Application Information

Submitting an Application

Dietetic Internship Only and Masters Plus DI Options: Our dietetic internship program participates in DICAS (Dietetics Inclusive Central Application Service). This requires that your application be submitted through the central application portal. The ACEND website provides additional information on the centralized application process. Please follow the DICAS instructions for submitting your application. Our portal will be available in August for the Fall application period and on October 2 for the Spring application period.

The deadline for applications is January 15 for the Spring application period and October 1 for the Fall application period. During the Spring application period, applicants to our Dietetic Internship Only AND Master's Plus DI options will choose whether to apply to the August start date, the January start date, or both. Applicants who select both will be ranked by preference using the supplemental application form located in DICAS. Therefore, all 16 Dietetic Intern positions may be filled during the Spring application period.

• All applicants will be notified no later than March 1 (for Spring applications) or November 1 (for Fall applications) of their acceptance status (either accepted, waitlisted, or denied).
• Students have no later than March 15 (for Spring applications) or November 15 (for Fall applications) by 5pm ET to accept their offer.
• The program will offer any open positions to students who are on our wait list following first-round completion.
• Notifications will continue until all program spots have been filled and/or the program has exhausted their list of waitlisted applicants.
• After the Spring application acceptance period, any remaining positions will be filled on a rolling basis through the DICAS portal. In this event, more information will be posted in DICAS, this website, and our Facebook page.

After the Spring application period, if positions are still available for the January start date, the program will participate in the Fall application period to fill remaining openings. 

There is an application fee for this program.

Please send a check or money order for $50 (no cash), payable to Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, to the address below. During the Spring application period, if you apply to both the August and January start dates, you only need to submit one program application fee. This application fee is non-refundable. The application fee for our program must be postmarked by the DICAS application deadlines noted above.

Please send the application fee to:

Stephanie Stockslager, MS, RD
Director, Dietetic Internship
403 N. 13th St., Box 980294
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0294 

Completed DICAS Application Checklist for DI Only and MS-DI Applicants

DICAS application submission (following DICAS guidelines) should include:

• Properly completed DICAS application sections
• Personal Statement
  • Answer all questions in DICAS in the "Program Materials" section of the application portal
• VCUHS Supplemental Application Form
• Declaration of Intent to Complete or Verification Statement submitted by your DPD Director
• Official transcript(s) of credit from ALL universities or colleges attended
• Reference forms from three (3) professionally qualified persons, one of which should be a registered dietitian:
  • Provide at least one reference from a work experience (preferably dietetics related)
  • Provide at least one academic reference
  • Choose a reference of your choice that can speak to your current qualifications
• Application fees (2), postmarked by the DICAS deadline:
  • DICAS application fee (paid directly to DICAS)
  • VCUHS application fee (non-refundable): $50 (check or money order made payable to Virginia Commonwealth University Health System) mailed to Program Director.

Important Reminders:

• You should apply for only one concentration offered within the Dietetic Internship: Medical Nutrition Therapy OR Community Leadership.
• During the Spring application period, you may elect to apply to one or both of the program start dates: August and/or January

Partner Pathway Application Process

Students who are in the process of completing the Master of Science in Human Nutrition DPD Plus Partner Dietetic Internship track at Drexel University should follow the procedures and timeline below:

• Drexel will identify Partner Internships (including VCUHS Dietetic Internship) to qualified students who are enrolled in their MS Plus Partner track during the fall semester of the program.
• The applicants will apply to Partner Internships using DICAS (Dietetics Inclusive Central Application Service), completing all required sections no later than January 15.
• Applications will include the following components:
  • Properly completed DICAS application form
  • Personal Statement
    • Answer all questions in DICAS in the "Program Materials" section of the application portal
    Declaration of Intent to Complete or Verification Statement submitted by your DPD Director
  • VCUHS Supplemental Application Form
  • Declaration of Intent to Complete or Verification Statement submitted by your DPD Director
  • Official transcript(s) of credit from ALL universities or colleges attended
  • Reference forms from two (2) professionally qualified persons, one of which should be a registered dietitian:
    • Provide at least one reference from work experience (preferably dietetics related)
    • Provide at least one academic reference
    • You have the option to submit a third reference of your choosing, but only two references are required for a complete application.
• The VCUHS Dietetic Internship Selection Committee will review applications and submit ranking of the applicants to the Drexel DPD Director by February 15. Applicants will similarly submit ranking of internships to the Drexel DPD Director by the designated due date.
• Drexel will release the results of the selection decisions to partner internships and applicants no later than February 22, and selected applicants will contact the partner internship no later than March 15 to accept the match.

There is NO application fee as part of the Partner Pathway option; DICAS application fees will still apply.

Early Action Pathway Application Process

Students who are in the process of completing the Master of Professional Studies in Nutritional Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) should follow the procedures and timeline below:

• PSU will identify affiliated dietetic internships (including VCUHS Dietetic Internship) to qualified students who are enrolled in their MPS in Nutritional Sciences program.
• The applicants will apply to affiliated internships using DICAS (Dietetics Inclusive Central Application Service), completing all required sections no later than November 15.
• Applications will include the following components:
  • Properly completed DICAS application form
  • Personal Statement
  • Answer all questions in DICAS in the "Program Materials" section of the application portal
  • VCUHS Supplemental Application Form
  • Declaration of Intent to Complete or Verification Statement submitted by your DPD Director
  • Official transcript(s) of credit from ALL universities or colleges attended
  • Reference forms from two (2) professionally qualified persons, one of which should be a registered dietitian:
    • Provide at least one reference from work experience (preferably dietetics related)
    • Provide at least one academic reference
    • You have the option to submit a third reference of your choosing, but only two references are required for a complete application.
• The VCUHS Dietetic Internship Selection Committee will review applications and notify applicants of their application decision (accepted, waitlisted, or denied) no later than January 15.
• Selected applicants will contact the affiliated internship no later than March 15 to accept the appointment.

There is NO application fee as part of the Early Action Pathway option; DICAS application fees will still apply.

Interviews

Personal interviews for all pathway options are an optional part of our selection process. Interns whose applications are advanced to our second round, full committee review, will be invited to meet with Internship Faculty and a Committee member for a 15-minute virtual interview. This time gives applicants the ability to judge if the program is truly a good fit for them and allows us the chance to get to know our applicants further. While optional, interviews will be factored into final ranking decisions made by the Selection Committee.

Additionally, you are welcome to tour the hospital, and meet faculty and current interns, but the fact of your visit is not included in your application credentials. We invite you to join us for one of our upcoming virtual informational sessions, noted on our social media and on the main page of this website. A private virtual meeting can also be requested to best meet your scheduling and travel needs.

Requests for a tour or one-on-one meeting should be e-mailed to: Stephanie Stockslager MS, RD at stephanie.stockslager@vcuhealth.org.

Equal Opportunity Statement

VCU Health System Authority provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.