Caylynn

I'm 41 and applying for Master's programs for Fall 2014. I went back to university in 2010 to get a second undergraduate degree, as I'm totally changing careers. To be a registered dietitian in Canada, you need to complete an undergraduate program that is accredited by the Dietitians of Canada, so I had to complete a second undergraduate degree (my first degree was in engineering). My husband is incredibly supportive and we don't have any children (just three demanding cats). I am limited in terms of geography, however, as we need to remain in our current location due to my husband's job. So that definitely limits my options, but fortunately there are still a number of programs that match my needs.

Thanks everyone! Appreciate all the perspectives and advice. I'm definitely only including things that demonstrate the abilities they are looking for in their programs (critical analysis skills, project management, time management, being receptive to feedback, etc.) and focussing on the skills/abilities I acquired/demonstrated in those positions.

I'm doing that for the MSc programs I'm applying to, since I'll be doing a thesis with an advisor, so it is appropriate to discuss research interests. For professional programs, however, where you only do, at most, a research paper, not a full project with thesis, I've been told not to go into great detail surrounding research being done at the institutions that interest me. I've been told to mention briefly who I would like to do the small project with, but that's it. Maybe I've been given wrong advice on that front, but I've been told the professional programs are much more interested in things like your adaptability, your time management skills, your critical analysis skills, etc., since you will be spending half the degree out in the community, doing internships, half the degree in the classroom doing graduate courses, and only a tiny percentage of your time doing a research proposal or paper (not a project or thesis). Like I said, maybe the advice I've been given is wrong, but if I spent a great deal of time discussing the great research being done by Professor X and Professor Y in my statement of intent for a professional Masters program, wouldn't they think I was better suited for the MSc program, and not offer me admission to the combined internship programs? I guess I'm just having a hard time showing them the qualities they are looking for in the students for the professional programs (ie. time management, adaptability, flexibility, ability to handle stress, curiosity, intellectual capability) without just rehashing my C.V. or transcript, while still addressing why I'm changing fields/careers at this point in my life.

Thanks! My first two big headers are "Nutrition Experience" (list all those experiences), then "Research Experience" (then all those experiences). I was then thinking of separating out work vs volunteer for the remaining experiences. I guess I'll prepare another draft and see if I can get any better advice from career services this time around!

So I've switched careers (currently completing a second undergraduate degree, years after graduating with my first bachelor's degree) and I'm completing applications for a variety of masters programs and combined masters/dietetic internship programs. I'm wondering when I complete my CV, how far back I should go. I was told four years by one internship coordinator, yet if I only include the past four years my CV will be missing the bulk of my teaching, training, and management experience. I'm wondering if she was trying to say that "traditional" undergrads shouldn't include things they did in high school. Should I include impressive scholarships I received from my first degree (even though that was over ten years ago)? Do I include the relevant work experience from between my two degrees (even the jobs that were over ten years ago, since they'll see how long it was between degrees from my transcripts, and potentially wonder what the heck I was doing during that time)? I feel like if I leave out some of the awards I'll look like less qualified of a candidate compared to the undergraduates who do list the same awards, since they would have received them only four years ago, whereas for me it was 10+ years. Or is that not a concern? For my statement(s) of intent I'm either limited to one or two pages, and I don't feel it would be benficial to waste precious space trying to explain what I was doing all those years. Yet I don't know if it is appropriate to include "old" data in the CV - I've had mixed feedback from the people at career services (who all seem to be "traditional" undergrads, so not certain how to approach a non-trad like myself). Thanks!

Thanks for the feedback! I have to admit, I'm struggling with what to include (vs. resume stuff) since I've received some advice that I should mention how I meet some of the criteria they are looking for (team skills, leadership, time management, lifelong learning, self direction, etc.) I appreciate the advice - I think that's a great way to approach how and why I decided to change careers (without going into a long-drawn out story) since I had several internship directors tell me they would want to see the previous career addressed in some fashion. Thanks again!

Guelph is pretty well known for its veterinary college, its biological science and its nutrition and food science programs. So if you are interested in working in one of those areas, a degree from Guelph might be an advantage. The one disadvantage of Guelph is that it doesn't have a medical school, so if you are more medically-inclined, then Guelph might not be the best choice. Guelph is also very well known for its interdisciplinary focus. If I don't get into an MPH/internship program, or into a dietetic internship, I plan on doing an MSc at Guelph, since Guelph is very well known for its nutrition research.

I'm applying to the combined MPH/dietetic internship programs at UofT and MUN. I want to become a registered dietitian and work in public health, so those two programs would be perfect for me. I especially like UofT's program because most of the internship placements are in public health - I don't need to "suffer" through too many weeks of clinical or foodservice placements, which are typical for "standard" internships. I'm just scared since I hear that UofT's program is incredibly competitive to get into! I have excellent grades (95% average in my nutrition program), but not a lot of public health experience (just one year). Although I did work as a web projects manager for the Public Health Agency of Canada in my previous career - not certain if that counts at public health experience however! I'm graduating from a Dietitians of Canada accredited program, which is required for the internships. So my back-up plans are completing a "regular" internship. Although those are pretty competitive too, with only a 30-50% success rate in the past several years.

