Not only should you prepare for the scramble by gathering the materials you'll need, you can also prepare by knowing what may take place on the day of. In particular, you'll want to be aware of time in relation to your time zone and when D&D Digital publishes the list of internships with openings.
The scramble doesn't start when you wake up in the morning on the day the list is released. It starts as soon as matches are announced. Those internship programs that did not fill all their spots may begin sending notifications out to undergraduate program directors right away, letting them know that spots are open. If your program director doesn't send out e-mails to students regularly, or if you have already graduated and no longer receive such e-mails, get in contact with him/her and ask to have it passed along to you if he/she is informed by any programs that they have openings. The sooner you know about some of the programs with openings, the sooner you can start researching them and decide whether or not you will want to apply come scramble day.
Another key time is midnight, in D&D Digital's time zone, on the day of the scramble. This is when the list of internship programs with open spots is released. While you may not want to be sending out applications at this point in time, if it's not too late in your time zone this is a good opportunity to begin looking at the open programs. The sooner you can start looking at programs the sooner you can begin deciding which you may want to send applications to, and which you want to rule out.
Though you may want to check out D&D Digital's list of programs with openings at midnight, you should also plan to wake up early. Getting some rest and waking up early, rather than staying up all night, may help you feel more alert, and better able to make good decisions.
The morning of the scramble is a key time to consider what time zone you are in. This is because some programs look at applications in the order they receive them, and once they have found enough qualified applicants, they may stop looking at any more applications. If you're on the east coast this is to your advantage, but if you're on the west coast it may be a disadvantage. This is where people who live on the west coast may benefit from reviewing open programs the night before, so that they won't be missing out on valuable time because of the time difference.
Because some internships look at applications in the order they receive them, prioritize sending applications out based on where you would most like to be accepted. If a program is your first choice of the ones that are open, work on customizing your generic e-mail that I talked about in yesterday's post for their program first. Sending out a generic e-mail to every open program will likely be less effective than sending a personalized one to the programs you feel are the most desirable. So plan for time to personalize e-mails after researching the open programs.
Preparing materials and planning your time can help you be more successful in the scramble. Be prepared to dedicate as much time as you have available, as doing so may increase your chances of successfully gaining an open internship spot.
Source(s): D & D Digital. (2007). D & d digital. Retrieved from http://www.dnddigital.com/
Showing posts with label scramble. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scramble. Show all posts
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
The scramble: be aware and be prepared.
The scramble is is an opportunity for internship hopefuls who did not receive a match to send applications to internship programs that did not fill all of their spots. It's a second chance to apply to internships you may have not considered before. And while participating in the scramble is something to look forward to, preparing for the possibility ahead of time will make it much less painful if you don't match, and decide to participate in the scramble as a result.
The scramble takes place three days after notification day. What happens is a list of programs with openings available after the initial matching is released. Potential interns can then contact those programs directly, to try to join their program. The list can be found on the D&D Digital site, on the left side titled something along the lines of "Fall 2010 Programs With Openings." This page, before the programs are listed, will inform you when the listings will become available. It is important to note that the list of available programs will be posted at midnight D&D Digital's time, so if possible, plan to begin looking at the list then, and not the morning of.
Because only about half of all internship applicants match, even if you believe you are highly qualified and very likely to match, preparing for the scramble before notification day is a good idea. While you may have a couple days between notification day and the scramble, many people who do not match will be very distraught at this time, and being prepared before this time may lower your stress.
The following is a list of things to do, many of which were recommended by my undergraduate program director, to prepare before notification day.
- Prepare digital copies of all of the application materials you have. This includes things like your application form, a general application letter/personal statement, unofficial transcript(s), and resume. If possible, turn these into pdf files, as e-mailing word documents may change formatting.
- Prepare a generic e-mail that you can edit, requesting the chance to apply for an internship. DO NOT send this generic e-mail! Once you have determined which programs with openings you will be applying to in the scramble, you will need to personalize this generic e-mail as much as possible in the small amount of time you have.
- In this e-mail, you should include that you have attached digital copies of the files listed above, and note that if they need a copy of your letters of recommendation that you can obtain new copies of them for the program in question as soon as possible.
