Application Information

The selection committee selects students on a competitive basis, based on the contents of their application. The strongest applicant has demonstrated scholastic achievement, participated in relevant work, volunteer and elective experiences, is an effective communicator, shows an ability to work cooperatively with others, and has some leadership experience. 

The following selection criteria are considered and listed in order of importance below:

Academics

A strong applicant is one who has done well in both professional nutrition courses and general science courses with a minimum Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) GPA of 3.0.  Particular attention is paid to upper division nutrition (advanced nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, nutrition and the lifecycle) and science (anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry) courses. The academic coursework must have been completed within three years from start date of the dietetic internship.

Essay Questions

Applicant's responses to the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) Personal Statement and UC Davis Medical Center Addendum Questions are reviewed.  Strong responses:

• Address all components of the questions
• Include specific examples
• Highlight your skills and suitability for the program, including leadership skills, ability to work with others, problem solve and critically think.

Letters of Recommendation

DICAS requires three letters of recommendation in your application.  Your letters of recommendation should be from those who know you well enough to comment on your strengths, your achievements and those qualities that will make you successful.  UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship requires at least one letter from a work or volunteer supervisor and at least one letter from an academic reference (professor, academic advisor).  The third letter can be either a supervisor or academic reference.

Work and Volunteer Experience

Work experience related to nutrition or foodservice is a plus, but is not mandatory. Valued work experience is that which gives a student responsibility, time management, problem solving, ability to work with others and leadership skills.

Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities that demonstrate your individual strengths, especially those that highlight time management skills, ability to problem solve and collaborate with others will be considered.

Interviews

Interviews with top candidates will be held in late February prior to the offer deadline. Strong interview candidates demonstrate effective communication, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.

The UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship, in accordance with applicable federal and state law and university policy, prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person seeking admission to the dietetic internship on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry, marital status or age. The UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran or within the limits imposed by law or university policy, on the basis of citizenship.

Centralized Application: DICAS

The UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program participates in the on-line centralized internship application, referred to as DICAS. Our program information will be uploaded and available to applicants in DICAS by November 1, 2024 for the Spring Acceptance.

DICAS can be accessed through the following link: https://dicas.liaisoncas.com/

Applications are due in DICAS by January 6, 2025 11:59 PM central time.

Application Checklist

The UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program Application Checklist is a step-by-step guide to our application process. 

Application Fees

Note: DICAS fees are $50 for the first application and $25 for each additional application in their system.

In addition to the online DICAS application, the UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program requires an additional application fee of $50 which is due to be received by no later than January 6, 2025.

Payment Options: 

1. Pay with credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover) by contacting the UC Davis Health Cashier’s Office by secure phone line (916.736.2621) and make payment over the phone.  Payment must be received no later than January 6, 2025.

1. 1. Information to provide to Cashier: Name of Intern Applicant, state payment is for UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program Application Fee.  Inform them this is a student application payment (so no credit card processing fees are charged to student.)
   2. Cashier’s Office Hours: Monday – Friday,  8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. for lunch. Closed on holidays.

OR

2. Pay with personal check or cashier’s check and mail with the Application Payment Cover Sheet to be completed and mailed directly to the UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program, postmarked no later than December 23, 2024. The Application Payment Cover Sheet with instructions on how to send payment can be downloaded by clicking on the following link: UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship Application Payment Cover Sheet. 

Addendum Questions

In addition to the Personal Statement required in DICAS, the UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program requires each applicant to answer two addendum questions.  Please type your name on the upper right-hand corner of EACH page and limit each answer to 300 words, single spaced.

Upload the answers to the two addendum questions to DICAS in the "Dietetic Internship Program Designation" section by the deadline. The Addendum Questions can be found by clicking this link: UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program Addendum Questions.

Dietetic Intern Position Offers

• Offers for the Dietetic Intern Positions will first be released emailed out on or before March 1, 2025. Offers will initially be made to the top 6 candidates.
  • Offers may continue be sent out after March 1st  based on responses of other applicants. If a spot is declined, the spot will then be offered to the next best candidate. 
• Applicants who receive an offer can accept or decline the offer via email by or before March 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST. 

Post Decision Day Position Offers

In the event that our internship class is not filled by March 15, 2025 Decision Day, offers will continue to be sent per our ranked list of applicants.

If the internship class continues to not be filled after offers have been extended, UCDMC Dietetic Internship will open back up applications for interested applicants. DICAS will be updated to extend the deadline date for new applications and this date will be communicated via our website and DICAS. The same application materials will be required as listed in our Application Checklist linked above. Those individuals who have already submitted a completed application prior to the January 6, 2025 deadline need not to reapply.  For new applicants, please note the following:

• All admission requirements must be met.
• Selection criteria described on our website will apply to new applicants.
• No interview will be conducted.
• Applicants should monitor their phone and email and respond promptly.  Non-response within a 4-hour window will initiate our moving down the list of applicants.

Students with degrees obtained outside of the United States and its territories must first review the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) list of required procedures for international applicants. More information is available from ACEND's website about obtaining a dietetics credentials with a foreign degree, including educational and credentialing requirements.

For more general information about applying to UC Davis as an international student, please refer to International Admissions Requirements and Services for International Students and Scholars