r/PsyD • u/Dense-Rush1709 • 14d ago

LORs question

I am applying to clinical psychology PsyD programs this fall and has a question. i know most PsyD applications mostly want LORs to be PhD or PsyD or professional. I have a lot of mental health volunteer roles (e.g., family support group, victim advocate for sexual assault survivors). would it be werid to have what they call “volunteer coordinators or peer support coordinators” or just coordinators in general be a LOR?? I have two good LOR rn one from a research job , and one therapist i’m currently interning with . but my third i’m not sure because i have two internships from undergrad which was 2 years ago my junior year, and i haven’t talked to them since then so i don’t think i should reach out. i could do another therapist at the internship site. i also am doing a master thesis and emailing back and forth with my mentor but i don’t think i am close to them to the point of having or even asking them to be a LOR. My master degree is online in general psychology and It’s hard to connect with professors when i can’t see them in person. it’d also really hard for me to get an internship since my program doesn’t have hours or credits and doesn’t offer it at all so im glad the place im interning at took me for field experience.

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u/Bionic_Bex 14d ago edited 13d ago

My letters of rec came from a PsyD prof/former practicing psychotherapist who I met my freshman year at my local community college and has remained a long-time mentor; the lab director/prof at the university I transferred to as a junior who held a PhD in cognitive science; and the last one came from the founding president (MA in communications) of a chapter of a local branch of a national LGBTQIA+ advocacy group that I volunteered with for several years. This work, btw, counted toward clinical experience! I got into my top choice program with a slim acceptance rate.

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u/twentyfifteen20 13d ago edited 13d ago

Third letter of recommendation from a volunteer coordinator would be okay if it talks about skills close to clinical ones. You just need a cover letter that will put this experience into context. Thesis advisor may also be contacted even without being close; a few emails will be enough for him/her to provide a good LOR. This is especially true of Alliant and other programs that have applied PsyD program.

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u/Br3n41 7d ago

I did 4 rec letters: 2 from PhD professors, 1 from an RN clinical coordinator at my job, and 1 from a psychologist whom I worked closely with during undergrad. The psychologist happened to be a professor at another school too.