Friday, March 28, 2014

The Waiting Game

The Waiting Game AKA the 10 days left that I have to find out if I'm in a dietetic internship. It's an understatement to say my anxiety levels are through the roof. As I've talked about before on this blog, February 15th was the deadline to apply for dietetic internships, a 9 month to a year long program that enables me to get field experience and sit for the Registered Dietitian exam. It's taken me a while to reach this stage in my education/career but I'm here. 10 days stand between me and fate. I'm pretty sure my application is competitive enough. Here's to hoping that program directors/committees see it that way too. 

Last post I was getting a bit anxious because I had yet to hear back from any of the programs I applied to. Over a month had gone by and not a single email or call.  I think I've been driving my husband crazy by just talking about it over and over again.



He deals with it though. Even though I know I'm getting pretty annoying. :)

However, these past 2 weeks have been really hopeful since I heard from 2 of the programs and have secured interviews with both. One being my first choice and I am super stoked!
I'm just going to be honest my first interview should have been a practice run. I think everything that could have gone wrong, did. It was not pretty. I would be very shocked if I got into the program. I may go into more detail at a later time since I still may have a chance and don't want to give away my choices.
Honestly, this was how I felt...

But I am happy that now I get a second chance with another interview. I know I can do this and my confidence level is pretty high now that I know what NOT to do. 
Interviewing is so scary but I have been preparing for a whole week now. Along with doing some yoga that helps with the nerves and stress.

Here are some links/tips for dietetic internship practice questions that have really helped me:
  • On The Road to RD Interview questions -Read this blog is you are interested in reading about someone's experience applying and getting into a DI
  • The Nutrition Translator : How to Succeed in Dietetics -She provides a list of interview questions towards the bottom of the post. But honestly the whole post is pretty informative
  • All Access Internships Getting Matched guide -Download and reap the benefits of this. I believe pg. 41 is where she has provided a list of interview questions but this manual has been my go-to for this entire process.
  • Contact previous/current interns for that specific program that can tell you what kinds of questions they were asked in their interview.
  • Preparing for the dietetic internship interview -More broad questions to think about
  • If the website for the DI provides a guide or handbook for interns. READ IT. Directors and committees want you to know what their program expects of you and they want to know what YOU know about their program.
  • Also, I am taking the questions that were thrown at me during my first interview and actually preparing a better answer in case my 2nd interviewer asks me the same questions.


So, that is what I am doing on my day off. I am preparing my answers, reading case studies I completed in MNT (>2 years ago!!!!), and then working out eventually for some stress relief.


Why thanks Ryan, but it's actually an interview for an.. Oh God nevermind. Thanks :)

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Glad blogging wasn't one of my resolutions....

Oh yeah, that's right I had no resolutions! But still, I'm sucking at the blogging thing this year. 

I am a big ball of anxiety at the moment because DICAS apps have been submitted (Feb 14) and we still have 3 weeks to go before the highly anticipated/dreaded Match Day! April 6 cannot get here sooner. I had an opportunity arise that would have saved me this stress and anxiety but I chose to forgo that in order to stick with my original plans. I'll be so mad at myself if Match Day doesn't end well for me but I am still hopeful I can get accepted. I've told some of the RDs at work and they seem to think I have nothing to worry about so we shall see. I am more worried because I haven't received any notification from any programs I applied to regarding interviews. I let it slide the first month, making excuses like "oh the weather has been horrible, maybe the committees haven't been able to get together" or "maybe my application blew them away that they felt I didn't need an interview?". That's just silly. However, I am now 3 weeks away and I have heard nothing. One of the programs I applied to says they don't do interviews. It will be interesting to see what happens. In the meantime I have been obsessing over intern blogs and reading about current and past interns experiences with the DI. It helps me realize that everyone's path to becoming a registered dietitian is different. I'm also deciding that if I get into an internship, I will create a strictly nutrition related twitter and I will chronicle my DI experience on another blog. This is really my de-stress and have fun blog. :)


Besides that....worrying over getting accepted has made me very productive in other aspects of my life. I had my 6 month evaluation at work and it was great. I am very happy that I can do my job well. It makes me happy even if there are always frustrating situations to deal with but I feel like these situations prepare and make me even better at my job. I work a lot but I've been making time for friends a lot more lately. This has been my goal for this year to make time for friends because ever  since the wedding and starting this job my husband and my dog are the only ones I seemed to have time to do anything with. My best friend and I have made us plan to visit more NC wineries this year. We made it to Raffaldini vineyards last month and it was so much fun! We had a blast! It felt like old times with her and I miss that. 

In other news, I've been busy getting ready for my other friend's wedding. I'm the matron of honor and I am so excited since she and her fiance started dating about 2 weeks after Thomas and I did. We love those two and are so happy they are tying the knot! A couple of weeks ago her and I went on a relaxing weekend trip to the beach where we spent one day at the spa, it was much needed for both of us in different ways, of course. She's dealing with that glorious wedding anxiety while I'm stressing about getting into internships. 
We also had her wedding shower recently. We had a great time laughing at the multiple canister sets she received. (8!!) 

It's comforting to know that no matter where my life leads or what happens to my career I have great people in my life. I wouldn't know what do without them.

Until next time and hopefully I will have some good news in the future!