Will I have to find my own Preceptors before applying?
The internship staff will set up your clinical and foodservice management rotations in Sodexo managed accounts. You are responsible for finding your own community and concentration sites. However, the internship staff is available to help along the way. Past interns/students typically have had no trouble finding community sites to complete their community rotation. We offer great flexibility for the community rotation and our interns/students often complete this rotation in their preferred setting, for example outpatient, community food banks, etc. Specialty rotation hours are sometimes completed in Sodexo managed accounts however, these hours can also be completed with preceptors outside our organization. Again, the internship staff will assist in guiding you through this process. Applicants to our program are not required to identify preceptors prior to applying.
Is there a Distance Learning Option with our Program?
Sodexo has presence in over 1,000 health care accounts throughout the country. With our regional model, opportunities are available to complete your rotations throughout the Continental United States and Hawaii. Classes will be held online monthly as either live lectures and/or group discussions, with 7 required monthly chats (~90 minutes long each) and 2 virtual class days. Additional required recordings of classes taught by faculty and preceptors to accompany each rotation are to be reviewed prior to starting each rotation.
Note: We expect that you are willing to go to any of the regions you list on DICAS for the length of your clinical rotation and will place you accordingly.
Note: We expect that you are willing to go to any of the regions you list on DICAS for the length of your clinical rotation and will place you accordingly.
Do you give credit for prior learning / work experience?
Credit for past work experience may be granted, at the discretion of the internship faculty, only under specific circumstances. There is no guarantee that internship supervised practice hours will be waived.
See Policy and Procedures Handbook on the Program Information page (Credit for Work Experience) – for more detailed information.
See Policy and Procedures Handbook on the Program Information page (Credit for Work Experience) – for more detailed information.
Do I have to rotate through all the listed locations in the Region I indicated?
No, you are assigned to a city or area that you requested on DICAS. You will complete your rotations at sites within that geographical location. Your advisor (director or associate director) will discuss geographical location of sites for the clinical and food service management rotation with you to ensure that the location is convenient. A primary objective of the Regional Model is to provide experiences in locations that are local for you.
Do I ever have to travel all over a specific state to complete the different rotation requirements
versus staying within one county?
versus staying within one county?
Our program does not require you to travel all over a state to complete the different rotation requirements. You may choose to relocate to complete a rotation in an area that is of interest to you, but this is always initiated by you, and not by our program.
AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE FUTURE GRADUATE PROGRAM WITH URI IF I HAVE NOT GRADUATED FROM A DPD PROGRAM?
If you have not graduated from a DPD program, please fill out this form showing you have completed the necessary prerequisites and upload it to DICAS.
Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
No. Your GPA is only one part of the DICAS application. When reviewing your application, we take all required parts into consideration including the electronic portfolio. Keep in mind however, we are a very competitive internship, and most accepted applicants have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Do you interview every applicant?
No. All completed applications will be reviewed and every section of the DICAS application will receive a score. Qualified applicants scoring above our minimum score will receive an invitation to interview either in person or via Microsoft Teams.
How will your internship prepare me for the RD/RDN exam?
You will have several online quizzes to test your knowledge throughout all your rotations. Towards the end of your experience, you will complete a mock RD/RDN exam, which will help to identify strengths and weaknesses in the various domains. At the beginning of the program, you will receive access to our RD/RDN Exam Prep Website with about 1200 multiple choice questions and numerous study guides. This was a website developed solely for our interns/students.
Additionally, our exam prep is supplemented by a free subscription to the All Access Dietetics Study Smarter Method.
Additionally, our exam prep is supplemented by a free subscription to the All Access Dietetics Study Smarter Method.
What is your RD/RDN exam pass rate?
Our track record consistently outperforms the national average for the First-Year pass rate. In addition, we support our graduates in their exam preparation by providing them access to our specialized RDN exam website and a recently developed roadmap specifically designed for navigating the RDN exam.
Can I get financial aid while completing my internship with you?
Yes and no. If you are enrolled in just the internship, we do not offer financial aid. However, if you plan to enroll in our Graduate Program Track with URI, then yes. You can borrow up to $60,000 which will cover your internship tuition, MS tuition and some living expenses. Also, any undergraduate loans are automatically deferred in they are in the Master’s.
Why do I have to pay tuition for an internship?
Unlike other professional internships, dietetic internships are required to offer a formal accredited curriculum to prepare interns for the registration exam. This is equivalent to the clinical training received by nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals while they are pursuing their degree. The internship is evaluated on a periodic basis to ensure that it is compliant with accreditation standards. These activities require a trained faculty. The tuition is used to pay the salaries of the faculty and related expenses for maintaining an accredited program.
Can I use a credit card to pay for my tuition?