Can't comment on the content/structure, but a few grammar notes below:

Okay, so this is a statement of interest for a professional program - it combines a dietetic internship (required to become a registered dietitian) with a Masters program. You do not complete a thesis in this program, but rather a research project/paper. I would appreciate any feedback! I am just at the page limit (2 pages). Thanks. Statement of Interest: Why dietetics? This is a question I am often asked as I change careers. The answer is simple: I have seen first-hand the difference that diet can make to health, sports performance, and recovery from injury and surgery. Helping others achieve the best health possible through appropriate nutrition choices, while still enjoying food, is incredibly rewarding. I hope to contribute to the health and wellness of my community by becoming a registered dietitian. I bring a professional background in web project management to the field of dietetics. As a federal public servant, I partnered with internal and external clients to deliver projects on time and within the allocated budget. The budgeting, people management, and collaboration skills I gained will also serve me well as a dietetic intern. While working full time as a project manager, I continued to explore my passions: health, fitness and nutrition. I became a certified group fitness instructor and continued learning about the interactions between health, fitness and nutrition. Studying nutrition and physiology courses, as a non-degree student, while continuing to work, served to reinforce my interest in human health and nutrition. I was working full time as a public servant and part time as a group fitness instructor, while taking university courses and training for half-marathons and marathons. This required the development of effective time management skills. As a group fitness instructor, I am always prepared with a class plan, but I am able to adapt my classes to suit the needs of the participants that show up on any given day. Numerous positive comment cards from class participants demonstrate my ability to motivate others as well as my verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Not content with maintaining my performance, I participate in workshops and conferences to improve my skills and learn about new research, ideas, and techniques. The acquisition of new certifications allows me to expand my knowledge and enhance my abilities. xxx program interests me for many reasons. I like the diversity of experiences that that program provides. Public health is one of my interests, but I am also open to exploring other career options. Additionally, I am excited by the opportunity to take graduate level course in nutrition while participating in the internship placements. Typically, I learn best when I am able to combine academic knowledge with hands-on experience, as demonstrated by my academic achievement in courses that incorporated case studies or practical experiences. Working as an undergraduate research assistant in xxx, I developed quantitative research skills. I developed questionnaires, distributed surveys and monitored sensory testing panels. After compiling the results from multiple sources, I critically analyzed and interpreted the results. Additionally, I completed a fourth year honours thesis in which I developed qualitative research skills. I identified themes in interview transcripts, conducted open and closed coding of those transcripts, and the interpreted the results. I enjoy exploring new ideas. I have continued to take courses in order to expand my knowledge and improve my abilities, despite having all the required electives for my program. Courses such as Nutrition and Physical Activity, and Nutrition Education allowed me to gain critical analysis skills and develop effective nutrition communication programs. I was able to integrate information from my nutrition studies with my practical experiences as a volunteer to develop a project on childhood obesity for the course Issues in Public Health. We examined this issue from multiple perspectives, looking at the history of childhood obesity, its determinants, and the public health response. We critiqued public health’s handling of childhood obesity and provided suggestions for improvement. Volunteering at the xxx and at the yyy, I have been able to put theory into practice, applying the knowledge I have gained to real-world situations. Speaking with a variety of clients, including children, students and parents, have allowed me to develop skills in communication and cultural sensitivity. Developing presentations, games, and newsletters have taught me how to present complex scientific information in a format that can be easily understood by a variety of audiences. Research is enjoyable and fascinating, but I am not yet sure that I want to pursue a career in academia. The opportunity to complete a research project during the xxx program will allow me to explore a topic of interest without having to commit to a full thesis. My research interests include nutrition and physical activity interventions, and the development and evaluation of these interventions. I would like to work with xxx examining nutrition and physical activity behaviours or with xxx looking at family-based obesity prevention interventions. As a military spouse, I have learned how to effectively deal with stress and adapt to new situations. I have moved numerous times when my husband has been posted, and successfully adapted to life in new cities, countries and cultures. My husband has been deployed overseas numerous times, and I was able to maintain a high level of academic achievement during his tour in Afghanistan. After fracturing a vertebra, and suffering a concussion, I had to adapt to new physical limitations, while working to overcome them. I was able to return to group fitness classes a year after the vertebra fracture, and went on to complete over a dozen half-marathons, three marathons, and two sprint triathlons. After graduation, I hope to work as a registered dietitian in public health. I believe that fitness and nutrition are both critical to good health, so I hope to work in developing, implementing and evaluating nutrition and physical activity interventions. I feel that the xxx program will provide me with the knowledge and skills to succeed in this field. I offer my skills in project management, collaboration, teaching, communication, and critical analysis to the xxx program. I value the combination of experiential learning and academic study that your program offers and am eager to develop my dietetic skills in such a setting. I trust you will find my mature outlook combined with my adaptability and enthusiasm a good fit for your combined internship program. Thank you for your time and consideration.