When I first got the idea of becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist, I was listening to an NPR interview with someone who worked in the nutrition department at a top-notch university. Why had I never considered going into nutrition? I was obsessed with anything nutrition- and health-related, yet it never dawned on me to look for work in that field.
I immediately started looking into becoming an RDN and one program in particular looked to be a perfect fit. But the odds were stacked against me: It’s considered one of the top programs in the country and only about 20 to 25 students get admitted per year. I did look into other programs, of course, including one that was near my parents, meaning I could live at home again, be close to family and save money. But I wanted to get into the other program so badly that I did kind of put all my eggs in that basket.
After spending months on my application for both programs, I could only wait, and the longer I waited the more I doubted my choices. During this time, I was driving back and forth to my community college classes, and along the way were billboards advertising various master’s programs at a nearby private college. Every time I saw them I would think about checking it out, but it seemed too expensive. Finally, my wise and wonderful boyfriend suggested that I at least look at the program before ruling it out.
It turned out that this college wasn’t as expensive as expected, and I really liked the program! After one info session, I already felt close to the faculty, and the environment was open and warm.
I’m a strong believer that everything happens the way it is supposed to — maybe this is a convenient way to accept disappointment, but I really didn’t feel bad when I found out I didn’t get into my dream school. I was excited about the program at the nearby college, which felt like a better fit for me. It was just initially tough to see that because I was so focused on the other options. I am so happy I decided to give the private college a chance.
The lesson here? No matter how badly we think we want something, sometimes it’s not meant to be, and those disappointments can turn into something good. .png "I Didn’t Get Into My Dream School — and It Wasn’t a Tragedy - Dietetics"){kind=logo}
If I had gotten into my dream school, I probably would have chosen it over where I am now, but that would’ve been a mistake for me. Not being accepted there was the best thing that could have happened to me — I’ve just completed my second semester in the private college program and couldn’t be happier with my decision.
