____________________________________________________________________________________
September, 2009
Dear Prospective Intern:
Thank you for your interest in the Dietetic Internship Program offered at the University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Health Related Professions (UMDNJ-SHRP). Enclosed you will find
information regarding our internship and application materials with instructions for the traditional Dietetic
Internship Program (Track One). If you are interested in applying to the Combined Dietetic
Internship/Master's Degree Program, please contact the Nutritional Sciences Department at Rutgers, The
State University of New Jersey (732-932-9439), for information and an application. Special instructions
for application to the combined Internship/Master’s degree can also be downloaded from our internship
website at http://shrp.umdnj.edu/programs/dietetic/index.htm.
The internship program at UMDNJ-SHRP is a nationally renowned program. Our dietetics faculty
includes state and national leaders in the dietetics profession. Over the past decade, our graduates have
frequently exceeded the national average for the percent of graduates passing the RD exam on the first
attempt and their exam scores meet or exceed national averages. In addition, graduates of our program
have secured employment in a variety of dietetic practice areas and many have gone on to become dietetic
leaders themselves. Our program is designed to provide the core professional competencies for entry-level
dietetics practice. In addition, the program has developed a unique emphasis combining nutrition therapy
and community dietetics. Clinical and didactic experiences are provided in medical nutrition therapy,
community health promotion, and food service systems management. The curriculum also provides
opportunities for interns to select an area of practice for a one-week specialty practice rotation as well as
for interdisciplinary training that introduces the intern to the concepts of multi-skilling and other
challenging experiences that will help prepare graduates for the changing health care market of the twentyfirst century.
This year, we will be conducting two Open Houses on our Scotch Plains campus. The first is scheduled
for Friday, November 20, 2009 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. The second open house is scheduled for
Thursday January 7, 2010 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Please complete and return the attached form if
you plan to attend either of these open house events. During the open house, you can visit the University’s
newest campus in Scotch Plains which is home to the Dietetic Internship Program, meet program faculty,
learn more about our program and application procedures, and experience a virtual tour of other University
campus facilities. We hope you will join us so that we may answer your questions.
Please feel free to contact us with any inquiries by phone at 908-889-2488, by fax at 908-889-2505, or via
e-mail mckayge@umdnj.edu. Also visit our web site at
http://shrp.umdnj.edu/programs/dietetic/index.htm.
Sincerely yours,
M. Geraldine McKay, M Ed., RD
Director, Dietetic Internship Program
____ I will attend the Open House on Friday November 20, 2009 at 12:00 PM (Scotch Plains Campus)
____ I will attend the Open House on Tuesday, January 7, 2010 at 12:00 PM (Scotch Plains Campus)
Name: ______________________________
Address: _____________________________
College or University _______________________
Phone: (at school)___________________
_______________________________
(at home)____________________
_______________________________
Email: __________________________
Please list contact number for day of event in case schedules change due to inclement weather or other
emergency ________________________________________________________________________
You may mail, fax or e-mail your response to:
UMDNJ- SHRP Dietetic Internship
1776 Raritan Rd.
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
Fax: 908-889-2505
E-mail: payneob@umdnj.edu
For the November Open House, please respond no later than November 17, 2009.
For the January Open House, please respond no later than December 27, 2009.
Confirmation and specific directions will be mailed to you upon receipt of response.
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
School of Health Related Professions
Dietetic Internship Program
Admissions Policies & Procedures
Applicants to the Dietetic Internship Program must prepare TWO packets: one original and one
duplicate.
The original packet should be sent to:
Office of Enrollment Services—Dietetic Internship Application
UMDNJ-SHRP
65 Bergen St., Room 149
Newark, NJ 07107-3001
The duplicate packet should be sent to:
Dietetic Internship Program
UMDNJ-SHRP
1776 Raritan Rd.
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
Application packets must be post-marked by February 2, 2010.
(Please note: this is 14 days before the standard Dietetic Internship application deadline.)
A checklist describing the contents of each packet appears at the end of this document.
Applicants to the Joint MS/DI Program with Rutgers University should request an
application packet from the Rutgers University Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences
(732-932-9439). You must complete the admissions procedures for the Graduate School outlined
by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and the joint program admissions materials that
will be sent to you by the Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences. Both of these applications
must be postmarked by February 2, 2010.
