Tale of a Terrific Reference

If you’re gearing up for DICAS applications, you’re probably giving a lot of thought to what to include in your personal statement and how to show that your professional experiences have prepared you well to be a dietetic intern. These sections of the application significantly shape the story you tell about yourself to reviewers.

But remember that you’re not the only narrator in your application. Reviewers will be reading your letters of recommendation closely to see whether your references tell a similar story about you, add more layers and color to that same story, or actually refute it.

It might seem like you don’t have a lot of control over what goes into those letters, but if you approach this section of your application with the same care and forethought you do the rest of this process, you can increase the chances that your references will get you the fairy-tale ending to the match process that you’re seeking.

Reach out to References … Soon

If you haven’t contacted potential letter writers yet, now is the time to really think through who you want to ask, and to contact them as soon as you have it figured out. Many faculty members (and some of your supervisors, depending on the setting) will be fielding lots of requests for recommendations; if you wait too long to ask, you may miss your chance! Plus, the more time you give writers to complete this task, the more likely they are to create the strongest and most compelling letter they can for you.

Choose the Right Writers

Still, don’t rush this decision. Really think about who will be able to speak to your best strengths as a future intern and tell part of the particular story you want reviewers to read about you. Don’t just choose reviewers who like you or have known you the longest; reach out to potential references who can truly speak to the skills and attributes that make you the fabulous candidate you are! Often, these are professors or supervisors who watched you overcome challenges, observed you push yourself out of your comfort zone and struggle a bit, or even saw you fall on your face – but then get up again, dust yourself off, and keep going, stronger than you were before.

Also think about how your references will complement each other. If all your references just tell different versions of the same chapter in your story, readers don’t learn as much about you. Choose writers who can each discuss distinct aspects of your character and story arc.

While it can make your quest for the perfect references more challenging, programs often require letters from a specific balance of writers (how many faculty members vs. how many supervisors, etc.). If part of the story you’re trying to tell is that you’re a critical thinker and detail-oriented, you’ll want to be sure to follow those directions!

Help References Find their Focus

If you want to make the most of this section of your application, you need to do more than just select good references and then hope they stick to your story. Instead, give your letter writers an advance copy of the plotline.

Tell your writers about the programs that will be receiving the letters. What kinds of program emphasis are represented? (If these vary widely, references shouldn’t mention one specifically – unless you’re using different references for

different applications, which you can do.) What are the programs looking for in an applicant? In particular, what qualities or characteristics do you want to be sure program reviewers know someone else has recognized in you? You want to share these details with your writers so they won’t miss any key plot points in their letters.

Give References Guidance

Provide each writer with a concise list of highlights or memorable moments from your work with or for them. They’ll have their own ideas of the story they want to tell about you, and that’s to your advantage – they’ll usually see strengths of yours that you wouldn’t have ever guessed. On the other hand, you never want to take for granted that your reference will think to tell that one fabulous anecdote that illustrates the depth of your character development. Rather, spell out the reasons you chose this writer to help tell your story.

Once someone commits to writing you a letter, you can send

a follow-up email with a simple “I knew you’d be the perfect person to write my reference because you saw me….” Another approach is to provide a (short) bulleted list of examples that fit the narrative you want told, such as: “a few things you might want to mention that I believe illustrate my self-direction and critical thinking include….” Emphasize examples that your references witnessed first-hand. Reviewers can read your resume; we like your references to tell us about some of the off-the-page moments we can only learn about through their unique perspective.

Follow these simple steps to turn your fantasy of a top-choice match into your own real-life happily ever after.