The pre-select Dietetic Internship admission option is offered to those who have earned the Meredith College DPD Certificate the opportunity to apply for early admission into the Site Preceptor options of the Meredith College Dietetic Internship prior to the spring computer matching process. Students applying to the pre-select admission option will commit to attending the Meredith College Dietetic Internship and bypass the computer matching application and selection process. Up to 30% of our intern slots in our Site Preceptor Pathway will be filled through the pre-select option.

Qualification requirements include:

Completion of DPD Program from Meredith College (with valid DPD Verification Statement dated 2013 or after)
or
Currently enrolled in the DPD program with plans to complete by May 2020

In addition, applicants must

1. Have a DPD GPA and overall GPA of 3.0 or greater out of 4.0, with a grade of C or higher in all DPD science and DPD professional courses

2. Submit a completed application packet via DICAS between December 10, 2020 and January 16, 2021

3. Write a personal statement (letter format, 1000 word maximum)
Questions to be addressed in the personal statement include:

• Why are you interested in Meredith College?
• Why are you interested in this internship pathway?
• Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession?
• Discuss 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?

4. Upload DICAS Application

• Uploaded to DICAS

5. Mail official transcript(s)

• Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended should be sent directly to DICAS and included in your completed packet by January 16, 2021. If possible, a copy of final fall 2020 grades should be included in your original transcripts. Be sure to order your transcripts after fall grades have been posted.
  Mail to:
  DICAS – Transcript Dept.
  PO Box 9118
  Watertown, MA 02472

6. Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree or Verification Statement
A valid Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree or Verification Statement from an ACEND accredited DPD must be submitted before the applicant can begin the internship.

7. Send recommendations through DICAS

Three recommendation letters are required, including one from the DPD Director issuing the Verification Statement; one from a professor in foods and nutrition or related area; and one from an employer or supervisor or a professor in foods and nutrition. If desired, the DPD Letter of Recommendation may be emailed directly from the DPD Director to the DI Director, or it may be mailed along with the application fee to Meredith College. The DPD letter of recommendation should include:

• The prospective intern’s ability to successfully complete the DI Program
• The prospective intern’s leadership abilities and potential

8. Application fee and supplemental application

• A non-refundable application fee of $60, payable by check and made out to Meredith College.
• It is strongly recommended that you send your application fee with a trackable system such as FedEx, Registered U.S. Mail or UPS. Applications received without an application fee payment will not be reviewed.
  Mailing Address:
  Meredith College – Pre-select Process
  Mrs. Cathie Ostrowski, MS, RD, LDN, FAND
  Director, Dietetic Internship Program
  Department of Nutrition, Health & Human Performance
  3800 Hillsborough Street
  Raleigh, NC 27607-5298

9. TOEFL scores, for international students only (can be waived if student earned degree in U.S.)

10. Additional information

• Incomplete application packets will not be considered.
• GRE scores may be submitted but are not required.
• Applicants will be notified by January 28, 2021.
• Interns must accept or deny their placement in the Meredith College DI in writing via email by January 30, 2021.
• Students who are selected through the pre-select process are accepted into the Meredith College Dietetic Internship for the year immediately following completion of their DPD requirements (if the DPD verification is < 5 years old.)
• Failure to maintain academic and graduation requirements will compromise Internship placement.
• Interns will be subject to urine drug testing and background checks. Failure to pass these tests will result in immediate dismissal from the program.
• If an applicant is not pre-selected, they may apply to Meredith again through the usual matching process.

*Please note that if you are accepted into the internship during the pre-select process, you are NOT eligible to participate in the computer matching process for the April 2020 match. The DI program director will provide the names of all pre-selected students to D&D Digital Systems, Inc. to ensure that accepted interns do not participate in the computer match.