Yes, we accept all major credit cards through our Sodexo Payment Portal, which is also used to pay for the application fee.
Can the internship be completed part-time?
Our program is based on a 32 hours per week schedule. In some cases, you might be able to complete 24 hours per week, but that is up to the individual site and a decision regarding a part-time schedule is not possible until after the match. Generally, there is a little more flexibility during the Community and Specialty rotations as these will be scheduled by you. Because of the 2024 Masters requirement, a part-time option of less than 32 hours per week is not available for Fall 2023 matched interns that do not have a graduate degree.
Can I complete more than 32 hours a week in Clinical and Foodservice?
This will depend on the site(s) you are placed in. 32 Hours is our standard, but if you want to complete the internship faster, your director can inquire after the match.
How will I be matched to my Specialty rotation?
We are excited to offer ten Specialty Rotations. Depending on the availability of your choice in the region you applied, your top choice may not be available. We will do our best to match you to your preferred concentration, however, we ask that you rank your top 3 choices on DICAS. A final decision about your specialty rotation placement is determined after the match, often after orientation. Please note that the information collected on DICAS is mostly for tracking purposes, and you can change your concentration. This is quite common and will sometimes involve some discussion with your internship director.
Are there assignments or other prep work between match day and orientation?
In preparation for your supervised practice and your first rotation, you will be required to complete several assignments prior to orientation. Access to these assignments and more information regarding pre-program paperwork, tuition due dates, etc. will be communicated after the match.
How much do I have to pay for the application fee if I choose more than 1 region?
We charge a flat fee of $50. Applying to multiple regions incurs no additional cost as we charge a single flat fee. Please be sure to fill in all the required information on DICAS and submit your payment though the Sodexo Payment Portal.
Can I attend an Open House?
Yes, see our Open Houses and Contact page to learn about dates, locations and how to rsvp.
Do you require COVID vaccination?
Yes, we require full vaccination. Requests for exemptions and accommodations will be subject to review and approval by the supervised practice sites. Exemptions will lead to a more limited site availability as several health care systems require COVID vaccinations.
I am not a US citizen. Can I apply to the Sodexo Dietetic Internship?
Will the internship provide documentation for my application for a student visa?
Will the internship provide documentation for my application for a student visa?
Non-citizens can participate in the dietetic internship if they have permission to work or study in the US. The dietetic internship does not meet immigration requirements to be considered a school and cannot provide documentation to support an application for a student visa.
Is it possible for me to hold a job while I am completing the program?
Yes and No. While it is possible to hold a part time job, we discourage you from working more than 8 hours each week so that you can fully embrace your internship experience. The learning curve especially in the clinical rotations is demanding, and internship assignments require a weekly time commitment.
Does the internship have any scholarships available?
Once matched to the program, you will receive information about applying to our scholarships. There is an application process for these and a scholarship selection committee reviews all scholarship applications that are submitted. The amount of the scholarship is deducted from the final internship tuition payment. Some of our interns/students have also received other scholarships from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Accreditation Council on Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. Visit the Program Information page for more information.
How much time outside of my rotation hours will I need to devote to assignments?
Past interns have reported spending anywhere from 10-16 hours each week completing assignments. If you are planning to complete the graduate program, plan on spending 2-3 hours each day on assignments/MS classwork, possibly more.
Do all matched interns/students attend an in-person orientation?
Yes, you are required to attend an Internship Orientation. See Applying to the Program for more the upcoming orientation dates and sites.
Is health care coverage included or offered?
No, you are required to purchase you own health insurance and to submit a copy of you health insurance card to you director prior to orientation.
How is my progress throughout the program measured?
You will receive ongoing feedback during all rotations. In addition, you will receive a documented performance evaluation for the patient services, basic clinical, intermediate clinical, advanced clinical, clinical staff relief, clinical nutrition management, food service management, community, long-term care, and specialty rotations.
What is a typical day for an inter/student in your program?
Depending on which rotation you are in, you will have an opportunity to document MNT for basic-to-complex patients, educate patients and family members on therapeutic diets, conduct nutrition classes, work all areas of the food service operation, provide nutrition education to community groups and much, much more! We often say to applicants that there is no typical day for our interns / students, and we encourage you to read through our Intern Perspective (found under the Home page) to get a sense what the program is like from our interns' / students' point of view.
What projects are interns/Students involved in?
Some of the highlighted projects include a Professional Research Presentation, Retail Management Event, System’s Analysis Project and a project related to your specialty. To learn more about these projects, we encourage you to attend one of our open houses.
Do interns/Students receive holiday and/or vacation time?
Yes, as an intern/student you can schedule time off for national and/or religious holidays and in some cases, for vacation. Schedules can be individualized but should be approved by your Regional Director and preceptors.