Application Insider

Episode 38: Interview with Krista Semonelle

IN THIS EPISODE

My guest today is Krista Semonelle, a career changer and non-traditional student. She’s got some great tips to share about how she prepped for years – yes years! – before actually opening DICAS to get started on her application. She took all that time because she very intentionally kept her application in mind as soon as she knew it was part of her dietetics education. She’s got some very useful tips for you, no matter how much time you have before you start working on your own application.

In our discussion, you’ll hear how Krista used only the freebies available from Application Insider: the podcast, free downloads, and posts on Instagram. That’s exactly why I have created those things! Everything we talk about can be found in the show notes, so check there to make sure you’ve got all the resources that are available.

Here are some of the things we cover in this episode:

1. How Krista’s first career helped prepare her to change course to dietetics

2. A trick Krista used to keep track of info, ideas, and resources she could use on her application

3. Some tips for getting all you can out of program open houses

YOUR ACTION STEP

Start now. Stay confident. Stay organized. Know your worth.

Starting now will help you realize all the tasks that need to get done; giving yourself plenty of time to do it. Especially gathering specific things that particular programs may request from you.

Don’t apply to a program because they might accept you, apply to a program because that is where you want to be.

Thank you for sharing your experience, Krista!

With this Insider insight, your application is sure to stand out!

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SHOW NOTES

Episode 38 Show Notes

Watch the video of Krista's interview

Join the Application Insider Live Course + Guidance in Summer 2021

Get a spot for the free webinar on June 10 or June 15

Connect with Krista on Instagram @kristasemonelle

Application Insider FREEBIES:

• The ULTIMATE DICAS Checklist

• DPD GPA Calculator

• applicationinsider.co/freebies

• Follow @applicationinsider

• Free Resources Library

Personal Statement Sample Pack

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Be a guest on the Application Insider Podcast!

Schedule your FREE 20-minute Brainstorm Call with Nicole

New to Dietetics? Start Here!

Find more dietetics tips and guidance at applicationinsider.co

Follow along on Instagram @applicationinsider

Episode 37: Interview with Sarah Barragan

IN THIS EPISODE

Today is our second student interview, and this student is currently in her dietetic internship, so we talk about both her application experience, and her internship experience so far. Sarah Barragan is going to share her best techniques and advice with you. She applied in the Fall 2020 Match, and matched to her 1st choice program, also the only program she applied to!

In our discussion, you’ll hear how a last-minute change gave her just 6 weeks to put her application together, and what she did to make it happen. Also, steps she took beforehand to get some really valuable experience that helped her get ready for her internship. She also has a few rotations under her belt, since she started her internship in March 2021, so we talk about that too. She’s had a good mix of in-person and remote rotations so far, plus shares a bit how she has worked with preceptors with different approaches.

Here are some of the things we cover in this episode:

1. How Sarah decided to take a chance and apply in the Fall Match with just 6 weeks to finish her application

2. Opportunities Jenny found and created to gain experience

3. What her internship has been like so far, and her tips for succeeding in both in-person and remote rotations

YOUR ACTION STEP

You can make a difference at your campus. You do not have to wait to be an RD! Sarah did this on her campus, and continued doing so in her positions before her internship. You don’t have to wait until your career starts before you make a difference!

Thank you for sharing your experience, Sarah!

With this Insider insight, your application is sure to stand out!

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SHOW NOTES

Episode 37 Show Notes

Watch the video of Sarah’s interview

Learn more about the Live Personal Statement Workshop

Join the Application Insider Live Course + Guidance in Summer 2021

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

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Schedule your FREE 20-minute Brainstorm Call with Nicole

Be a guest on the Application Insider Podcast!

New to Dietetics? Start Here!

Find more dietetics tips and guidance at applicationinsider.co

Follow along on Instagram @applicationinsider

Episode 36: What You Might Not Know About the 2024 Degree Change

IN THIS EPISODE

A couple of weeks ago, in Episode 34, I was busting some myths about the 2024 graduate degree requirement. Today I’m continuing that topic, and sharing some background about how this change came to be. This is not an opinionated episode, even though I know opinions about this change range far and wide. I am sharing perspective that I found reviewing documents covering this change and why it’s coming now.

