School Options - Nutrition

[FemmeFatale28]

I have a few questions about the world of Dietetics. My goal for about the last 3 years has been to get involved in the world of nutrition. Now that I am in a position where I can go to school I am deciding on my major. What would make me most happy is using the military to get my bachelors degree and become an RD, thought also perhaps I would go back and get an associates of science in health and fitnss. My only apprehensions are I dont know the market or the need for what I want to do. So I thought I would ask what type of jobs I could expect to get with this. In the Army I am Broadcast Engineer Tech and I thought I would go to school for Computer Information Security Systems ( Bachelors) because I know computers are a proftable especially since with this degree I will be prepared to sit for Cisco, C+, A+ and a number of others I cant think of and also I will have 6 years electronics experience. Any information on the "fitness world" would be great. I already know what will make me happiest, I just want to make sure I can make at least a middle to middle upper class living as well.

[tbonesteakboy]

I have a few questions about the world of Dietetics. My goal for about the last 3 years has been to get involved in the world of nutrition. Now that I am in a position where I can go to school I am deciding on my major. What would make me most happy is using the military to get my bachelors degree and become an RD, thought also perhaps I would go back and get an associates of science in health and fitnss. My only apprehensions are I dont know the market or the need for what I want to do. So I thought I would ask what type of jobs I could expect to get with this. In the Army I am Broadcast Engineer Tech and I thought I would go to school for Computer Information Security Systems ( Bachelors) because I know computers are a proftable especially since with this degree I will be prepared to sit for Cisco, C+, A+ and a number of others I cant think of and also I will have 6 years electronics experience. Any information on the "fitness world" would be great. I already know what will make me happiest, I just want to make sure I can make at least a middle to middle upper class living as well.

Take it from a guy already in the tech biz. I was kind of like you.. i was in naval intelligence. I've worked on computers since i was 10. And one thing that i learned from all this? I WISH I WOULD HAVE WENT NUTRITION

i drone out my day in agony at an office, in a tiny room, in front of a monitor. I day dream all day about getting out and hitting the gym.

I think that i loved computers and electronics because i had control over what i wanted to learn and what I wanted to do with them. I had some sort of delusion that the corporate environment would allow me that freedom. I was sorely, sadly, and unequivocally WRONG.

If you take a look at the expected salary of a nutritionist or dietitian as compared to your average network engineer/programmer... they're pretty darn close. Not to mention the fact that you can't put a price on your dreams. especially after they've been smashed by the system.

[BlueFenix13S]

I have a degree in Information Systems, but also have the same ambitions as you. I am planning on working in Space even after I get out, but I am going to get a personal training certificate and do that on the side. That is my recommendation for you. use your TA to get a technical degree and set you up for a 6-figure income, then supplement it with personal training.

[tbonesteakboy]

I have a degree in Information Systems, but also have the same ambitions as you. I am planning on working in Space even after I get out, but I am going to get a personal training certificate and do that on the side. That is my recommendation for you. use your TA to get a technical degree and set you up for a 6-figure income, then supplement it with personal training.

maybe i'm just bitter.

[Schwartz86]

I have a few questions about the world of Dietetics. My goal for about the last 3 years has been to get involved in the world of nutrition. Now that I am in a position where I can go to school I am deciding on my major. What would make me most happy is using the military to get my bachelors degree and become an RD, thought also perhaps I would go back and get an associates of science in health and fitnss. My only apprehensions are I dont know the market or the need for what I want to do. So I thought I would ask what type of jobs I could expect to get with this. In the Army I am Broadcast Engineer Tech and I thought I would go to school for Computer Information Security Systems ( Bachelors) because I know computers are a proftable especially since with this degree I will be prepared to sit for Cisco, C+, A+ and a number of others I cant think of and also I will have 6 years electronics experience. Any information on the "fitness world" would be great. I already know what will make me happiest, I just want to make sure I can make at least a middle to middle upper class living as well.

My advice, try to get on wit a defense contractor. I am a software engineer for one of the larger ones in the States. A military background really helps land the jobs, plus they are one of the few industries still hiring (at least for software). The pay and benefits are pretty nice too. I spend most of my free time studying nutrition and experimenting, however, I don't think I would be able to land a job that pays as well as mine does now in this economy by studying nutrition. Just my two bits...

[mivi320]

http://www.alanaragonblog.com/2009/11/12/directions-toward-a-career-in-fitness-part-1/

[jcherno]

I'm a nutrition major at the moment, but I plan on going to medical school. Dietetics is a concentration over here, which requires some specific classes such as exercise nutrition and what not.

I'm not sure what dietetics concentrations end up doing exactly, but other nutrition majors i've met mostly end up in research, doing something in the food industry, or working in a clinical setting.

I love my classes, I'd take them just for fun, but it's frustrating to sort through all the conflicting scientific studies when you're trying to figure a part of your diet out. But it's a good skill to be able to understand the science and the methods behind the studies, so you can make your own judgments.

[gregdike]

If you want to be a dietitian you can look through the eatright dot org website. There are loads of info on the website.

This gives you a guideline of what you need to accomplish to be a dietitian.
http://www.eatright.org/students/education/starthere.aspx

It'll prob take you at least two years to become a dietitian, provided you have a college degree already. You need to get back to college do the necessary courses and get some practical training and then become a dietitian.

[Mcspiffy]

I'm in the RD program at University of Houston, and it is quite a bit of work. The real kicker is that once you graduate, you have to be accepted into an internship before you can sit for the RD exam. Internships are VERY competitive, I think the last statistic was that only 50% of the UH class gets into one each year. They are also expensive, so be prepared for that.

There's so much you can do with your RD certification though, the field is wide open.

[elmariachii]

If you love it do it, after i got my BS in biology, i applied for a masters program in nutrition and dietetics, now im 2 weeks away from getting my masters and becoming an R.D.

i have a 9 month internship in a hospital to have my permit and i will be able to have my own clinic

[atomdawgg]

I have a BS in dietetics, a MS degree in nutrition, and work as an RD. I absolutely love it. I am getting my CSCS in the next few months to complement my practice (it is one of the few AMA credentialed "personal training" programs, which means some employers pay for it, or at least allow you to cite it next to your name).

The degree is really just the first step. I know PhDs that are horrible dietitians. I encourage you to keep up on the most current research and supplements (good and bad), since your patients will readily judge you based on your familiarity with what they are doing/taking. I subscribe to numerous journals and junk magazines to keep abreast of the most recent studies, supplements, and fads. You need to be motivated; there are too many dietitians that stop learning after school; they will tell you to avoid higher protein diets because you'll hurt your kidneys, weight training with lighter weights "tones your body", etc. I find myself constantly proving myself to patients/clients who have had bad experiences with dietitians.

Also (and it pains me to have to write this), stay in shape. I don't care how busy you are, you are a health professional so try to look like one. Practice what you preach.