Application Process

MORRISON HEALTHCARE DIETETIC INTERNSHIP IS LISTED UNDER SANDY SPRINGS, GA. (NOTE WE PLACE STUDENTS IN MORRISON SITES ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY INCLUDING GA).

Applications for the Fall 2025 Internship will open on August 5, 2024, and the application deadline for November decisions will be October 15, 2024, and March decisions will be February 15, 2024. All Compass/Morrison Employees and Priority Partner students are encouraged to utilize the November decision timeline for early decisions and admittance to our internship Application Process. (Students enrolled in MSDI Pathway Partner programs with Auburn, Nicholls, Stony Brook, University of Arizona, and University of Tennessee Martin will automatically become eligible to participate in the MHC DI program, click here for MSDI Pathway Partners).

Eligible applicants must have completed a Didactic Program approved or accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education of Nutrition & Dietetics (ACEND)

How to Apply: Complete the application through the dietetics inclusive centralized application system, accessed at the DICAS website; the application window is August 5, 2024 through February 15, 2025. The DICAS fee to submit the first application is $50, and then $25 for each additional application. Ensure that the work and volunteer sections of the application are complete, as this is used to score work experience.

Personal statement: Applicants are required to answer in 1,000 words or less the following questions:

• Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession?
• What are some experiences that have helped to prepare you for your career?
• What are your short-term and long-term goals?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses or areas needing improvement?

Transcripts: Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be sent to the DICAS office (DICAS Transcript Department, PO Box 9118, Watertown, MA 02472). FINAL OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS WILL BE REQUIRED OF ALL INTERNS MATCHED TO THE PROGRAM.

Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent: Your DPD program director will submit this statement to DICAS. ORIGINAL VERIFICATION STATEMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED OF ALL MATCHED INTERNS BEFORE BEGINNING THE PROGRAM.

Recommendations: While completing the application process, the applicant is triggered to provide the name and email address of three references.  Each person referenced will receive an email requesting the online completion of a reference form. If submitting to multiple sites, the same references must be used for each application. A minimum of one professor or university faculty member the applicant has had coursework with is required as a reference.   

Supplemental Material: In addition to the application, you must complete the Morrison Healthcare DI supplemental application and pay the non-refundable $65 fee via debit/credit card by 11:59 pm CT on February 15.

Selection criteria: Applicant's scores are based on the Personal statement, GPA, GPA in DPD courses, science grades, work experience (both paid and volunteer), letters of reference, honors, scholarships, and student activities. Students with a GPA of 3.0, a DPD course average 3.2, and good performance in Microbiology, Anatomy & Physiology, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry may apply. Based on the overall score, a pre-determined number of applicants will move to the next stage, which the Morrison Healthcare Dietetic Internship Selection Committee will review and evaluate. The internship director or faculty will interview the selected semi-finalists.  The committee will meet for a final decision by the end of October, 2024 and March, 2025. 

Priority Partners: Compass/Morrison employees and students enrolled or recently graduated from our university partners - Auburn University (AU), Clemson University (CU), Kansas State University (KSU), Johnson & Wales (JWU), Stony Brook University (SBU), the University of Alabama (UA), University of Arizona (UArizona), University of Florida (UF), University of Georgia (UGA), Michigan State University (MSU), the University of Tennessee Martin (UTM), and Texas Tech University (TTU) students will be given priority in early acceptance decisions and location choices. Students enrolled in MSDI programs with our partners will automatically become eligible to participate in the MHC DI program. 

Complete your application on DICAS and select Morrison Healthcare Dietetic Internship. When completing the online Morrison Healthcare DI supplemental application, include the organization you are affiliated with. All required information to apply for Fall 2025 is due October 15, 2024, for the November decision, and February 15, 2025, for the March decision. 

MSDI Pathway Partners: The internship partners and coordinates with our MSDI Pathway Partners to allow students to enroll in fully online graduate degree programs while concurrently completing the dietetic internship. The internship and graduate degree are designed to be completed within 18 months. Depending on the university, students can enroll between 6 and 9 units per semester to provide foundational knowledge for the program. Students must complete at least 6 credit hours before the start of the internship. 

The student must apply to both programs at the same time for collaborative admission. For the UA or TTU admission, the student should include in their application letter that they would like to participate in the Morrison Healthcare Dietetic Internship. Select the option “DI w/ online MS degree’ on the Morrison Healthcare DI supplemental application. The programs will work together to review and notify the student’s acceptance.

Acceptance to the Program

Dr. Sunitha Zechariah, the Program Director will notify students who are accepted into the program via email. Upon notification, students can accept the offer via email by emailing the Program Director at sunithazechariah@iammorrison.com as soon as they receive the offer email. The final date for students to accept the offer for the November decision is November 15, 2024, and for the March decision is March 15, 2025. Our program is not obligated to hold your slot if your email is not received by the designated date.  

After Acceptance to the Program

Soon after you accept admission to this program, you will receive an email from the program director providing information on the paperwork required to start the internship and the dates of orientation in Atlanta. Paperwork includes:

• Criminal background check—This must be completed immediately after the match process and the intern has accepted the internship slot. If the background check reveals a felony, the intern will be dismissed from the internship, and no effort will be made for further placement.
• $2500 non-refundable deposit (that will go toward tuition) upon acceptance to the internship.  Tuition must be paid in full before starting the internship.  The final payment date is posted under the Fee Payment tab. 
• Original Verification Statement of Didactic Program completion
• Original transcript from the college/university where the intern receives their highest degree (with the confer date).
• Documentation of a complete physical exam within the last 12 months
• Graduate degree acceptance letter, if applicable
• FERPA form, if applicable
• Completed and signed the Certification of Immunization form to include MMR, varicella, and Hep B vaccination titers. COVID vaccination may be required by some hospitals.
• Documentation of tetanus shot, recent TB test, and flu shot
• Verification of current medical insurance
• Professional liability insurance
• Drug testing
• All students need a computer, computer headset, or webcam

Once you are conditionally accepted into the DI, all the additional material must be submitted to the Program Director of the Internship per the internship's guidelines. Failure to meet these deadlines may invalidate your admission.

Prior approval for supervised practice: Experience and additional education beyond the required didactic education requirements may be considered for exemption of specific planned rotations and learning experiences. Interns requesting credit for specific competencies achieved through prior work, paid experience, or education (above master’s level in nutrition) will provide the Program Director documentation specific to each competency. Experience gained through paid work experience usually requires working at a supervisor level or higher for at least 6 months. The Program Director will approve and assign the number of credited hours.

Questions? Our Program Director is happy to answer any questions you have and can support you throughout the application process. Please send any questions to Dr. Sunitha Zechariah, Program Director at sunithazechariah@iammorrison.com