Application and Selection

Application Eligibility Requirements:

• Earn a verification statement from an accredited Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD) before the start of the program.
• Earn a GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 in DPD coursework.
• If the DPD verification statement was issued more than five years prior to the internship start date, the application must demonstrate that additional coursework meets the internship’s Recency of Education Policy.
• Earn a graduate degree, have a plan to complete a graduate degree before the end of the internship, or plan to enroll in Virginia Tech’s Online Masters of Agriculture and Life Sciences program.
• Have paid or unpaid work experience in a food and/or nutrition practice setting.

Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway applicants: the application and selection process for ISPP interns has different guidelines which are located in the ISPP policy.

Application Processes:

There are two separate application processes based on an applicant’s candidacy:

• Pre-select option – Candidates meeting certain eligibility criteria who wish to commit to our program before the computer match
• Computer match option - Candidates who plan to participate in the computer match

Pre-select Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants wishing to participate in the pre-select option must meet at least one of the eligibility criteria listed below.

1. Have a DPD verification statement from Virginia Tech (or receive one before the internship start date OR
2. Be enrolled in a graduate program that has a partnership agreement with our program (contact us to learn if you can qualify through this option) OR
3. Have an interest in completing supervised practice experiences geographically distanced from our two central program locations of Blacksburg and Northern Virginia/DC metro area.

• Locations affiliated with Northern Virginia/DC metro area
  • Martinsburg, WV
  • Winchester, VA
• Locations affiliated with Blacksburg:
  • Abingdon, VA
  • Danville, VA
• Other locations that may be considered:
  • Lynchburg, VA
  • Richmond, VA
  • Williamsburg/Norfolk, VA

Applicants selected to participate in the internship in these geographically distanced locations must attend the program’s in-person classes in either Blacksburg or Northern Virginia/DC metro area approximately twice per month.

Option 1: Apply through the pre-select process (application due date January 15)

1. Complete and submit your application through the Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application System (DICAS) online application.
2. Pay the Virginia Tech Internship Program application fee of $50. This is separate from the fee to register with DICAS. Create an account here to pay the Virginia Tech application fee.

Candidates who apply through the pre-select option do not need to register for the computer matching system managed by D&D Digital Systems.

Option 2  - Apply through the computer match (application due date February 15)

1. Complete and submit your application through the Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application System (DICAS) online application.
2. Pay the Virginia Tech Internship Program application fee of $50. This is separate from the fee to register with DICAS.  Create an account here to pay the Virginia Tech application fee.
3. Register for the computer matching system managed by D&D Digital Systems. Virginia Tech has two match numbers; select 265 for the Northern Virginia location or 488 for the Blacksburg location. If you want to be considered for both locations, you must select and rank both matching numbers. If you do not select the correct match number(s), your application cannot be considered.

Selection Process:

All Applicants (pre-select and applicants participating in computer match):

• The most qualified applicants have strong references and academic performance, work and/or volunteer experience in at least one food or nutrition practice setting, and professional goals that are compatible with the Virginia Tech internship design.
• Interviews are not conducted. Applicants are strongly encouraged to connect with a director through an information session or virtual office hours.

Pre-Select Applicants:

• Pre-select applicants are notified of their acceptance or nonacceptance via email by January 27.
• Applicants who are offered admission through the pre-select process must accept their position by emailing the Virginia Tech Internship Program Director within 48 hours.
• The program will notify D&D Digital Systems of those accepting pre-select positions, which will remove you from the computer match process.
• Applicants who are not offered admission through the pre-select process are encouraged to register for the computer match through D&D Digital Systems by February 15. Refer to Option 2 in the application steps above for details on how to apply through the computer match. (You do not need to pay an additional Virginia Tech application fee if you already paid as part of your pre-select application.)

Applicants Participating in the Computer Match:

• Applicants are notified of the results of the computer match on D&D Digital’s website (using a personal login and password) according to the computer matching timeline.
• Applicants who are matched with Virginia Tech must confirm acceptance of their position by emailing the Virginia Tech Program Director by the deadline noted on the computer matching timeline.