- Let the people who are writing your letters of recommendation know as soon as you find out you were not matched, that you may need new copies of their letters for the scramble. That way you truly will be able to send them "as soon as possible."
- Try to get your hands on a copy of the Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice for the scramble. An electronic copy in particular may be useful, as if it's a text/pdf file you can use the search function to look up internships, instead of flipping through pages. This may give you more information than looking on the program's website will.
- Block off your entire day (or at least the first half of it) to do nothing but take part in the scramble. If you have class, try to get the notes ahead of time or from someone else.
- Ask people in your support system, your family and friends, to come help you on the day of the scramble. You don't have to go through the scramble alone, and more eyes will allow you to look through all of the potential programs more quickly. Emphasize to them just how important this is to you, and if possible, ask them to block off their calendar for you even before notification day. If you don't end up having to go through the scramble, you could always use this time to celebrate instead!
- You'll likely be monopolizing computer and internet on the day of the scramble. You'll need internet access to research programs where you may want to apply, and to send out applications by e-mail. And if you have an electronic copy of the Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice, you'll want access to that as well.
- You'll also want to monopolize the phone. You'll want to have the phone line free all day, so that if a program you apply to you is interested, you will be able to receive their call. So if you've got roommates or family at home, this is further reason to involve them in the scramble with you, so that they aren't interfering with your ability to be contacted. While it may be tempting to only list your cellphone line to receive calls, a dropped call could be disastrous, so if you have access to a land line, that may be the better choice on scramble day.
- Try to get access to a fax machine. Some internships may specify that they want your application and/or materials sent by fax, so if you have a friend who owns one, ask to borrow it. If you can't borrow one, make sure you know the location of the closest place you can pay to send a fax from, such as Kinko's.
I was able to successfully obtain an internship spot in the scramble because I was prepared for it and because my family helped me get decide which programs to apply to. Being thoroughly prepared for the scramble is tantamount to being successful in it, and doing so as soon as possible, even before you find out if you match or not, will help make it less painful.
Source(s): D & D Digital. (2007). D & d digital. Retrieved from http://www.dnddigital.com/
The scramble takes place three days after notification day. What happens is a list of programs with openings available after the initial matching is released. Potential interns can then contact those programs directly, to try to join their program. The list can be found on the D&D Digital site, on the left side titled something along the lines of "Fall 2010 Programs With Openings." This page, before the programs are listed, will inform you when the listings will become available. It is important to note that the list of available programs will be posted at midnight D&D Digital's time, so if possible, plan to begin looking at the list then, and not the morning of.
Because only about half of all internship applicants match, even if you believe you are highly qualified and very likely to match, preparing for the scramble before notification day is a good idea. While you may have a couple days between notification day and the scramble, many people who do not match will be very distraught at this time, and being prepared before this time may lower your stress.
The following is a list of things to do, many of which were recommended by my undergraduate program director, to prepare before notification day.
- Prepare digital copies of all of the application materials you have. This includes things like your application form, a general application letter/personal statement, unofficial transcript(s), and resume. If possible, turn these into pdf files, as e-mailing word documents may change formatting.
- Prepare a generic e-mail that you can edit, requesting the chance to apply for an internship. DO NOT send this generic e-mail! Once you have determined which programs with openings you will be applying to in the scramble, you will need to personalize this generic e-mail as much as possible in the small amount of time you have.
- In this e-mail, you should include that you have attached digital copies of the files listed above, and note that if they need a copy of your letters of recommendation that you can obtain new copies of them for the program in question as soon as possible.
- Let the people who are writing your letters of recommendation know as soon as you find out you were not matched, that you may need new copies of their letters for the scramble. That way you truly will be able to send them "as soon as possible."
- Try to get your hands on a copy of the Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice for the scramble. An electronic copy in particular may be useful, as if it's a text/pdf file you can use the search function to look up internships, instead of flipping through pages. This may give you more information than looking on the program's website will.
- Block off your entire day (or at least the first half of it) to do nothing but take part in the scramble. If you have class, try to get the notes ahead of time or from someone else.
