Creating Connections Thanks to Cal Poly
With so many dietetic internships out there, each offering varying experiences, how do you choose where to apply? The most important piece is that you find one that feels like the “right fit.” There are many great options, but if you’re looking for one that is well balanced, has unique experiences, and AMAZING individuals involved, Cal Poly would be a good choice for you. Ask anyone who has been in the program, and you’d probably get the same answer. We all think it’s the best one out there!
In today’s blog I share what I’ve found to be one of the greatest parts of being a Cal Poly Dietetic Intern - the connections you make and the relationships you build. For future dietetic interns to be, I hope my **Success Tips** will help you to achieve dietetic intern success!
Your Intern Cohort
**Success Tip #1** – these relationships will be a key to happiness and success during your internship year. The Cal Poly Intern cohort is one of teamwork and friendship. Whether checking in on each others’ rotation experiences during Monday class, grabbing a bite to eat on the weekend, or studying in the library (or admittedly, sometimes studying on the beach) together, the support network I have through my fellow interns is irreplaceable. Each day of a dietetic internship brings new challenges and successes, and I have found it is so important to lean on those sharing the experiences with you!
Your Preceptors
The professionals who volunteer their time and energy to precept Cal Poly’s aspiring dietitians are nothing short of amazing. Precepting requires a great deal of patience and time, but in every experience I have had with preceptors thus far it is clear to me that they really want to be there and to help me learn. They are there to guide you and show you the way, to answer questions and ask you questions, all the time preparing you to be a competent dietitian. Saying that they are a wealth of knowledge feels like an understatement. I have found that the piles of dietetic textbooks (although they continue to be an amazing resource) often don’t hold the information these professionals have gained throughout their years of experience. **Success Tip #2**: use your preceptors as a resource! They will challenge you and support you on a daily basis, and building these relationships will help to make you a successful intern, and future dietitian.
The connections I have made and the relationships I have built thus far in my internship year have played a central role throughout the entire experience. I am so grateful for each and every person I have met along the way and for the Cal Poly Internship in general for fostering such a supportive environment. Thanks for reading today’s post and hopefully benefiting from this insider’s view of what makes the Cal Poly internship so great. I hope you find **Success** wherever you go!