Writing your personal statement

I'm not going to lie, I flipped out when I started drafting my personal statement. I was very much like this kid on the left.
I had no idea of what I wanted to write about or discuss in my paper--I knew I was known for going on rabbit trails, so I sought out some help.
First, my very own best friend was completing the nutrition program with me and before she did she majored in communications at UF. I discovered that she was an exceptional writer  and I quickly acknowledged her skills. She had serious talent. As her close friend, she was willing to help me--so my advice, find someone you trust that can go over your statement and tell you the facts about your drafts and someone who is willing to guide you through the process.

Secondly, I visited the ACE center at UNF, for those of you reading this that are not familiar with what that is it is a general tutoring center that offers free academic skills workshops. This is HIGHLY recommended. I submitted my paper (twice) and the tutors are friendly and resourceful. Simply schedule an appointment {based on your availability} and have them read and edit your paper.

I'm positive you're asking yourself, "What do I place in my statement, what do I say, what do I write about?" Those are all great questions--and I'm here to help.
I discovered that FSU's "Writing a personal statement" was advantageous. It offers a list of questions, tips, common mistakes, and the do's and don'ts of writing a paper. Plus it offers an evaluation chart that helps you assess if you're on the right track. It was perfect.

Remember to answer all of the questions your *future* program director wants to hear--EVERY internship is different so I would recommend writing a general personal statement then answering their questions on separate drafts. You don't want to submit a paper to Delaware when it was intended for Michigan, and so forth.

I would recommend no more than 3 pages. It needs to be direct and to the point, no sappy stories and "passionate" reasons of why you want to become a dietitian. Plus, I believe DICAS has limited your statements to a numbered amount of characters. I've attached mine for a demonstration, but please note that if you abstract any of the writing that this is considered plagiarism. Everyone's writing should be similar to a fingerprint, unique and demonstrates their own characteristics.

I wish you the very best on your journey to becoming future registered dietitians.
I hope this helps, and of course if you have any questions then please don't hesitate to ask!

Have a healthy week!

Expect the unexpected

As you begin searching for preceptors, you're going to run into problems-- such as losing them because they found another job else where, the company is downsizing, etc. Just be prepared for anything. I mentioned in one of my earlier posts to have multiple plans and have back up preceptors in case something doesn't work out with your timeline.

When scheduling your preceptors, make sure your program gives you the flexibility of a "start" time. For example: My program allowed me to begin any time during the month of July. This is important because certain preceptors have contracts with other programs--so those preceptors are your highest concern because they already have interns in place during a specific season.

Also, inquire if your program gives you the flexibility to choose what rotation you'd prefer. EX: Some programs require that you begin with your clinical's, others food service, and so on. This was an important factor when scheduling preceptors.

When calculating your hours per day and per week, remember to take into account holiday hours, sick days, and the amount of hours your preceptor normally works. I somehow overlooked some of these components when creating my schedule and now trying to 'make up' those hours elsewhere.

ADVICE: Always give your self an extra 20-30 hours at every rotation to guarantee that you fulfill all of your requirements. You want to ensure you complete all your projects and competencies.
ALSO, I would suggest taking a week off in between rotations to decompress and work on any uncompleted assignments. This also gives you the opportunity to study for your Mock RD exams. Now, this of course is dependent upon your program and if they allow periodical leisure time. THIS is definitely the one thing I would go back and "redo."

Short and sweet but I hope you were able to take something from this post.

As always, Have a healthy week!

Where in the world do I search for preceptors, and how do I begin?

 

The thing about distance learning (DL) programs is that you most likely have to place in MUCH more effort than your colleague who is just applying to programs such as Mayo Clinic's dietetic program or Duke University Hospital's program. Why? Because those programs already have professionals set in place to train and mentor the students throughout the length of the program. DL internships are as organized as you design them to be--for example, if you begin the process early and search for "backup" preceptors then you're anticipating problems that could occur. This means you have a Plan B, C, D, E, and so forth. However, if you start the process later in the semester and all of a sudden one of your preceptors backs out, what will you do?

Therefore, not only will you begin searching for preceptors early, create multiple plans, begin earlier than your comprades but you have to also do EVERYTHING else that is involved with DICAS. *sigh* I think I just had a small panic attack thinking about my Senior year-fall semester.

I didn't have anyone to talk to about this process besides my professors and they only knew so much about the entire process. So, here I am-wanting to give back to my future colleagues (you) because I find it extremely important (and rewarding) to guide those who are in need of help. This process, if taken, can be very stressful. I only broke down like 5 times....not counting all the times I either fell asleep crying or woke up crying. My husband probably thought I was PMS'ing that entire semester plus the first 6 weeks into the spring semester.

I'm here to help you search for preceptors--now, I may not help you find actual preceptors but I will guide you towards beneficial resources and provide helpful tips to begin your journey.