Here are some of the topics covered in this episode:

1. Documents that are available to learn more about this change

2. This is not the first time this recommendation has been made

3. Number projections for job growth and salary related to this change

4. The impact this could have on diversity

YOUR ACTION STEP

This change is coming, like it or not, and it’s important to be informed. Understanding the whys behind it are just as important as understanding the timeline of this change and how it crosses your own pathway. If you want to read more for yourself, check out the links in the show notes. You can read the FAQ document for more about the 2024 graduate degree change specifically. You can also see what other recommendations were made in the Council on Future Practice Visioning Report. Some of them are in various stages of being implemented. If you want to learn more about them or be part of those conversations, check out those links and do your reading.

With this Insider insight, your application is sure to stand out!

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SHOW NOTES

Episode 36 Show Notes

2024 Degree Requirement Details

Council on Future Practice Visioning Report

FAQ Document

Dietetics Supply and Demand: 2010-2020

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Dietitians and Nutritionists

Academy Member Compensation

Compensation and Benefit Survey of 2019 (free for Academy members)

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Be a guest on the Application Insider Podcast!

Schedule your FREE 20-minute Brainstorm Call with Nicole

New to Dietetics? Start Here!

Find more dietetics tips and guidance at applicationinsider.co

Follow along on Instagram @applicationinsider

Episode 35: Interview with Jenny Fernandez

IN THIS EPISODE

Today I’ve got the very first student interview! I’m so excited for this new series. When you hear from students who have gone through, or are going through, the DI application process, there is so much you can learn and gain for your own experience. In this series, students will be sharing what worked well for them, plus advice and suggestions that you can use.

In this episode, I’m talking to Jenny Fernandez. She just applied in Spring 2021, and matched to her 1st choice program! In our discussion, you’ll hear what techniques she used in her application that worked and what she did to make good use of her time to submit without a ton of extra stress.

Here are some of the things we cover in this episode:

1. How Jenny narrowed down her program options from 10, to the 3 she applied to

2. Jenny’s process for planning and tackling her application in smaller steps

3. Resources Jenny used to find opportunities for experience, including the Application Insider Live Personal Statement Workshop

YOUR ACTION STEP

Networking! That helped Jenny the most. She suggests using an Instagram account to connect with RDs. Jenny found some that had also gone through Meredith College’s DI! Through her network, she also found opportunities to gain experience. It’s also a great way to find more info about the dietetics roles you’re interested in.

With this Insider insight, your application is sure to stand out!

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SHOW NOTES

Episode 35 Show Notes

Jenny used prerd.org to find experience opportunities

Learn more about the Live Personal Statement Workshop

Follow Jenny on Instagram @food.body.confidence

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Schedule your FREE 20-minute Brainstorm Call with Nicole

Be a guest on the Application Insider Podcast!

New to Dietetics? Start Here!

Find more dietetics tips and guidance at applicationinsider.co

Follow along on Instagram @applicationinsider

Episode 34: 2024 Graduate Degree Requirement Myths

IN THIS EPISODE

You are likely aware that in 2024, a graduate degree will be required to become a dietitian. If you didn’t already know, well, now you do!

This change has been a long time coming, and is something that many people have been getting ready for. However, there are still some misconceptions about what it actually means, who will be impacted by the change, and how it’s going to be implemented.

Right now, we’re less than 3 years away from this change taking place. Right now, dietetics students are in a mixed basket of whether or not they need to get a graduate degree. For you, it likely depends on where you are in your dietetics education path, and, more importantly, what steps you have ahead of you, to determine if or how the 2024 degree change will come into play.