I. Documents to be submitted for application
A. Transcripts
1. Official transcripts should be sent from your registrar directly to SHRP Office of Enrollment
Services –se address above. (Official transcripts can be included with the original packet sent to
the Office of Enrollment Services if they are in a sealed envelope from your registrar.) Official
transcripts from all colleges and universities attended are required for your application to be
considered. If the transcript does not contain courses and grades from the fall semester, a
verified listing must be attached to the transcript. A list of courses for which you are presently
enrolled is also required.
PLEASE NOTE: A minimum overall GPA of 2.9 is required for admission. If you do not
meet this criterion but feel that you are a viable candidate for admission to the program, please
write a brief separate letter explaining your extenuating circumstances to the Admissions
Committee. Applications from persons with a GPA below 2.9 will not be considered unless a
separate explanatory letter is enclosed (do not address in goal statement).
2. A student copy of your transcript(s) should be included in the duplicate packet.
3. Applicants with degrees from foreign countries must submit an official copy of a transcript
evaluation prepared by a recognized transcript evaluation agency such as: World Education
Services Inc., PO Box 5087, Bowling Green Station, New York, NY, 10274-5087,
http://www.wes.org/ ; or similar transcript evaluation service. In addition to the official
transcript evaluation, applicants with degrees from foreign countries must also supply official
copies of their transcripts from the granting institution. These should be submitted with the
original packet.
B. Computer Matching
All applicants to Dietetic Internships (DI) must participate in computer matching. Applicants
may request this material from any ADA-approved Didactic Program in Dietetics or from D & D
Digital Systems. The Combined Release and Preference Sheet may be downloaded from the D &
D Digital Systems website at http://www.dnddigital.com/ada/index.html. This must be
submitted to D & D Digital by February 16, 2010 postmark deadline. There is no charge for
this material. However, there is a $50.00 charge for computer matching that is due with the
applicant's prioritized ranking. Inquiries may be made to: D & D Digital Systems, 304 Main St.,
Suite 301, Ames, IA 50010-6148; phone: 515-292-0490; fax: 515-663-9427; e-mail:
dnd@netins.net.
C. School of Health Related Professions (SHRP) Application
The UMDNJ-SHRP application form should be sent with the original packet to the Newark
address above. This form is included in our Dietetic Internship application packet or can be
downloaded from the SHRP website at
http://shrp.umdnj.edu/admissions/documents/ApplicationforAdmission.pdf . A photocopy
should be included in the duplicate packet. You must complete the hard copy of the SHRP
application and include it with your packets rather than completing the on-line application.
Please note: High school transcripts are NOT required for application to the Dietetic Internship
Program.
D. Application Fee
The $75.00 non-refundable application fee payable to UMDNJ-SHRP should be sent with your
original packet to the Office of Enrollment Services in Newark.
E. Standardized Dietetic Internship Program Application
The standardized Dietetic Internship Program Application Form should be completed and
included in both the original and duplicate packets. A hard copy of this form may be obtained
from our Dietetic Internship Program. A copy may also be downloaded from the web site of the
Dietetic Educators of Practitioners Dietetic Practice Group web site at: http://www.depdpg.org/
or from the UMDNJ Dietetic Internship web site at
http://shrp.umdnj.edu/programs/dietetic/diet_applications.html .
Please note the following specifics:
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

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for Track 1
All sections of the application forms must be completed. DO NOT include or refer to
resumes.
Use paper clips only to fasten application together. DO NOT have application bound or
placed in a special folder.
F. Recommendation Forms
Three recommendations are required for the application. The recommendation forms are
available at the same sites noted for the Standardized Dietetic Internship Program Application in
Section E above. Recommendations should be enclosed with the duplicate packet or may be sent
directly by the recommender to our Scotch Plains address. Do not submit more than three
letters of recommendation. Individuals writing recommendations on your behalf should be able
to comment on your academic record and/or work/volunteer experience. Whenever possible,
include both an academic and a work experience recommendation.
G. Verification Statements
An official copy of either a Verification Statement or a Declaration of Intent to Complete, signed
by your didactic program director, must be included in the original packet. A photocopy of this
document should be included in the duplicate packet.
