Application Criteria

Who can apply to this program?

To be qualified to apply to this program, you must have completed an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), and have been issued a Verification Statement by the Director of that program.

If you have not completed the coursework necessary to obtain a DPD Verification Statement, a list of accredited didactic programs is available on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.

The CUNY SPH does not currently have a DPD program.

Requirement for master’s degree completion before beginning the internship.

Eligibility to match to the internship includes the requirement to submit a transcript indicting conferral of a master’s degree from an accredited institution, or an Intent to Complete Masters Degree 9.22 form, indicating that this degree will be awarded prior to September 1^st of the upcoming internship year. Intent-to-complete forms must be signed by the applicant’s academic advisor. Failure to complete the master’s degree by the date specified will result in delay in starting the internship, or dismissal from the program at the discretion of the internship director.

Recency of Education Policy

Nutrition and Dietetic Internship applicants must have graduated from their educational program (bachelors or master’s degree) or completed additional academic coursework within five years of application, as per the date on their most recent transcript, or alternatively present documentation of ongoing professional work experience and continuing education in food and nutrition, both occurring within 6 months of application to the Internship.

Statement of Nondiscrimination/ Equal Opportunity in Selection of Dietetic Interns

The Internship supports the policy of equal opportunity and Affirmative Action as set forth by the CUNY SPH and the Board of trustees of the City University of New York. The Department of Nutrition and Food Science of The CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy will fill dietetic intern positions with qualified individuals, without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic predisposition or carrier status, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, alienage, citizenship, military or veteran status, or status as victim of domestic violence.

Prospective international student applicants should consult the Office of International Students regarding visa requirements.

Admission Criteria & Selection Process

Students must meet the following criteria to be admitted to the Dietetic Internship of the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy.

– Verification of completion of AND Didactic Program in Dietetics requirements

– Completion of an application in BOTH the DICAS and the D&D Digital matching systems

– In addition to the above, a supplemental application for the On-Line (distance) track is required. It is available on the On-Line DI page.

– Completion of the MPH program at the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy is encouraged. A master’s degree or intent-to-complete degree form must be submitted with internship application. (See above).

All completed applications are read, reviewed and the highest rated applicants are than ranked for matching.

 Factors that will determine the ranking of students include:

1. Quality of the personal statement

2. GPA – general and DPD Courses (see note below)

3. Recommendations

4. Employment / Volunteer Experience

5. Honors, awards, activities

6. GRE scores, if available

7. Completion of the NYS CDN credential, with a passing score on the RD exam for this within the past 4 years, if applicable.

8. And, for Distance (on-line) Interns, completeness and quality of proposed program plan and preceptors.

A note about GPAs: Applicants with a GPA of less than 3.0 are unlikely to rank high enough to be admitted to this program.

ACEND has provided some suggestions for improving your chances of matching to an Internship.

Completed applications submitted by the application deadlines, and demonstrating compliance with all application requirements, will be reviewed by the internship selection committee.

Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered for matching. Applicants are responsible for being aware of the application deadlines.

Interns will be notified of their match to the DI via the D&D Digital website.

Matched interns must contact the DI Director to accept their placements by the deadline on Appointment Day.

Failure to do so may result in the loss of placement.

Wait List for Alternates

The wait list is composed entirely of applicants to our program who were ranked, but not matched, and who did not match to any other internship. In the event of a matched applicant being unable to accept a placement, or dropping out early in the program (before the end of September), an alternate from the wait list will be contacted and offered the vacated position. Should the first alternate decline the position, the next ranked person will be contacted and so on until the position is filled. Note that since program drop-outs are infrequent, applicants will not be individually informed of their relative ranking for matching, or placement on the wait list.

A $100 application fee is required for all applicants.