Here are questions covered in this episode:

1. Will all dietetics have to get a graduate degree after January 1, 2024?

2. Does everyone who will take the exam in 2024 have to get a graduate degree?

3. Do you need a graduate degree to even get an internship in 2024?

4. Does your graduate degree have to be in nutrition or dietetics?

YOUR ACTION STEP

Check your timelines and learn about your options. How much time do you have left in your DPD program? When might you apply to internships? How close will you be to the 2024 requirement? Will it be a good idea for you to consider an internship that offers a graduate degree? Or is there another route you’ve got in mind to get a graduate degree before your internship? These are questions that only you can answer. Everyone’s route to RD will be different. In the show notes, I included a link to the ACEND program database, where you can filter out specific types of programs, and whether or not they offer a graduate degree. Determine your program needs, and do your research to see what’s available.

With this Insider insight, your application is sure to stand out!

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SHOW NOTES

Episode 34 Show Notes

New to Dietetics? Start Here!

2024 Degree Requirement Details

Graduate Degree Requirement FAQ Document

Why was the Change Made?

ACEND Program Database

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Be a guest on the Application Insider Podcast!

Find more dietetics tips and guidance at applicationinsider.co

Follow along on Instagram @applicationinsider

Schedule your FREE 20-minute Brainstorm Call

New to Dietetics? Start Here!

In the 8 years I’ve been working with dietetics students, I’ve crossed paths with so many who were very overwhelmed with the DI application process and how it fit into their own dietetics education pathway. In fact, that sentiment is much more common than a student who feels like they know exactly what to expect and how to move smoothly through the process. This, I think, is pretty unfortunate.

For a process that is required, sometimes the amount of preparation and information that is provided just isn’t enough. I want each dietetics student to feel confident about moving forward to their next step. You deserve that much! You deserve to know what’s coming up and how to get through that phase and what you’ll be doing after that.

That’s why I created the Start Here page at Application Insider. It’s at applicationinsider.co/starthere. I got feedback from students about what information they wish they’d had when they were just learning about applying to dietetic internships. They let me know things that came up that would have been help to know a lot earlier in the process. I put it all together on one page.

The Start Here page is a go-to for any dietetics student who wants to go through their education pathway smoothly and with confidence. It covers information about DICAS and D&D Digital, the DI application process. That’s not all though! It also has details about other program types, things to think about like finances and the upcoming 2024 Master’s degree requirement. This is information that students need! And I’ve got it here for you.

Check it out for yourself at applicationinsider.co/starthere or follow the link in the show notes. Look through it. Use it as you apply to dietetic internships! Share it with someone you know who can use this information. If you’ve already gone through the whole DI application process, pass it on especially if it has info you wish you’d had early on.

More Things to Share

As long as you’re checking things out, be sure to grab a few other things.

Follow the link in the show notes to download the free Ultimate DICAS Checklist. That application isn’t small, so I created the checklist to help you keep track of every section. No matter when you get started on your application, the checklist will be useful for knowing which sections you’re done with, which are in process, and which will need your attention next. Download your copy from the link in the show notes.

Then, once you have the checklist, let’s talk about YOUR application. Schedule your free 20-minute Brainstorm Call to get my DI director’s perspective on any questions you have for your application experience. Pick a date and time for your call at applicationinsider.co/brainstormcall. We can chat about how to get the info you need to decide where to apply; we can talk about how to use your time best to gain experience; we can talk about concerns you have about your GPA or narrowing down your options or what to keep on your resume. You’d be surprised what we can cover in just 20 minutes, so take advantage of this opportunity - go to applicationisider.co/brainstormcall or follow the link in the show notes.

Coming Up on the Podcast

Finally, I wanted to let you know that I’ve got interviews with students coming up soon! Hearing from someone who has gone through the application process is so valuable. I’ve got students with all sorts of useful perspectives: non-traditional students, major-changers, military, career changers. And they all want to tell you about what it was like to apply, because they know they have something to share that could help another student stand out.

And if you want to share your experience on the podcast, I’d love to create an episode just for you. You can let me know you’re interested at applicationinsider.co/podcastguest, or follow the link in the show notes. After submitting your name I’ll send you more info to set up a time to chat and we’ll get your episode underway!

