So, sports psychology internships – let me walk you through my messy journey trying to land one last summer. Started simple enough: typed “sports psych internships near me” into Google. Boom, pages of fancy university programs and pro team opportunities popped up.
The Application Circus
Filled out online forms for three weeks straight. Attached my community college psych course certificates thinking that’d impress someone. Hit submit on like twenty applications. Then… crickets. Absolute radio silence for a month.
Finally got two replies:
- Rejection #1: Automated email saying “position filled internally” – whatever that means.
- Rejection #2: Local rehab center asked for unpaid work plus weekend hours. Hard pass.
Breaking Rules to Get Footage
Got desperate. Started cold-emailing high school coaches saying I’d help for free if they’d sign my internship paperwork. Most ignored me except Coach Miller at Riverside High. Dude let me shadow him during basketball tryouts.
What I actually did:
- Filmed players shooting free throws with my iPhone
- Made cringe motivational posters for locker rooms
- Organized stress questionnaires nobody filled out
Coach kept calling me “the shrink intern” which was… awkward.
The Messy Finale
University finally approved my credits after I submitted edited practice footage – looked way more professional than reality. My “presentation” literally showed me rewinding missed shots while players complained about homework stress.
Biggest lesson? Half this field runs on favors and faking it till you make it. Would I do it again? Hell no. But hey – got that line on my resume now.