DICAS APPLICATION SPRING 2019 MATCH

• Take a deep breath

• You are more prepared than you think you

are

• Start with the easy stuff

• Don’t compare your application to other

students’, you have different strengths

• YOU’VE GOT THIS!!!

DPD COURSE LIST FORM

• https://ens.sdsu.edu/academic-programs/dpd/internship/

• This should be uploaded as a PDF

•Make sure you have completed (or are in the process of

completing) all of the requirements

COLLEGES ATTENDED

•ALL of the schools you have attended that contribute to your

degree even if it was just 1 class

• List them all separately – SD City & Mesa do not count as 1 school

SESSIONS & COURSE WORK

•ALL of your DPD courses not just Nutrition classes

•Go through each transcript separately

• Look on the DPD course list to determine if a DPD science course or

DPD professional course

• Input carefully, this will calculate your DPD GPA

TESTS

• Some DI’s want your GRE or TOEFL scores, check your DI websites

to determine if this is required

• If required, take the test ASAP so you can retake if you do not

earn the scores your DI requires

DPD CONTACT INFORMATION

• Complete this section ASAP to give Yumi time to respond

• If you are still completing classes, select Declaration of Intent

• If you have graduated, select Verification Statement

AWARDS, EXPERIENCE, VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

• Include EVERYTHING even if it is on your resume, DI’s may not look

at your resume and you want them to see ALL of your experience

• Honors & Awards – Dean’s List, scholarships, any academic awards

• Extracurricular Activities – SNO, etc. Shows you are part of things

• Volunteering – include it even if you volunteered once for a few

hours, DI’s want to see that you are well rounded

AWARDS, EXPERIENCE, VOLUNTEERING CONT.

• Paid experience – include it even if you think it might not be

relevant, it still shows that you have held a job and may contribute

to your hours

• Experience for academic credit – ENS 499, TA, research assistant,

etc. Shows that you contribute to the academic community

• Certifications – Food Handler’s Card, SERV Safe, etc.

AWARDS, EXPERIENCE, VOLUNTEERING CONT.

• Include ALL of your hours – some may not count so put in all of

your work experience so you meet the minimum hour requirements

• Check DI websites for minimum experience hour requirements

PERSONAL STATEMENT

• Look at DI websites to find what each DI wants specifically

•Make sure to answer EVERY QUESTION on DICAS and DI websites

• Tailor statements to each DI – you may be able to use the same

basic statement and tailor just the last paragraph depending on

requirements

PERSONAL STATEMENT CONT.

• Have at least 1 other person read it before submitting, you are

too close to it to see issues

• This person should know the questions you are asked to answer and

be able to give you constructive criticism (should not be your mom)

•Make sure you say why you are applying to that DI specifically,

they want to know why you chose them

RESUME

• Submit as a PDF

• Include your DPD portfolio website

• There is a size limit for PDF, you may need to compress it

• https://smallpdf.com/compress-pdf

REFERENCES

• At least 3 are required

•ASK NOW! They get overloaded close to submission date, they

may not be willing to write your letter if you wait

• Recommend DPD director if possible, 1-2 SDSU lecturers or

professors who know you personally, 1 employer who likes you

REFERENCES CONT.

•Once you submit their name in DICAS, they automatically get an

email asking for the reference so make sure you ask them prior to

submitting their name in DICAS

• Provide those you ask for references with your DPD portfolio and

resume to make it easier to write your letter

• Send thank you notes to references, they did you a HUGE favor

TRANSCRIPTS

• Start this now, they take a while!

• Use the Transcript Request form on the left side of each school you

listed in Colleges Attended section of DICAS, print it out and take

to registrar of each school. This should be sent in with the hard

copy of your transcript – most schools in this area are familiar with

this form

TRANSCRIPTS CONT.

• Transcripts MUST BE sent directly to DICAS, they will not accept

transcripts that are addressed to student then mailed by you

• DICAS shows which transcripts they have received, it’s your job to

make sure they all get there on time – they will not tell you if

transcripts have not arrived

DI WEBSITES

• Check the website of each DI you are applying to, they all have

different requirements

• You will pay an application fee to D&D, DICAS, and each DI

• DI may require you to submit paperwork to them by application

deadline, know your dates

DI WEBSITES CONT.

• Contact the director of each program you are applying to – it puts

your name on their radar, they will remember your name when

they see your application

• Ask them a question, any reason to contact them is good

• Look for any supplemental material they need

D&D DIGITAL

• https://www.dnddigital.com/

•Where the actual matching happens

• Choose DI programs and order them

• You can reorder your choices 3/25 – 4/1 after interviews

• Put your first choice first even if it’s a long shot

SUBMITTING

• NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 15, 2019 AT 11:59 PM CENTRAL

STANDARD TIME = 9:59 PM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME

• They do not make exceptions!

• Personal statements must be attached to the program – under Program

Designations you can specify

• Print a copy of each application to review prior to submitting – it’s

easier to see mistakes on paper

SUBMITTING CONT.

• Submit 1-2 days early if possible

• You will be asked several questions after you press submit

• You don’t get any kind of submission verification but DICAS will

show that your application is closed

• After submitting, TREAT YO SELF!

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

• Don’t stress, you still have plenty of time to get this done

• It’s good to have a timeline set up for yourself to make sure you

complete everything

• It’s easier to do this before classes start, once classes start your

focus is divided

• YOU CAN DO THIS!!!