With this Insider insight, your application is sure to stand out!

SHOW NOTES & LINKS

Check out the Start Here page: https://applicationinsider.co/starthere

Download The ULTIMATE DICAS Checklist: https://mailchi.mp/ca5fca9e77d9/ultimate-dicas-checklist

Schedule your FREE 20-minute Brainstorm Call: https://applicationinsider.co/brainstormcall

Be a guest on the Application Insider Podcast!: https://applicationinsider.co/podcastguest

Follow along on Instagram @applicationinsider: https://instagram.com/applicationinsider

Episode 33: 5 Answers from Brainstorm Calls

IN THIS EPISODE

Getting answers to your questions as you are working on your DICAS application is so important. I want you to have the information you need for whatever section of the application you are working on. I want you to feel comfortable asking questions because you know how important it is to understand what you’re working on and what directors will see. I want you to know that I know that when you haven’t done something before, there’s no way you can know everything about it!

One of the ways to get your questions answered is with a free 20-minute Brainstorm Call. I’m going to share my answers that I gave to five different people on five different brainstorm calls. These are answers I gave to their specific questions, based on what I knew about their specific situations. And all of them came up during our 20-minute brainstorm call.

Here are topics covered in this episode:

1. GPA concerns and program competitiveness

2. Documenting your NDTR credential

3. Keeping track of experiences

4. Tailoring your personal statement

5. Ranking programs

YOUR ACTION STEP

Schedule your own FREE 20-minute Brainstorm Call! Follow the link in the show notes to get your call on the calendar and get the answers you need. We can talk about whatever you want, and I’ll let you know how Application Insider can best help you, then you can make the decision of what feels good for your next step. This application process doesn’t have to be confusing. I created Application Insider specifically so it wouldn’t be! Use this resource to move forward with confidence and get on the right track to submit an application you are sure to be proud of.

With this Insider insight, your application is sure to stand out!

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SHOW NOTES

Episode 32 Show Notes: https://applicationinsider.co/podcast-source/ep33

Evaluating a Program’s Average GPA [blog post]: https://applicationinsider.co/blog/evaluating-programs-average-gpa

Episode #3: Programs vs. Spots (how competitive a program is): https://applicationinsider.co/podcast-source/ep03

Episode #16: Let’s Talk GPA: https://applicationinsider.co/podcast-source/ep16

Episode #1: Do You Have the “Right” Experience? https://applicationinsider.co/podcast-source/ep01

Personal Statement Course: https://applicationinsider.co/application-services-all/personal-statement-course

Matching Example: https://youtu.be/awK7w9zgMG0

Matching + Algorithm Webinar: https://youtu.be/7rooKIYKKb0

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Be a guest on the Application Insider Podcast! https://applicationinsider.co/podcastguest

Find more dietetics tips and guidance at applicationinsider.co

Follow along on Instagram @applicationinsider

Schedule your FREE 20-minute Brainstorm Call with Nicole: https://applicationinsider.co/brainstormcall

Episode 32: Pick a Program that’s Right for You

IN THIS EPISODE

For anyone who’s really wondering what the very first thing to do on their application is, I’m going to tell you the same thing I told a student during her free 20-minute Brainstorm Call: figure out what is really important to you about the program you want to be in, and then do your research to find which programs offer what you’re looking for.

Before you even start looking into programs, you need to know how you’ll evaluate them. To do that, you need to know what’s important for you in a dietetic internship. You have to know what you’re looking for in order to know if a program even offers that to their interns.

Here are three questions you can ask yourself to find out which programs might be a good fit:

1. Which program elements are important to me?

2. Which program elements are required for me?

3. Are any of these elements creating false limitations?

YOUR ACTION STEP

Decide what is most important to you in a dietetic internship. You can get the Application Prep Workbook through the link in the show notes to make sure you consider things you may not even think of otherwise. (Then use it for every other step of putting your application together too!) Refer to that list and revisit it often as you do your program research to ensure that those elements are always at the core of your search.

