I didn’t get into the dietetic internship.
Had to get that out of the way, and I have to admit, I’ve been a little MIA from blog-world licking my wounds. Despite the wonderful encouragement from so many people, I knew the odds were against me in such a competitive program, and only applying to one really forced me to put all of my eggs into one basket.
I spent much of the weekend studying and on pins and needles – the computer “matching” system, which shows you where and if you matched to an internship online, was updated Sunday night sealing the fates of many RDs to be across the country. It’s hard to put into words how one little click of the mouse can really change everything.
I can’t say I didn’t shed a few tears and wonder what I did or didn’t do through a very sleepless night. When I woke up early Monday morning, I did the only thing I knew would make me feel better – laced up and headed to Central Park in the moonlight of 5:15 a.m.
I thought about my options as I pounded out the miles (pain-free! hooray for small miracles), and it wasn’t long until I felt a bit better.
Thankfully, I have tons of options, and even though I had a lot of hope for starting my internship soon, I did prepare for this because I knew it was likely. So, I’m moving on to plan B with a positive ‘tude and a smile.
Life ain’t fair sometimes, and we’ve got to learn to roll with the punches. While the details of plan B definitely need to be ironed out a bit, I do know one thing – I’ll be an RD someday soon and won’t stop ’till I get there.
Question: How do you deal with heavy disappointment?
((hugs)). i definitely let myself wallow for a day or two (or even up to a week) but then i sit down and map out what i now need to do to get to my goals.
and of course a big venting / crying session to my friends as to why the program / exam / whatever sucks for not taking me (which it clearly does for not taking you!)
i also run which is very cathartic. it helps with the whole planning thing.
Awwww, I’m so sorry you didn’t get your internship. It is definitely a crushing blow to the ego, no matter what. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help!
And plan B is probably the way things are supposed to go for you….I bet it will provide you with better opportunities and you are right, you will be an RD soon!
Keep that chin up and all your blogger friends are here for you!
So sorry you didn’t get the internship! I remember in college I applied to one I really wanted and didn’t get it. It was tough but having a plan B always helps! Glad you got out for a pain free run! Getting up in the morning after a rough night of sleep and running always makes things a little better!
So sorry to hear the bad news. I’m sending you an over the internet hug!
I let myself wallow, definitely. But always remind myself that ‘everything happens for a reason’.
Smile! Don’t forget about all of the great things you have going for you, including your amazinggg blog!
While I’m sorry you didn’t get your first choice, there’s no doubt in my mind you’ll make Plan B exceptional. π You’ve worked so hard to get to this point, it’s just a little bump in the road- promise!
That is such a huge bummer. I just came across your blog today when I was looking up match day stats. I was in your same boat this time last year. I know how truly awful it feels and how much that one second can change everything. I had applied to a lot of competitive programs and knew my chances were slim but the rejection was still super hard to swallow.
The best advice I can give you is to take a few days to be sad (have a few drinks…) and then start working on plan B. For me that meant working for a year as a nutritionist (I have a M.S. in nutrition as well as B.S. in dietetics) and then applying again. The full-time nutrition work experience can definitely make big a difference the next time around.
Finally, apply again! I know it can be super discouraging and I was very apprehensive to try again (my mom and bff had to pretty much force me!). But so many really qualified applicants don’t get in the first time around and you owe it to yourself to try again.
It can be hard to remember, but everything happens for a reason. So many good things happened to me in the year I spent waiting to apply again that I don’t think I would go back and change it.
Best of luck to you! I hope you feel better soon!
thank you! That’s great advice and I really appreciate you sharing!
I’m sorry. π¦ In all honesty, I tend to prepare to be disappointed and usually just end up throwing down a couple drinks if it stings more than I expected. Though clearly, I’m hardly a model here. π
I definitely prepared for disappointment, but haven’t thrown down any drinks yet. hmmm..
I’m so sorry, that really sucks. π¦ I know you’ll rock out Plan B, though, whatever it entails! Can’t wait to hear about it!
That’s a bummer, Kelly, and I’m sure there were ton of other qualified people like you they were choosing from. Don’t let it get you down – you are amazing and will be an amazing RD! I bet you will get a great experience from your “plan b” internship. From watching the psych grad students go through their internship matching thing, I can understand the stress that comes with that type of system. Sounds like you are dealing with it the best you can and are focusing on moving on, which is exactly what you should be doing! I know you’ll make the best of whatever situation you end up in and will put 100% into your internship! π
Aww Kelly, I’m so sorry. What a let down π¦ I think you’ll find that plan B works in your favor because you’ll make it good. Why wallow in what could have been? You’re resilient and will get to where you want to go regardless.
True story: I applied to ONE MSW program a year before I started the one i’m finishing now and was rejected. It sucked, and meant another year of working a job I hated (it won’t be this long for you, right? And you don’t loathe your job, correct?) but it all worked out in the end. Chin up, you got this.
thanks! you’re right – it won’t be that long and I’ll get there π
I totally understand what you’re going through and I’m so sorry it had to have happened that way.
When I graduated from my university I applied to 1 P.A school. Then last minute I applied to another one in case. I didn’t get in to the one of my choice bc I wasn’t competitive enough. It’s a very cut throat program and I never thought it was going to be so difficult. I too put all my eggs into one basket and unfortunately it didn’t plan out. I’m waitlisted for the other school but those things are hard to pan out π¦
Good luck girl π And never give up!
I’m so sorry to hear that you didn’t get in Kelly. I know that even when things seem unlikely, getting the actual rejection can still really sting. I know it’s probably tough to see the positive in this right now, but I know everything will work out for the best. I’m glad to hear you’re already thinking about Plan B and working that out. Best of luck with that – I hope it all comes together for you. And hang in there!
