Dietetic major survives her science classes
For a while, I had no idea what I wanted to study in college.
I considered a number of majors, including education, culinary arts and actuary science, just to name a few.
It was actually my grandma who introduced me to the field of dietetics.
In case you don’t know what dietetics is (which a lot of people don’t), it is the study of how food and nutrition can help to prevent and treat disease, while maintaining and promoting health.
Although I did some research and knew that BGSU had a great dietetics program, I still didn’t really know what the program would entail.
I’ll give you a little bit of an overview: Intro to Food & Nutrition, Chemistry, Food & Culture, Organic Chemistry, Life Cycle Nutrition, Medical Nutrition Therapy, and (you guessed it!) more chemistry.
I know what you’re thinking: that’s a lot of chemistry. And yes, it is.
But if I can do it, you can do it. It requires time and effort, and actually going to class, but the science aspect is definitely doable.
One of my favorite things about the dietetics program at BGSU is the diversity of courses within the major.
I learn about how nutritional needs change as people age, how culture affects food choices and nutritional intake and how closely science and food are linked.
One of my favorite classes was the “Pregnancy Class.” This class focused on maternal and fetal nutrition both during pregnancy and after birth. This class interested me so much that I now hope to go on to work in WIC (Women, Infants, & Children) at some point in my career.
I am quickly approaching the end of my senior year and I cannot believe how quickly my time here has gone.
Senior year has been a whirlwind of activity, from my senior capstone project to completing my dietetic internship applications.
Completing a dietetic internship through an accredited program is a requirement in order to be eligible to sit for the registered dietitians exam.
The internship requires 1,200 supervised hours, and internships specialize in different areas such as medical nutrition therapy, community health, and research. The internships are very competitive and there is a lot of pressure to receive one.
The experiences I have had, along with the professors and students I have gotten to know over the past four years, have made my undergraduate career memorable.
Looking forward to graduation and beyond, I know the work I have done here has prepared me as I look to begin an internship and pursue a master’s degree in nutrition.
I will leave you with a few tips:
Get to know your professors and let them get to know you. This will make your letters of recommendation more personal and impactful, besides the fact that they’re great people.
Volunteer in the community and shadow dietitians whenever you get the chance. Keep a log of what you do and when.
Embrace the major. Yes, it is a lot of work, and yes it takes a lot of studying, but the feeling you get when you’re getting ready to graduate or after you complete the internship application makes it all worth it.