H. Goals Statement
The goals statement is the applicant's statement of career aspirations and professional goals. It
must be typed. This statement should include a) how and when you became interested in
dietetics; b) what your short and long-term professional goals are; c) what personal
characteristics you possess that will contribute to the attainment of these goals; and d) why you
have chosen to apply to the UMDNJ Dietetic Internship Program. Be specific. Limit to two
double-spaced typewritten pages, no smaller than 12size font and include your full name.
I. TOEFL Scores
If you did not attend secondary school or college in the US or have not completed a sufficient
number of college level English courses, you are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computerbased test, or 79 on the internet-based test is required. All results must be forwarded directly to
SHRP Office of Enrollment Services (address above) from the testing agency. A copy of the
report should be included in the duplicate packet.
J. Essential Functions for Participation in Courses--Candidate's Acknowledgement
Please read the "UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions, Essential Functions for
Participation in Courses" included with this packet or available on the UMDNJ Dietetic
Internship web site http://shrp.umdnj.edu/admissions/admissions_tech.html . Please sign the
acknowledgment statement on the last page of the SHRP application.
II. Interviews
An interview is a required aspect of the selection process. For those individuals who are unable
to travel, telephone interviews will be arranged. (For applicants who are out of the country at the
interview time, the cost of the telephone interview must be borne by the applicant.)
 YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CALL ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010 TO
SCHEDULE YOUR INTERVIEW.
 Place call between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM EST.
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Call 908 889 2488 for an interview time on Monday(2/15) and/or Tuesday (2/16)
Call 908 889 2494 for an interview time on Wednesday (2/17) and/or Thursday (2/18)
Interviews will be held February 15 – February 18, 2010 at designated times.
All in-person interviews will be conducted on the Scotch Plains campus.
III. Tuition and Fees
For the 2009-2010 academic year the following is the cost of tuition and fees.
Tuition: New Jersey residents is $357.00/32 credits.
Out of State Residents: Tuition is 50% more.
Students who have permanent residences outside of the U.S. shall pay the out-of-state
tuition rate.
Fees: Administrative Fee: $50.00
Student Fee: $320.00
Technology Fee: $300.00
Graduation Fee: $80.00
Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice.
To obtain information about Financial Aid, contact the University-wide Office of Financial Aid,
UMDNJ, 100 Bergen St., Newark, NJ 07103 or at
http://www.umdnj.edu/studentfinancialaid/index_new_brow.htm
Scholarships are also available through the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Information
about the 2009-2010 scholarship applications is available from ADA. Contact the American
Dietetic Association at (800) 877-1600, ext. 5400 for an application or it can be downloaded
from ADA’s Web site at
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/career_394_ENU_HTML.htm .
IV. Selection of Students
Selection of students for admission to the internship program is the responsibility of the Dietetic
Internship Admissions and Selection Committee. This committee consists of nine members
chosen from the academic and clinical faculty, one dietetic intern and is under the direction of the
Director of the Program.
The decisions are based on a composite of applicant's overall academic ability with particular
emphasis on aptitude and the abilities in DPD courses, the ability of the candidate to express self
orally and in writing, professional goals, personal characteristics, including leadership potential,
and both life and work experiences.
All applicants will receive written notification of the decisions of the Selection Committee
directly from the computer matching company.
V. Return of Application Materials
All materials submitted for application to the UMDNJ-SHRP Dietetic Internship Program
become the property of the School. None will be returned.
UMDNJ-SHRP does not discriminate against qualified individuals on the basis of race, creed, sex,
national origin or disability. The Disability Compliance Coordinator may be reached at 973-9728594.
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey recognizes the value of diversity and is
committed to providing appropriate support for its student body.
CHECKLIST OF DOCUMENTS FOR ADMISSIONS APPLICATIONS
Original Packet
Duplicate Packet
Transcripts
Official transcripts sent directly
from your registrar*
Student copy of transcript
ADA Supervised Practice
Program Application
Signed original
Photocopy
Verification Statement or
Declaration of Intent
Signed original
Photocopy
Recommendations
None
3 original recommendations
Goals Statement
Original
Photocopy
For International
graduates
Official transcript evaluation
Official TOEFL scores
Copy of transcript evaluation
Copy of TOEFL scores
SHRP Application
Signed original
Photocopy
Application Fee
$75.00 Fee
None
*Official Transcripts should be sent directly from your Registrar to the Office of Enrollment
Services, UMDNJ-SHRP, 65 Bergen St., Room 149, Newark, NJ 07107-3001