Nutrition and Food Systems @ Southern Miss

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Dietetic Internship Application Process
Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for Admission to the Southern Miss Dietetic Program

You Must Be Admitted To The Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Systems Graduate Program at Southern Miss (Either regular or conditional admission) to be considered as a candidate for the Southern Miss Dietetic Internship (DI). Admission to the graduate program may be granted pending receipt of final undergraduate transcript.
A Verification Statement signed by the DPD Program Director. If you have not yet completed your DPD, you must be able to submit a Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree signed by the DPD Program Director, and submit the Verification Statement following completion of the didactic program.
Minimum academic records to apply to the program include:
1. GPA of 2.75 on the last 65 undergraduate hours (graduate school requirement)
2. GPA of 2.75 on didactic coursework (dietetic internship requirement)
3. and you must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on required science prerequisites, with no grade lower than "C" in ANY of those courses. The following courses are included:
Apply for preselect or computer matching.
Have a personal interview on selected dates with Southern Miss Internship selection committee.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applying for admission to the Dietetic Internship is a three step process. The following are a list of application procedures that will guide you through the process.

STEP 1 - Applying to Graduate School

Complete an application for admission to graduate school. Graduate school has a $35 application fee. For application materials contact the Office of Graduate Admissions, 118 College Drive #10066, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, phone 60l-266-5137, or you may apply online at https://www.usm.edu/gradapp
Forward Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores from Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the Southern Miss Office of Graduate Admissions. It normally takes 10 to 14 days for GRE scores to be sent to the university following computer-based testing. Assuming that all other admission materials have been submitted, the process of graduate admission takes approximately two (2) weeks after GRE scores have been received. Please keep this timeline in mind when scheduling your GRE testing. You may register online to take the GRE at http://www.gre.org
Request that official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities you have attended be sent to the graduate school office.

STEP 2 - Applying to Dietetic Internship

Complete the American Dietetic Association (ADA)/Dietetic Educators of Practitioners Dietetic Internship Program Application form at http://www.depdpg.org/index_580.cfm
Complete the last page of this form, Preferred Location for Supervised Practice, sign at the bottom of the page, and return it to the Dietetic Internship director. This form is to grant the Internship Director permission to distribute your application materials to the DI Admissions Committee for consideration.
Forward an official transcript from each college or university attended. This may be issued to student in a signed sealed envelope.
Forward a Verification of Completion of Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), signed by the DPD Program Director. If you have not yet completed your DPD, submit a Declaration of Intent signed by the Program Director, and submit the Verification of Completion of Didactic Program in Dietetics following completion of the program.
Request three letters of recommendation, two from nutrition and foods faculty and one from a work or practicum supervisor. Please use the ADA form with the last page of the recommendation addressing the following qualities at a minimum:
1. Knowledge in chosen field, analytical and intellectual ability
2. Motivation and ability to work independently, potential for success in career field
3. Ability to express thoughts in spoken and written English, ability to work with others and potential for college teaching.
The form can be found at http://www.depdpg.org/index_580.cfmRecommendations should be sealed, signed across the seal by the person providing the recommendation, and included by the applicant in the application packet. Note that persons providing recommendations may be contacted by the Southern Miss Internship Director to provide further information or for clarification. Letters of recommendation will be used for DI and Graduate school admission.

Please mail the three recomendation forms directly to the internship director as part of the application packet.
Typed letter of application, addressing the following (no less than 2 pages and no more than 3):
1. Why you want to enter the dietetics profession
2. The areas in your previous experience that have prepared you for a DI
3. Your short and long-term career goals
4. Why you are applying to this internship
5. Other information you consider beneficial
Enclose the application fee of $45 in the form of a check or money order made payable to Southern Miss Dietetic Internship. Please do not send cash.

All items 1-7 should be submitted (preferably in one envelope) to the dietetic internship director postmarked by January 4 for preselect and February 16 for computer matching. Letters of recommendation are used for admission to graduate school AND dietetic internship.

Elaine Molaison, PhD, RD
Dietetic Internship Director, Department of Nutrition and Food Systems
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5172
Hattiesburg, MS 39406

The Southern Miss Dietetic Internship begins annually at the beginning of the summer semester. To be considered for admission, ALL Southern Miss Dietetic Internship application materials must be postmarked by the following deadlines:

January 4 for preselection
February 16 for admission using the computer matching process

Each applicant who has completed all components of the application procedure and meets minimum requirements will be contacted to make an appointment for a personal interview with the selection committee or representatives of the committee. The applicant may choose to interview by phone in lieu of the personal interview.

STEP 3 - The Preselect vs. Computer Matching Options

Preselect Option
Up to eight (8) of the sixteen (16) Southern Miss Dietetic Internship positions may be filled by the Preselect Option rather than Computer Matching. There are two ways to qualify for preselect:

A student must have completed, or be enrolled in at least six (6) hours of graduate classes at The University of Southern Mississippi in a curriculum designed to lead to a Masters Degree in Nutrition and Food Systems,
Or a student can be a Southern Miss undergraduate DPD student who has been granted admission to graduate school at The University of Southern Mississippi with the declared intent of completing a Masters Degree in Nutrition and Food Systems.

Computer Matching

Applicants who do not participate in or qualify for preselect MUST participate in computer matching. Instructions for computer is available at:

D&D Digital Systems
304 Main Street, Suite 301
Ames, Iowa 50010-6148
www.dnddigital.com/ada

The application deadline for graduate school applications and preselection is January 4. Students will interview with the Admissions Committee in January and will be notified by the Internship Director of acceptance/rejection by February 1. If the applicant is not selected through the preselect process, he/she may reapply to this or any other DI through the computer matching process. The D&D Digital Systems deadline for the computer match is February 16. The Southern Miss Dietetic Internship will interview for computer match positions in March.

QUICK REFERENCE CHECKLIST and DEADLINES FOR DI APPLICATION:

Application materials that must be received by the due dates listed above:

To Graduate School:

Application to Graduate School and fee of $35
GRE Scores sent to graduate school
All college/university transcripts to graduate school

To DI director:

Letters of recommendation
Completed ADA application form and fee of $45
Completed location for supervised practice
All official college/university transcripts (yes, you need to send them twice)
Signed verification statement or intent to complete degree
Typed letter of application
Completed Computer matching packet (if not going through pre-select)

Please click on form, fill out and send in with application packet: Preferred Location for Supervised Practice Placement form.

dieticians with patient chart

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