On a semi-related note, I love how running can almost instantly make you feel better about a situation. Even if it doesn’t make the disappointment go away, I’ve found that running always gives me perspective, and makes me want to take action instead of wallow.
aww bummer! but thats a great ‘tude to have! I went through the MS in Nutrition program with a girl that had applied to the DI 4 times… 4 times and did not get in… until this past year! 5th time is a charm I guess.
Try try again too- there are online DI’s, the diet tech program… and plain ol waitin till next year!
I am also a FIRM believer in “everything happens for a reason”- so many times in my life I have felt distraught at first and then it turned out to be a better path!
I tend to refocus and try to just accept what I cannot change, improve on what I can change, and trying to know the difference!
Time with friends helps too! π
ahh, 4 times! I hope it doesn’t take me that long, but if it does, it does! thank you!
Sorry to hear you didn’t get the internship :-(. good luck with plan B! Not sure if this is good advice, but my approach to disappointment has been to distance myself emotionally from things that I don’t have control over. When I was a student I submitted a number of papers for publication and a lot got rejected. At first this was really discouraging, but then I decided to celebrate when I submitted a paper rather than when it got accepted since one is up to me, but the other isn’t. The most important thing is not to give up.
I’m so sorry to hear that! I follow your blog but never comment and I had been waiting to hear on your match results because I also went through the application and the match. I am assuming you applied to NYU? If it makes you feel better I applied to NYU as well and ranked them top and didnt’ get matched…I also didn’t get matched by my 2nd or 3rd or 4th…but I did get a match at my 5th (UVA Health System). I KNOW YOU WILL be an awesome RD someday!! I am soo jealous that you are already a student at Steinhardt, that was my dream!!! but it will have to wait I guess. Remember everything happens for a reason and good things come to those who wait π
Thanks for commenting, Robyn! I did apply to NYU, and no other programs (big mistake). Congrats on getting matched!
I don’t deal with disappointment too well but it’s one of the many things I’m working on. I love your attitude about it…it really is the best way to be:) Eating some froyo and watching a chick flick usually make me feel a little better, too
My heart goes out to you. I’ve had a few heavy blows myself. I usually call my Mom and air out all of my feelings. I feel like when I let it all out it creates room for positive feelings to come back in.
I’m so sorry to hear you didn’t get into the internship. Good luck with your plan B- I know everything will work out for you!
I didn’t get matched the first time either. It hurt like a bitch (I was totally that person who cried in class), but I realized pretty quickly what a blessing in disguise that was. If I’d gotten the internship I applied to, I would have missed out on a really great volunteer experience and some other stuff I got to do in between. Friends and family really help in tough times like that. Haha oh man, my boyfriend is a freaking saint for dealing with me the day after I found out. I really wish the dietetics program(s) could be more collaborative and inclusive and less competitive and craziness-inducing.
you are totally, right, Jess. I would love to hear about your volunteer experience – I think that’s what got me in the end (my lack of experience).
I would be more than happy to help out however I can. Most of my experience has been with HIV patients, but there are tons of things I learned and worked with that you’d see in a more general population. I could email you some info and names of people to contact.
that would be amazing, Jess! My email is mealsformiles@gmail.com. Thank you SO much!!
Girl, it’s their loss!! And too right, you WILL get there, whether it’s now or in a few months/years, it will HAPPEN and that’s what matters π
I wallow in self-pity, run my sorrows away, and drown myself in chocolate whilst watching Friends. Never fails to cheer me up! π
*hugs*
im so sorry- you DESERVED THAT!! like Emma said, its THEIR loss for sure… life does these things to us but it opens up new doors! in the future you will realize that this happened for a reason cuz youll be doing something you never could of done if you had gotten it!
I’m sorry you have to feel this way; I didn’t get an internship at a top accounting firm in college, which was basically the only reason I worked so hard. I took it as an opportunity to relax a bit and actually go out and enjoy myself instead of spending all my time in the library, which was no way to live. I got another internship which wound up offering me a full-time job and now I’m in New York doing marketing! Things change and I’m sure if I was working at one of those firms I’d be miserable, so there is nothing to regret. One day you’ll look back as well and think “phew, thank goodness I didn’t get that, otherwise I wouldn’t be x!” For now, wallow, enjoy yourself, and then work on Plan B. Good luck!!
-courtney
Aw so sorry lady. But just remember that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON! I didn’t get a job that I really wanted, but the principal referred me for other interviews and now I’m in a situation that is so much better than the original job would have been. So just hang in there; who know’s whats in store??? (I mean that in a good way!)
So sorry to hear this! But I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. When one door closes, another one will open! So keep your chin up! There is so many opportunities out there waiting to be had.
I am so sorry I didn’t get to reply until now, but know that this very, very likely has nothing to do with your abilities, passion, or ultimate aptitude as an RD. People have connections, luck, and whatever, and this time the odds were not in your favor. What. Ever. You will be fantastic at your job in the end; this is just a bump in the road of your career infancy.
Oh man, I could write a novel on how to deal with disappointment. Working so hard and not getting what you want is rough, but you know what, things will workout the way they need to in the long run, and dealing with this disappointment will make you appreciate when you DO get in even more.
Aw, I am so sorry to hear that! Take some time to be sad and be down, but then get right back on it for plan B! It sounds like you’re already doing a great job of this, though. So happy you’re able to do a bit more pain-free running to help sort your emotions and keep sane π I can’t wait to hear what’s next in store for you!