Dietetic Internship Application Procedure

Applications for the Dietetic Internship should be submitted to DICAS (Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System). The Montclair State University Dietetic Internship participates in the Spring application cycle.

Follow the directions listed for the online application. The following information will be required:

• 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.
• Three letters of recommendation, including an instructor and a work supervisor; 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 or DPD Verification Statement 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, if necessary, on Appointment Day.

The fee to use DICAS is $50 for the first application submitted, and $25 for each additional application (subject to change).

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

Total fees for application to the Montclair State Dietetic Internship as of June 2024 (subject to change) are:

• $50 to DICAS
• $65 to the Montclair State University Dietetic Internship (nonrefundable)

A total Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) GPA of 3.2 is required to be competitive. Complete applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee for personal statement, grades, paid and volunteer experience, honors and awards, and recommendations.

Interview and writing sample: An interview with program faculty and/or Admissions Committee member/s will be required. Qualifying 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 the Montclair 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 will be notified of their admission decision by March 1, 2025. Applicants must accept or decline their position with Montclair State University Dietetic Internship by March 15, 2025. Applicants must contact the DI program at 973-655-4375 or pilanskij@montclair.edu before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 15, 2025 to confirm acceptance of a position. If a message needs to be left, please provide a phone number where you may be reached to confirm your acceptance. After 5:00 p.m., the internship is under no obligation to hold the opening for the applicant.

If all positions are not filled, the DI Director may appoint interns on an individual basis, adhering to Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics requirements.

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.

For the year 2026-27, tuition will be $15,000 plus additional fees (see other costs below). A $500 deposit will be required to hold your position in the program. The remainder of the tuition will be due during the time between acceptance into the program and the program start date.

Program tuition includes:

• Supervised work experience
• Program study guides
• Classroom instruction
• Professional liability insurance

Other Costs

Students are responsible for obtaining the following prior to beginning the program:

• Health insurance (variable cost)
• Textbooks, apps, and electronic / web-based subscriptions (estimate $500)
• Lab coats (estimate $25 each)
• Scrubs as needed (estimate $50 per pair)
• Physical exam and lab work (variable cost; estimate $300 depending on individual health requirements and health insurance)
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership (estimate $60)
• Background check and urine drug screen (estimate $100+)
• Mask fit testing as needed (estimate $25 – $75)
• Campus parking

Additional variable costs during the program include:

• Housing (average apartment rent $1700 in Clifton, NJ)
• Travel (estimate $2000+ based on $55 for gas/week)
• Car insurance
• Some meals
• Parking in some facilities (can be up to $40 for one month)
• Fees for field trips and meetings (estimate $150)
• Supplies and duplicating (estimate $500)
• Access to personal device such as a personal computer, laptop, or tablet; device must have ability to access the internet (variable cost). Currently enrolled students with an active NetID and password can use the public computing labs or borrow laptops; for more information and lab schedule refer to the Student Services web page.
• Access to a reliable internet service for distance education components such as virtual didactic class days and conferences, web-based education and training modules, and any virtual supervised experiential learning scheduled (estimate $25-50/month). Currently enrolled students with an active NetID and password can access internet service while on campus.

Please refer to ACEND for Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarship and other financial aid information. Montclair State University dietetic interns may be eligible for personal or private loans, but securing these loans are not guaranteed. Interns are not eligible for any other student loans at this time.

We encourage interns to pursue scholarships from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, New Jersey Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and any other local affiliates.

Program management can provide verification of participation in the Internship and other relevant information such as tuition cost.

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.

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