1. What is the first time RD exam pass rate for your program graduates?

~97% based on average of past 5 years

2. What projects are interns involved in throughout the internship?

MANY, BUT THEY CHANGE YEAR TO YEAR DEPENDING ON OPPORTUNITY. INTERNS WORK AT CAMPUS HEALTH FAIRS, SERVE AS NUTRITION COACHES FOR A PROGRAM CALLED HEALTHY CHARLESTON CHALLENGE (IMILAR TO THE "BIGGEST LOSER" CONCEPT), WORK ON A NUTRITION-RELATED MARKETING/VIDEO PROJECT (DIFFERENT TOPIC EACH YEAR), WRITE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, AND RECEIVE TRAINING TO CONDUCT THEIR OWN RESEARCH.  THIS YEAR, INTERNS WILL BE WORKING MUSC's URBAN FARM, PROVIDING NUTRITION COUNSELING TO COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS WITH SEVERE LEARNING DISABILITIES, AND COLLABORING WITH LOCAL CHEFS.

3.  What is the average GPA and GRE score range of students accepted?

• GPA:  ~3.3 -3.8 GPA (DPD, overall)
• at least 10% or above for the score titled "% below" in all areas of GRE testing (verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analtyical writing)

4. How do you measure intern progress? Evaluations? Tests? Pre/post exams?

ALL OF THE ABOVE. INTERNS ARE EVALUATED AFTER EVERY ROTATION AND PROJECT BY THEIR PRECEPTOR.  THE DIRECTOR ALSO CONDUCTS A MID-YEAR AND YEAR-END EVAL.  INTERNS WILL ALSO CONDUCT PEER EVALS ON EACH OTHER IN GROUP PROJECTS WHERE AN 'INTERN MANAGER' IS ASSIGNED.

5. Are the doctors/nurses at MUSC collaborative with the RD staff?

YES. MUSC IS A TEACHING HOSPITAL COMPRISED WITH  STUDENT BODY > 2800 MEDICAL, DENTAL, NURSING, PHARMACY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND OTHER HEALTH STUDENTS. 

6. Are the sites for rotations in the same vicinity or do I have to travel to other cities?

95% OF ALL ROTATIONS ARE LOCAL. THOSE THAT ARE NOT LOCAL DO NOT EXCEED 45 MILES FROM CHARLESTON, IN WHICH INTERNS CAN CARPOOL WITH THE PRECEPTORS.

7. Is there a class day for interns?

YES--EVERY MONDAY IN FALL SEMESTER AND EVERY FRIDAY IN SPRING SEMESTER.  THE DIRECTOR USES CLASS DAYS TO ALLOW INVITED GUEST SPEAKERS TO PRESENT THEIR CLINICAL EXPERTISE AND TO RECEIVE ORIENTATION DIRECTLY FROM PRECEPTOR FOR UPCOMING ROTATIONS.  CLASS DAYS ARE ALSO USED FOR INTERNS TO WORK ON GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, ATTEND "MINI" FIELD TRIPS, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN SCHEDULED WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS, AND SIMULATED LEARNING ACTIVITIES.

8. How much would I work with other interns in the program?

A LOT! OUR INTERNS BECOME VERY CLOSE. THEY WORK ON AT LEAST 7-8 MAJOR GROUP PROJECTS. MANY INTERNS ARE PAIRED OR GROUPED FOR ROTATIONS AS WELL. MANY INTERNS EVEN CHOOSE TO LIVE TOGETHER.

9.  What is your concentration emphasis?

CLINICAL MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY--MEANING INTERNS RECEIVE A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIENCE IN INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT CLINICS AT MUSC WHERE THEY WILL APPLY THE NUTRITION CARE PROCESS.

IN 2011, WE SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHENED OUR COMMUNITY/PUBLIC HEALTH CURRICULUM BY OFFERING WORKSHOPS ON GRANT WRITING AND COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT.  MANY EXISTING PROJECTS AND ASSIGNMENTS WILL INCLUDE A COMMUNITY COMPONENT AS WELL. 

10. Can I obtain financial aid for this internship?

TECHNICALLY, MUSC DOES NOT CONSIDER YOU A STUDENT.  WHILE THIS CONCEPT HELPS TO KEEP TUITION RATES LOW, INTERNS CANNOT OFFICIALLY QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL LOAN ASSISTANCE.  MOST INTERNS NEEDING FINANCIAL AID DO SO VIA PERSONAL LOANS OR WORKING OUTSIDE THE INTERNSHIP.  THIS INTERNSHIP DOES OFFER A PAYMENT PLAN, AND WILL ACCEPT CREDIT CARD. 

