Which Recommendation Should I Use?

[OverIt25]

Ok, so i have to submit three recommedations in total for the mental health counseling program that I am applying to. I have two from professors, I couldn't get a third one because of professors being busy and blah blah blah. So I originally asked my store manager at the retail store that i work at to do it. He seemed to be flaking so to aire on the side of caution I asked the coordinator of volunteer services at the hospital that i volunteer at to complete one for me. I volunteer in the emergency department and interact with the psychiatric side of the emergency department also. My manager has since came through and i have his recommendation uploaded. The lady at the hospital is working to have hers to me for tomorrow or Friday. The application deadline is Saturday, everything else is completed, and "technically" i do have all three recommedations that I need. Should i just submit four or choose from the last two. If i do choose, which one should i go with??

[bsharpe269]

I would do the 2 professors + the volunteer coordinator

[Sarah Bee]

The 'minimum' requirement for my programme was to submitted two letters. I submitted one academic (one from Chairperson and the other from a visiting faculty who taught me for 5 semesters) and one from my Editor (three in total). 

So I agree with besharpe269 that 2 from professors and one from volunteer coordinator would suffice. 

Edited January 29, 2014 by Sarah Bee

[TakeruK]

I think the letter from the volunteer coordinator is going to be infinitely more relevant than your retail store manager's letter. For an academic program, I would say that the retail store manager's letter is basically useless, except in cases where you have no 3rd option at all and you must submit 3 LORs or they will throw out your application.

[OverIt25]

Thanks everyone. I agree also that i should go with the volunteer coordinator's recommendation. I'm trying to give her a few days to get to it as she's been out of the office since last week. I go to volunteer tomorrow afternoon so i'll give her a call in the morning to remind her. I'm just a little antsy because i ultimately don't have her recommendation done and the application is due Saturday. So hopefully i don't have to go with my retail manager's recommendation by default.