- Ask people in your support system, your family and friends, to come help you on the day of the scramble. You don't have to go through the scramble alone, and more eyes will allow you to look through all of the potential programs more quickly. Emphasize to them just how important this is to you, and if possible, ask them to block off their calendar for you even before notification day. If you don't end up having to go through the scramble, you could always use this time to celebrate instead!
- You'll likely be monopolizing computer and internet on the day of the scramble. You'll need internet access to research programs where you may want to apply, and to send out applications by e-mail. And if you have an electronic copy of the Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice, you'll want access to that as well.
- You'll also want to monopolize the phone. You'll want to have the phone line free all day, so that if a program you apply to you is interested, you will be able to receive their call. So if you've got roommates or family at home, this is further reason to involve them in the scramble with you, so that they aren't interfering with your ability to be contacted. While it may be tempting to only list your cellphone line to receive calls, a dropped call could be disastrous, so if you have access to a land line, that may be the better choice on scramble day.
- Try to get access to a fax machine. Some internships may specify that they want your application and/or materials sent by fax, so if you have a friend who owns one, ask to borrow it. If you can't borrow one, make sure you know the location of the closest place you can pay to send a fax from, such as Kinko's.
I was able to successfully obtain an internship spot in the scramble because I was prepared for it and because my family helped me get decide which programs to apply to. Being thoroughly prepared for the scramble is tantamount to being successful in it, and doing so as soon as possible, even before you find out if you match or not, will help make it less painful.
Source(s): D & D Digital. (2007). D & d digital. Retrieved from http://www.dnddigital.com/
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Take the GRE
Taking yet another test as a student can be very unappealing. Many dietetics students are already incredibly busy with a demanding class and/or volunteer/work schedule, and fitting the GRE in is no small task. But not doing so may severely limit the internships you'll be able to apply to.
For example, in California, if you choose not to take the GRE you won't be eligible to apply to 6 of the available internships. And in Pennsylvania 3 internships won't be an option. While this isn't the majority of internships, having more options of where to apply may increase your chances of matching successfully.
Another place where taking the GRE will be a feather in your cap is in the scramble. The scramble takes place three days after notification day, when potential interns are informed if they were matched to an internship program or not. If you are not matched, you can participate in the scramble and contact programs that did not fill all of their slots, in an attempt to match that way. Having taken the GRE before this point will give you the chance to contact a greater number of programs during the scramble, because without it you will not be qualified for some of the internships with openings.
Because of how busy your senior year as an undergraduate student may be, look into taking the GRE before then if possible. The summer or winter break before your senior year is a good opportunity to not only study for the GRE (if you need to; you can borrow books to study from from your local library), but also to take it without interfering with your normal school year schedule.
The GRE is not a fun test, but taking it is worthwhile if you're able to do so. Being able to apply to a greater variety of internships by taking the GRE may help improve your chances of being matched.
Source(s): Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice. (2009)., D & D Digital. (2007). D & d digital. Retrieved from http://www.dnddigital.com/
For example, in California, if you choose not to take the GRE you won't be eligible to apply to 6 of the available internships. And in Pennsylvania 3 internships won't be an option. While this isn't the majority of internships, having more options of where to apply may increase your chances of matching successfully.
Another place where taking the GRE will be a feather in your cap is in the scramble. The scramble takes place three days after notification day, when potential interns are informed if they were matched to an internship program or not. If you are not matched, you can participate in the scramble and contact programs that did not fill all of their slots, in an attempt to match that way. Having taken the GRE before this point will give you the chance to contact a greater number of programs during the scramble, because without it you will not be qualified for some of the internships with openings.
Because of how busy your senior year as an undergraduate student may be, look into taking the GRE before then if possible. The summer or winter break before your senior year is a good opportunity to not only study for the GRE (if you need to; you can borrow books to study from from your local library), but also to take it without interfering with your normal school year schedule.
The GRE is not a fun test, but taking it is worthwhile if you're able to do so. Being able to apply to a greater variety of internships by taking the GRE may help improve your chances of being matched.
Source(s): Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice. (2009)., D & D Digital. (2007). D & d digital. Retrieved from http://www.dnddigital.com/
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