What's Awesome About Cal Poly SLO Dietetic Interns
What Makes an Internship a Good Fit?
When you’re making decisions about where to apply to dietetic internships, it’s all about finding a good fit. You’re probably looking at a wide variety of factors: program emphasis, rotation sites, location, length, cost…. There’s so much to consider.
Yet one element that will be integral to your dietetic internship (DI) experience is often left off applicants’ checklists. If you really want to find programs that will be a good fit, don’t forget to assess the culture of each internship you’re looking into.
Speaking as a Dietetic Internship Director, I can honestly say that I want applicants to gain a good understanding of the logistics of our program, but also of what it’s like to be a member of the Cal Poly SLO DI community. I want applicants to know what they can expect of me and their fellow interns, and what will be expected of them in return.
And that’s why I decided to kick off our blog by sharing with you the secret of what makes our DI such a fabulous experience: we match with awesome interns!
Don’t get me wrong. There are awesome interns in every ACEND-accredited program across America. But each program’s interns are awesome in some unique ways. Yes, all DI Directors are looking for interns who are bright, accomplished, and self-directed. We are all excited to match with interns with strong grades and diverse work, volunteer, and leadership experiences.
But we are also each looking for a special spark in our applicants … and for clues that applicants are a good fit for us and the internship culture that we’ve worked hard to cultivate.
Who is a Good Fit for the Cal Poly SLO DI?
So what am I looking for in applicants to the Cal Poly SLO DI? What makes someone a good fit in our community?
One distinctive piece of what makes our interns awesome is that they all care so much about each other, about the shared experience they’re all creating together throughout their program year. They are about pushing each other just as much as they push themselves … and doing so with kindness, support, and friendship. Our current group of interns was so ready to begin building their relationships that they organized their own first get-together before we even started our Orientation!
Our interns come from diverse backgrounds and locations. Typically they don’t know each other before they all converge on California’s Central Coast. But once they’re here, they begin to become family.
One more thing: the Cal Poly SLO DI attracts incredibly positive people who show consistent gratitude for the opportunities they’re given. Their attitude helps them get the most from their DI experiences, and enriches the experiences of their peers. That is an important part of the culture of the Cal Poly SLO DI.
Trying to Figure Out Whether our DI is a Good Fit for You?
If you want to get a feel for whether our program is a good fit for you, come back to our blog each week and see for yourself! Our interns will be sharing stories about their experiences in the program – how they’re growing, who they’re working with, what’s fun, what’s tough, and what they never expected to encounter. And through their stories, you’ll learn a lot about who they are.
And about what makes them awesome.
Please comment below if you have questions, would like to share your own DI experience, or want to tell us what you think would make a DI a good fit for you.