Thinking of changing my major to the above...

I was wondering what kind of undergraduate major(s) I would want to seek and if anyone here could impart any advice to me on what kind of career I would be entering into.

My relatives have told me that they don't see me being a nutritionist although they're more open to the sports medicine idea (my aunt is a nurse).

I was originally going to major in engineering...it is quite a change.

I live in Florida and was planning on going to UF, any other good schools in Florida or elsewhere for this? How to get an internship? (Start at a local high school with a football/baseball team)

Thinking of changing my major to the above...

I was wondering what kind of undergraduate major(s) I would want to seek and if anyone here could impart any advice to me on what kind of career I would be entering into.

My relatives have told me that they don't see me being a nutritionist although they're more open to the sports medicine idea (my aunt is a nurse).

I was originally going to major in engineering...it is quite a change.

I live in Florida and was planning on going to UF, any other good schools in Florida or elsewhere for this? How to get an internship? (Start at a local high school with a football/baseball team)

There are several different options for careers in nutrition or sports medicine depending on your particular interest.

Personally, I am a registered dietitian. A dietetics degree is available through several florida universities or colleges. To find out the possibilites consider checking out the American Dietetic Association website, www.eatright.org. Traditionally, dietitians obtain a four year degree and complete a separate internship. (9 mo to 1 yr) Some programs have moved to a combined Master's degree with the internship (2 years). Several Masters degrees focus on the option of Sports Nutrition - Georgia State University in Atlanta has that specialization - 2 of the professors work closely with olympic teams.

Sports Nutrition can involve working with professional, college, or gym/wellness centers. There are a lot fewer jobs in this area compared to working to a hospital setting.

Other more sports medicine options include working as an athletic trainer, physical therapist, or team physician.

I was briefly in a physician assistant program and was exposed to some of my classmates experiences in these fields. Atletic trainers are not personal trainers; they have a 4 year degree while the standards for personal trainers/exercise credentials vary from hs degree to 4 year degree to medical degree. Physical therapists tend to work more with sedentary individuals but can work in both hospitals and private clincis. While team physicans obviously have completed a 4 year degree, medical school, a residency, and then a fellowship in sports medicine.

Physician assistants have a 4 year degree usually followed by a 2 year Master's program to become a PA much shorter than what it takes to become a physician. They then can choose were to work based on their interests and a physician being willing to hire them.

Hope this helps give me an email if you have more questions about the dietitian option. - jcrushks@comcast.net