INTERNS ARE ABLE TO DEFER EXISTING STUDENT LOANS DURING THE INTERNSHIP.

11.  The answer to the prior question mentioned I can work outside the internship.  What is considered a reasonable schedule?

HISTORICALLY, INTERNS WHO NEEDED TO WORK OUTSIDE THE INTERNSHIP COULD HANDLE 5-15 HOURS PER WEEK.  THERE ARE FEW INTERNSHIP-RELATED COMMITTMENTS AT NIGHT AND ON WEEKENDS

12.  What free services are available to interns? 

ACCESS TO THE WRITING CENTER, THE LIBRARY, OFF-CAMPUS PARKING.  INTERNS MUST PAY FOR THEIR OWN MEALS, ROOM/BOARD, AND LIVING EXPENSES.

ADDITIONALLY, A MENTORING COMMITTEE IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST INTERNS IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH.  EFFECTIVE 2010, WE WILL ALSO OFFER CONTINUED MENTORED SERVICES TO ALL OF OUR ALUMNI.

13.  Do you survey current and graduate interns on their approval rating of this program?

YES.  JUST PRIOR TO GRADUATION, ALL INTERNS ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE AN IN-DEPTH EVALUATION ON THE PROGRAM.  RESULTS FROM THE PAST 4 YEARS INDICATE THAT 100% OF INTERNS FELT THEIR LEARNING NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS WERE MET.  100% SAID THEY WOULD RECOMMEND THIS PROGRAM TO OTHERS.  

ONE-YEAR AFTER GRADUATION, ALUMNI ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A SECOND SURVEY REGARDING THE PROGRAM'S ABILITY TO PREPARE FOR ENTRY-LEVEL PRACTICE.  99% OF ALUMNI (AND THEIR EMPLOYERS) WHO RESPONDED FELT THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED QUALITY TRAINING AND PREPARATION.

14.  Approximately how many applications do you receive each year? 

IN THE PAST 2 YEARS, WE RECEIVED AN AVERAGE OF 135 APPLICATIONS.

15.  What is your program completion rate (graduation rate)?

WE HAVE A 99% GRADUATE RATE SINCE PROGRAM INCEPTION (1996).  WHILE ALL GRADUATES HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM WITHIN 150% OF THE PLANNED TIME PERIOD (I.E. WITHIN 65 WEEKS). 

APPROXIMATELY ~5% OF GRADUATES HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM "LATE" BY COMPLETEING ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 5 ADDITIONAL WEEKS AFTER GRADUATION(I.E. UP TO 48 WEEKS).  ONE REASONS COULD BE DUE TO "MAKING UP" MISSED TIME SECONDARY TO A SIGNIFICANT ILLNESS OR PERSONAL ISSUES.  ANOTHER REASON IS TO REPEAT LEARNINGEXPERIENCES WHERE THE INTERN MAY HAVE STRUGGLED TO ENSURE HE/SHE ATTAINS MINIMAL COMPENTENCY STANDARDS FOR SUCCESSFUL ENTRY-LEVEL PRACTICE.

16.  Where are most of your current interns from the US and abroad?

HISTORICALLY OUR INTERNS COME FROM ALL OVER THE US, HOWEVER THE MAJORITY OF OUR APPLICANT POOL TENDS TO REMAIN FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. GIVEN OUR OWN GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION.  WE HAVE NO QUOTAS OR FAVORITES OF ANY ONE DPD PROGRAM OR GEOGRAPHIC REGION. WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY UNIVERSITY AND COMPLY WITH  A.C.E.N.D.'S VALUES IN DIVERSITY.

UNFORTUNATELY WE CANNOT ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS HERE ON VISAS.

17.  Does having a graduate degree help my chances?

HISTORICALLY, OUR INTERNS HAVE BEEN A MIXTURE OF BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S PREPARATAION.  WE DO NOT FAVOR EITHER TYPE OF PREPARATION.

18.  Do graduates easily find jobs upon graduation?

HISTORICALLY, THOSE INTERNS SEEKING JOBS IN DIETETICS (VS. THOSE WHO MAY CHOOSE TO STUDY FOR THE RD EXAM FOR SEVERAL MONTHERS BEFORE ACTIVELY SEEKING EMPLOYMENT OR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION) FIND EMPLOYMENT WITHIN 3-5 MONTHS AFTER GRADUATION.  WE SEE NO REAL TREND IN JOB SCOPE OR VENUE....MOST WILL JUST TAKE WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY THEY CHOOSE TO LIVE!  MUSC HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN ABLE TO HIRE 1-2 OF OUR OWN INTERNS EACH YEAR ASSUMING POSITIONS ARE OPEN.