express your interest in different areas of dietetics. If applicable, learn more about your professors’ ongoing areas of research. If their work aligns with your interests, ask about opportunities to get involved.
- Attend professional meetings and conferences: The Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) and local dietetic association meetings provide great networking opportunities. These types of meetings and conferences allow you to meet new people in the field. FNCE even offers dedicated sessions for networking, volunteer opportunities, and conference fee discounts for students.
- Engage with other students: Your classmates today are your future professional colleagues. Connect with others in your major, collaborate on projects, and stay in touch as you grow in your careers.
- Utilize social media: LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook groups can be places to engage with dietitians and follow industry discussions. Consider following dietitians in fields that interest you and engage with their content.
- Seek out mentorship opportunities: Many dietitians are happy to share their experiences and offer advice to students. Don’t be afraid to ask a dietitian in a field you are interested in if there are opportunities to volunteer or intern with them. The worst that happens is they say no. Be respectful and show appreciation for their time, even if the answer is no. You can keep that connection open for the future.
- Volunteer: While gaining the hands-on experience discussed above, you will naturally expand your network while building your resume.
- Leverage your existing network: Don’t overlook the connections you already have. Your friends and family members may already know someone in the field they can connect you with.
Join Professional Associations
The benefits of joining and getting involved in professional associations stretch beyond just building your network. Joining is a great way to stay informed about industry trends and advocacy efforts.
These organizations also often offer educational opportunities, scholarships, leadership experiences, and connections with mentors and peers that can help shape your future career in dietetics. Most professional associations, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, offer student membership fee discounts.
Examples of professional associations to consider:
- Student member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Your state dietetic association (for example, Ohio Dietetic Association)
- Your school Student Dietetic Association (SDA)
Did You Know? The Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship tuition includes a paid 1-Year Student Membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a 1-Year Student Subscription to the Nutrition Care Manual.
Understand the Steps to Become a Registered Dietitian
If becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is your goal, it’s important to understand the steps required to obtain this credential. The earlier you familiarize yourself with the process, the better you can plan and prepare.
Start your research on the BWS DI website with our “Pathway to Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)” page.
Research the Dietetics Career Paths
Something that many dietitians say they wish they had known as a student or as an early-career dietitian is the variety of career possibilities. There are so many opportunities and career paths for dietitians to explore.
As a result of graduating from BWS DI, our interns are poised for a variety of entry-level dietitian roles. Check out some of the titles our BWS DI alumni hold:
- Director of Football Nutrition for a state university
- Freelance Health and Nutrition Writer
- WIC Nutrition Services Director
- Menu Nutrition and Quality Assurance Manager at an Ivy League university
- Research Assistant for a major US hospital system
- Clinical Dietitian (renal, diabetes, pediatrics, cardiovascular, and oncology)
- Corporate Wellness Dietitian
- Eating Disorder Dietitian
- Major League Baseball Nutrition Coordinator
- Associate Territory Manager for a plant-based formula company
Tip: If you find a dietitian who inspires you, look them up on LinkedIn and check out what kind of experiences helped get them to where they are today.
Take Time for Yourself and Your Hobbies
Maintaining a balance is key to thriving as a student, dietetic intern, and, eventually, as a dietitian. The demands of coursework, hands-on experience, and internship preparation can be overwhelming, so prioritizing downtime and personal interests is just as important as academic and professional growth.
Making time for yourself helps prevent burnout, enhance creativity, and support mental health. You’ll be more able to bring your best self to your academics, internship, and career.
Build Your Leadership Skills
Dietetic internships and future employers seek candidates who take initiative and demonstrate strong leadership potential. Leadership experiences help build essential teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills. Developing these skills will benefit you now and throughout your career.
Whether you’re leading a student organization, organizing an event, or stepping into another leadership role, these experiences will foster personal and professional growth.
What are examples of leadership experiences for dietetics students?
- Become an officer in your university’s dietetic association
- Start a new club or initiative at your school, like a nutrition blog or volunteer program
- Organize a cooking demo or health fair
- Lead a community or campus wellness challenge
- Serve as a tutor or mentor for nutrition courses
- Lead a community garden project
- Organize a food drive
Remember, leadership is not one specific title or experience. It’s about taking initiative, making an impact, and supporting others.
Develop Time Management and Organization Skills
Balancing coursework, hands-on experience, and extracurriculars is great practice for a dietetic internship. Strong time management and organizational skills will help you stay on top of your responsibilities.
Plus, examples of utilizing your time management skills can make for great “STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories” in dietetic internship interviews.
How can I practice better time management and organization skills as a dietetics student?
- Use planners and digital tools: Whether it’s a physical planner or an online tool such as Google Calendar, find a system that helps you track assignments, deadlines, and commitments.
- Break down big tasks: Large projects are easier to manage when broken down into smaller, actionable steps.
- Establish a weekly planning routine: Set aside time at the beginning or end of each week to review deadlines, assignments, and upcoming events. Use this time to create realistic goals for the week.
- Minimize distractions: When working on an assignment or task, turn off notifications and create a focused workspace.
- Keep a clean workspace: Declutter your desk and digital space regularly.
Start Exploring Dietetic Internship Programs
The dietetic internship is a required step to becoming a Registered Dietitian. Dietetic internship programs vary in admission requirements, focus area, length, location, and flexibility.
The Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship is a distance dietetic internship program with a corporate wellness focus. We offer two pathways, the DI-Only or MS/DI pathway, and two tracks, part-time or full-time.
Understanding your options will help you strengthen your application and find your best fit.
How can I learn more about the BWS Dietetic Internship Program?
Here are five places to start:
- Explore our website: Our website is your go-to resource for everything BWS DI. Find steps on how to apply, important dates, answers to FAQs, and application resources.
- Attend a Virtual Open House: Get an inside look at our program, connect with a faculty member, and ask any questions you have about the program. We’d love to meet you.
- Review our program pathways and tracks: As mentioned above, we offer both an MS/DI Pathway and a DI-Only Pathway, plus the flexibility of full-time and part-time tracks. Explore the options to find what fits best for you.
- Follow us on Instagram: See what life is like as a BWS DI intern. Follow us for program updates and a behind-the-scenes look at our community.
- Schedule an office hours appointment: During this time, you will have the opportunity to learn more about our program, ask questions specific to your RD2Be journey, and meet one of the faculty members involved in the admissions process.
Final Words of Wisdom
Taking proactive steps as a dietetics student will help boost your confidence and set you up for success when applying for a dietetic internship.
Building connections, exploring learning opportunities, and obtaining hands-on experience will be invaluable no matter where your career takes you. The skills and experiences you gain now will continue to serve as a strong foundation as you grow into an experienced registered dietitian.
Start with these nine steps, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a standout dietetic internship applicant!
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