My first stop-- The almighty Academy. To view the website you have to be a member. Now, the site is forever confusing so if you can't access that link visit the ACEND site or simply Google "Find a preceptor on Eatright" and it will be the first link.

Next stop, go to your local association such as The First Coast Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Network, network, network. If you're an introvert, then practice "networking" with a friend by acting out what you would say to an RD or health professional that can connect you with your future preceptor. It may seem silly, but if you really want this then you will 'go after it.'

Thirdly, remember all those hours you spent volunteering at the food bank, local garden, hospital, or health clinic?? Use their resources and pick their brains! You'll never know if they can help connect you with a professional or organization if you don't investigate. I found a preceptor and had a strong letter of recommendation from my volunteering experiences. If you're a junior reading this then ask if you could help them with any projects and begin to build rapport with them. They will more likely help you in the long run if they don't feel abused and used. 

Next, you could invest in resources such as All Access Internships if need be. Jenny has a TON of informative videos and she'll offer wonderful advice. You can follow her on Twitter, FB, and YouTube. 

Lastly, look over the internships that you have chosen. {It's ok if you haven't finalized your list. I still had my 'A strong Yes, Yes, Maybe, and Last Choice' lists until December. hah!} I would suggest contacting the program directors (of the programs who you are most likely going to apply for) and request if they could send you a list of preceptors in your area, if they have one. Not all programs save former preceptor information but I have benefited from several that have. LIFE SAVER. 

That's all for today! Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. 

Until next time, have a healthy week!

First things first...

First things first: What is a distance learning (DL) internship and how do I get into a program (or university) that offers just that?

Great question- SO, here I was, a Junior in my DPD program at UNF and it was weeks before the spring semester had ended. My professor asked me, "Which internships have you looked at and where do you see yourself applying?" I said, "Umm, I haven't really thought about other programs other than Mayo Clinic." She looked at me as if I was crazy and needed to begin researching however, I thought "how is a student suppose to know what programs to look for if no one guides them in that direction?" It was that moment when I pursued professionals, such as my professor, who could help me with my quest. I discovered All Access Internships, created by Jenny Westerkamp, and it opened up a world of resources and a tab that listed all the internships across the nation. I also encountered The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics section for students. Through my professor {and these sites} I began to understand the different types of internships that were offered beneficially to dietetic students aspiring to be registered dietitians. 

My choices here in Jacksonville, FL were (1) The Mayo Clinic, a very competitive 8-month program that strongly emphasizes in clinical work (NOT my area of preference yet I was going to apply due to it's reputation and location),  and (2) UNF's combined MS-DI, a 16-month program that offers a combined MSH with the internship. This would of been the ideal internship for me if I was certain that I wanted a MSH in nutrition. 

Thus, I had to decide if I wanted complete my internship in a foreign city or research distance education programs and invest in the work of finding my own preceptors. I discussed my circumstance to my husband Daniel, and we collaboratively agreed on the DL route. 

A distance learning (DL) program sets up the student with online modules throughout the length of the program and the student has to complete 1200 hours of supervised practice. The three main components of any program are Clinical, Food Service, and Community. In addition to the 3, each program has an "emphasis" and it is YOUR decision to choose the program which suits YOU best. Please do not apply for a program that has a strong emphasis on clinical if you don't particularly enjoy the sight of blood or have an issue with not being able to have a personable relationship with your client. The program director will be able to detect that through your personal statement. 

I admit the DL route was not easy--many, many, MANY hours emailing, calling, (stalking), researching, and networking just to find a handful of preceptors (professionals) that would give their time to train me into becoming an entry-level registered dietitian. Many sounded annoyed that I even asked, others hung up their phone immediately, some never replied (more like 75% of the emails that I sent out never replied), and yet someone from Heaven was looking down on me because I found just the right amount of professionals that were so eager and willing to have me in their facility. 

Now, please do not be discouraged-- you may very well live in a town or city that is NOT saturated with dietetic interns. It just so happens that the two DI programs in JAX plus several established DL programs already had contracts with most of the hospitals and surrounding facilities. Hence, it was extremely difficult to contact anyone that wasn't already aiding an intern from a different program.
Why do you think our entry rate into an internship is so low? There are simply not enough professionals and facilities that are willing to help all the students that are joining in to this profession. 

My research and quest for preceptors had to be taken outside of Jacksonville. I first wanted to ensure I had a family member or friends to stay with to reduce further costs. I successfully was able to obtain professionals in Jacksonville, Palm Coast, Gainesville, Orlando, and Rockledge, FL and I couldn't be happier!

To complete this post, I will leave you with this advice: Please start searching early, I've given you two websites and I encourage you to talk to your professors and local associations to begin networking. Offer your help and assist with projects--build a rapport! ;)

I hope you have enjoyed this read---Have a healthy week!