The University of Massachusetts Amherst

DI: Application and Admissions Requirements

Learn about the application and admissions requirements for the DI program.

Application and Admission Requirements

Admission to the University of Massachusetts Amherst Dietetic Internship (DI) is competitive among applicants and decided by the Internship Selection Committee. To enroll in the program, students must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Hold a master's degree in nutrition, public health, or health-related field, OR be in the process of completing a master's degree with a projected spring 2024 graduation date.
  • Have completed an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics approved or accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and have a verification statement signed by the DPD director. For information on specific DPD course requirements, please visit the University of Massachusetts Amherst DPD web page.
  • Personal Statement
    Applicants should include the following in their personal statement:
    • Why you want to be a registered dietitian?
    • Why you have selected the program at UMass Amherst?
    • What specific experiences have prepared you for a dietetic internship?
    • What unique skills/qualities you will bring to the profession?
    • Any pertinent short-term and long-term goals?
    • Describe a situation where you demonstrated the ability to complete a project or activity independently. (This example does not have to be nutrition or school related.)
  • Video Statement
    • UMass Amherst does not conduct personal interviews. Instead, we require the submission of a short video. This is an opportunity for us to see your personality and observe your ability to communicate. Please provide a one-minute video telling us why you feel you are a good fit for the DI at UMass Amherst.
    • Videos should be saved in a compatible format (MOV, MP4, AVI), uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo, and the link shared in your personal statement and/or uploaded to the supplemental section in your DICAS application. If you’re unable to upload the video, providing a link in your personal statement will be sufficient. Applications without a video submission may not be considered.
  • Academic Requirements
    • Specific courses: A recent (within the last three years), full-semester in medical nutrition herapy (MNT) (or comparable course identified by DPD requirements) is required. Students should have earned a "B" or better in their MNT (or equivalent) course, and a “B-” or better in their anatomy and physiology courses. If there are questions about these requirements, please contact the program director. 
    • Grades: A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for college work is expected. Specific attention is given to nutrition and science-related courses. Consideration for course load, employment status, extracurricular activities is given when reviewing overall grade expectations.
  • Work/Volunteer Experience
    • Work and/or volunteer experience (see below), letters of recommendation, personal statement and video are important components of the evaluation process.
    • Prior work and/or volunteer experiences in the nutrition and health-related fields are encouraged. Examples include, but are not limited to:
      • WIC or Headstart nutritionist
      • Emergency food agency (i.e., Food Bank)
      • Elder nutrition services agency
      • Hospital dietary department/office
      • Long-term care or acute-care facilities
      • “Specialty” outpatient clinics (i.e., diabetes, CF, cardiac rehab)
      • Nutrition education programs (i.e., Cooking Matters, EFNEP, Food Play)
  • Letters of Recommendation
    • An applicant should submit three letters of recommendation: at least two from faculty/instructor, and one from a supervisor/employer. Letters of recommendation are given significant attention during the application process. It is highly encouraged that you request letters from those who know you well, and can provide you with a strong recommendation. Overall scores of “more than satisfactory” or better for your application of nutrition knowledge, communication, and interpersonal skills are held in high regard. More than three recommendation letters may be included.
  • Residential Requirements
    • The UMass Amherst DI program is not a distance internship. The majority of rotation sites are located within one hour of the UMass Amherst Flagship campus. Interns are expected to live or relocate to the Western Mass area. Exceptions to living outside of the area are possible; however, securing your own clinical rotation site would be imperative. Note: Periodic travel to Western Mass throughout the program is expected (e.g., orientation, pre-clinical workshop, tours, etc.) regardless of living arrangements.
  • UMass Application Fee
    • There is an $85 application fee for the UMass Amherst Dietetic Internship. This fee is separate from any fee charged by DICAS or D&D Digital Systems. Payments by check must be received by the DICAS application deadline in February.
    • Checks should be made payable to: UMass Amherst Nutrition Department and mailed to:
      • Department of Nutrition
      • c/o Christy Maxwell, DI Program Director
      • University of Massachusetts Amherst
      • 236 Chenoweth Laboratory
      • 100 Holdsworth Way
      • Amherst, MA 01003-9282

Note: For accounting purposes, application fee checks will be deposited after match day. For those who match and are accepted into the UMass Amherst program, the $85 application fee will not be deposited (i.e., the fee will be waived).

  • Additional Fees:
    • UMass Amherst DI program uses the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service (DICAS) to process applications. There is a separate fee paid directly to DICAS. See the DICAS website for further information on the process and fees. Applicants are also required to use D&D Digital for the computer matching process. There is a separate fee for this service as well. Please see the D&D Digital website for more information.
University of Massachusetts Amherst