Admissions
Prerequisites
To be accepted into the Dietetic Internship Program in Rochester, you must have:
- A bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited college or university with a major in nutrition and food science or dietetics which meets the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics approved course work requirements established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Verification Statement completed by a didactic program director.
- Completed Didactic Programs in Dietetics (DPD) course requirements within the last five years. Additional course work may be required if your degree was completed more than five years ago.
Applicants are selected based on a culmination of grades (GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale), work and volunteer experiences, leadership qualities, and representation of personal qualities and skills in a personal statement and phone interview.
We are looking for well-rounded applicants who can work well with clients and staff, in addition to being able to learn quickly and maintain previously taught information.
International applicants
U.S. citizenship or Permanent Immigrant Status is required for admission to the Dietetics Internship Program.
Admissions policy
Today's allied health education requires that the accumulation of scientific knowledge be accompanied by the simultaneous acquisition of essential skills and professional attitudes and behavior. The goal of MSHS programs is to graduate the best health care practitioners. Further, MSHS must also ensure that patients are not placed in jeopardy by students with impaired intellectual, physical or emotional functions. Therefore, admission to educational programs is offered only to those applicants who meet qualifications for education and training in the art and science of the respective allied health profession. Applicants should possess the following general qualities:
- Critical thinking
- Sound judgment
- Excellent communication skills
- Emotional stability and maturity
- Empathy
- Physical and mental stamina
- Ability to learn and function in a wide variety of didactic and clinical settings
You must be able to perform the essential functions of the profession and meet the standards of the curriculum. Students seeking exceptions to these standards or reasonable accommodations should initiate their request with the program director.
Fluency in written and spoken English is essential for success in the program and to ensure patient safety. Applicants must demonstrate objective competency in English through the admission interview and may be required to submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or equivalent examination.
Applicants are judged not only on scholastic accomplishments, but also on physical and emotional capacities to meet the requirements of the program's curriculum and to graduate as skilled and effective practitioners, with reasonable accommodations, if applicable. To preserve the welfare of students and patients, each MSHS program will establish minimum standards deemed essential for safety in practicing that respective profession. Applicants seeking accommodations should initiate their request with the program director.
Admissions committees for each program may require additional specific admission standards. Documentation of these program-specific standards is available from the program director.
Additional admission requirements
Applicants offered admission to MSHS programs must also comply with prevailing institutional policies and procedures regarding:
- Immunization
- Occupational Health Review and/or Physical Exam
- Background Study
- Drug Screen
- Health Insurance
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Confidentiality, and other training deemed necessary by Mayo Clinic and/or the MSHS program.
Questions about these requirements can be directed to the school.
Failure to comply or to provide requested documentation is grounds for rescinding an admission offer or terminating admission.
Student responsibilities
Students are required to exhibit professional and ethical conduct at all times.
Equal opportunity
Mayo School of Health Sciences upholds all federal and state laws that preclude discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities or veteran's status.
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