With this Insider insight, your application is sure to stand out!

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SHOW NOTES

Episode 32 Show Notes: https://applicationinsider.co/podcast-source/ep32

See an example list of elements from the Application Prep Workbook: https://applicationinsider.co/podcast-source/ep32

Get your copy of the Application Prep Workbook: https://applicationinsider.co/application-services-all/workbook

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Submit your questions to be answered on the Application Insider Podcast: https://applicationinsider.co/podcast

Find more dietetics tips and guidance at applicationinsider.co

Follow along on Instagram @applicationinsider

Schedule your FREE 20-minute Brainstorm Call with Nicole: https://applicationinsider.co/brainstorm-call

Episode 31: Asking for Application Feedback

IN THIS EPISODE

If you don’t get a match, the thought of going through your application all over again can not only feel daunting, but leave you wondering if the work will be worth it. Wouldn’t it be easier if you could focus in on which areas will benefit most from improvements?

One way to do that is to ask the programs you applied to what they thought of your application, and get their perspective on what could be changed for the better.

Here are some things I cover in this episode:

1. How to phrase this question to any program you applied to

2. The types of responses you might get back from programs

3. What to do with any information you do get to make a stronger application

YOUR ACTION STEP

Send the email. Prepare yourself to get info that will be useful, even if it will hurt a little bit. Get ready to look at your application with new eyes, both your own and others who are willing to help. Having gone through the match once, you’re more familiar with the process. You’ve overcome that learning curve. Now is the time to use that experience to submit an even stronger application that overcomes any short comings it had the first time around.

With this Insider insight, your application is sure to stand out!

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SHOW NOTES

Episode 31 Show Notes: https://applicationinsider.co/podcast-source/ep31

Second Round Application Guidance https://applicationinsider.co/secondround

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Submit your questions to be answered on the Application Insider Podcast: https://applicationinsider.co/podcast

Find more dietetics tips and guidance at applicationinsider.co

Follow along on Instagram @applicationinsider

Schedule your FREE 20-minute Brainstorm Call with Nicole: https://applicationinsider.co/brainstorm-call

Episode 30: Spring 2021 Application Trends

IN THIS EPISODE

Soon after the Spring 2021 application deadline, I had a survey going on to hear about your experience putting your application together and what help you needed and whether or not you found it.

Today I want to share some of the survey results with you. This application process is complex – I certainly don’t need to tell you that! Even with my experience as a dietetic internship director, I can still only ever guess what dietetics students are looking for to get help for their application. Hearing from you means I don’t have to make an assumption, which could mean creating something that no one actually needs.

Here are some things I cover in this episode:

1. How many programs people applied to, and how early they started on their applications

2. The prices and types of application help people looked for

3. The guidance options that people actually did purchase or used for free to make an application they knew would stand out

YOUR ACTION STEP

Make it to Match day! Get your #myDImatch cards and get ready to celebrate. We are so close to the end of long application process and wait for Match Day. If your Match is coming up, use the information from this survey to be more prepared for putting together your own application. Whether that means getting started earlier than you originally thought, or looking into more resources than you have so far, or making sure you use every option provided by your DPD, this added perspective can give you a way to get ahead.

With this Insider insight, your application is sure to stand out!

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SHOW NOTES

Episode 30 Show Notes: https://applicationinsider.co/podcast-source/ep30

Survey results charts and graphs: https://applicationinsider.co/podcast-source/ep30

Get your #myDImatch cards to celebrate your Match results!: https://applicationinsider.co/cards

Second Round Application Guidance https://applicationinsider.co/secondround

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Submit your questions to be answered on the Application Insider Podcast: https://applicationinsider.co/podcast

Find more dietetics tips and guidance at applicationinsider.co

Follow along on Instagram @applicationinsider

Schedule your FREE 20-minute Brainstorm Call with Nicole: https://applicationinsider.co/brainstorm-call