Early Admissions Option (For Montclair State University students only)

Applications for the Dietetic Internship should be submitted to DICAS (Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Service). Follow the directions listed for the online application. The following information will be requested:

• Personal statement in 1,000 words or 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?
  • What other information do you consider important for the selection decision?
• Listing of GPA and DPD courses; DPD course list form needs to be uploaded.
• One letter of recommendation; applicants must include the name and e-mail address for each reference. This will trigger an e-mail message requesting completion of a reference form, which will be completed online.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be sent to DICAS.
• Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree to be sent to DICAS by your DPD Director; you will need to provide the e-mail address.
• Current resume.
• Listing of paid and volunteer work experience.
• Honors and awards.
• Phone number and address where applicant can be reached.

The fee to use DICAS is $50 for the first application submitted.

Applicants are expected to have a GPA of at least 3.2 in the DPD coursework at the time of application.

Montclair State University Application

An application fee of $65 must be received by the Montclair State University Dietetic Internship.

The check or money order should be payable to the Montclair State University Dietetic Internship, include the name of the applicant on the check, and send to:

Montclair State University
Dietetic Internship
University Hall, Room 4019
Montclair, NJ 07043

DI Faculty and Admissions Committee members will review and score the applications, and decide and notify applicants of acceptance into the interview portion of the selection process. Students not able to meet the admissions requirements during the last year will forfeit their slots in the DI.

The Early Admissions process is not an automatic acceptance. Applicants will be scored on the following criteria:

• DPD GPA
• Letter of recommendation
• Personal statement including professional interest in the field, experiences that have helped to prepare for a career in dietetics, short- and long-term goals, strengths and areas needing improvement, and other information to consider for the selection decision. Consider content/depth, style of writing/grammar/spelling/punctuation and general flow of statement
• Description of work and volunteer experiences
• Listing of honors and awards
• Interview and writing sample: An interview with program faculty and/or Admissions Committee member/s will be required. Applicants will be contacted by phone or email to arrange a date and time for the interview which can last up to one hour and will be held on campus or virtually. Applicants will be evaluated during the interview based on the following: professionalism, communication skills, responses to questions, critical thinking, assessment of prior learning (case-based scenario/writing sample), enthusiasm, and skills.
• Portfolio: Applicants are encouraged to bring a sampling of graded, written assignments from their Didactic Program in Dietetics and Graduate Program to their scheduled interviews.

Applicants who are accepted to the program will receive notification of an offer of admission via email.  Applicants accepted will be required to confirm acceptance by 5:00 p.m. on November 15, 2024. Accepted students will be required to maintain a DPD GPA of at least 3.2, will need a DPD Verification Statement, and model the Academy’s Code of Ethics

Students confirming acceptance into the DI will not be eligible to apply to other programs using the Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Service (DICAS). Students must also remove themselves from other application processes for similar programs that do not participate in DICAS. Applicants who violate these terms of acceptance will automatically revoke their admission to the MSU DI.

After evaluation of the application, an applicant who is not accepted through the Early Admissions option is advised to contact the DI Director to discuss options and findings of the Admissions Committee. The applicant will be advised to apply during the Spring application process and will be given directions to improve his/her application.

Accepted students will need to send an original Verification Statement showing completion of a Didactic Program in Dietetics, original transcripts from all schools attended, and transcripts verifying the completion of a master’s degree to the Dietetic Internship at Montclair State University before beginning the program.

In addition, all undergraduate coursework, summer assignments, health examination with immune titers demonstrating immunity, evidence of COVID-19 vaccination*, negative urine drug screen, and evidence of an acceptable criminal background check must be completed, and acceptance to the Montclair State University Graduate School must be verified before beginning the internship. Students whose criminal background checks are unacceptable or show activity may not be able to continue in the internship. An orientation day for incoming interns will be scheduled in May.

*Students who attend clinical placements or internships are subject to any vaccination
requirements imposed by the host site per Montclair State University policy. At this time, we would be unable to place students without proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Interns will also be required to obtain flu vaccination during flu season.