Could this person write me a LOR?

[jlee306]

Hello, I am wanting to do research this coming semester and one professor is gathering a research team at my university and she has the same interests as me...so it is pretty much a good match assuming that I get on the research team. I obviously wanted my research supervisor to write me a strong LOR if they were willing. So here is my question: I am applying to the Specialist in School Psychology grad program and the professor that I want to do research with also happens to be a School Psychologist and the Director of the program. Would she write the LOR since she technically would be writing the letter to herself? Even though I really only want to go to the school I am currently at, I am going to apply to other schools as well and I know she would write the letter for the other grad programs but will she tell me I need another recommender for her program? Any help or advice is appreciated!

[jasper.milvain]

It's not a problem. In fact, it will likely help you that you have someone on the adcom in your corner. My MA supervisor was the grad chair of the program and my main letter writer. She happily wrote letters for all of my apps, including the one for the program she chairs. It was a little awekward negotiating funding with her given our relationship, but it wasn't bad at all. When I decided to go elsewhere, she was wonderfully supportive.

Remember, chairs aren't the only people on committees. There are 3 or 4 profs doing the selections, and many others consulted on individual apps. If they were all disqualified from acting as references for students, it would be insanely restrictive.

[jlee306]

Jasper: thank you for your reply. That helps me out to hear that...I was beginning to worry about who all I was going to have to get in order to have enough LORs. I also wondered if having the director write me LORs for other universities would negatively affect my chances of getting in since it shows that I am considering other schools and not just her program. I know that is silly to think beings I am 100% positive she knows that students should apply to more than 1 grad school, but still, I worry she might think that because I am asking her to write for other schools as well, that I am not serious about this school. I guess if I do get on the research team, somewhere down the road I can make it clear that this school is the only grad program I really want to get into.

I am worrying myself about something that I don't even know yet if it is going to happen! Good grief...the grad school application process is already getting to me and the semester hasn't even started yet!

[socialcomm]

Don't worry about her writing letters to other schools. Everyone (ok, almost everyone) applies to multiple schools. It may turn out another school is a better fit. You don't want to shut yourself out of other options.

[jlee306]

Don't worry about her writing letters to other schools. Everyone (ok, almost everyone) applies to multiple schools. It may turn out another school is a better fit. You don't want to shut yourself out of other options.

Thank you...the thing is that there are not very many Universities here in TX that offer the School Psychology grad program and out of all of them, the university I am currently at has the best program (in my opinion). And out of state schools are not an option, I have sick parents and cannot leave them.

[socialpsych]

Three out of my four letter writers are at the program I will be attending this fall. They never put pressure on me to attend their program, but it definitely helped to have their support. It's fairly common, and you shouldn't worry about it.