<p>I am a current college junior and planning to apply to the Harvard 2+2 Program. I think I am/will be competitive in most aspects (GPA, GMAT, work experience, essays, etc). However, I am worried about the 2 letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>I don't really have anybody who knows me very well professionally. I could get a recommendation from my previous supervisor (she wrote one for me before) but I haven't kept in touch. </p>
<p>Also, my work is mostly based on short-term projects (Computer Engineering major) where people don't get to know me extensively. As for professors, I never really formed strong bonds with them. Now, my problem is not to get "some" letter of recommendation, but I am afraid they won't be as amazing as other people's.</p>
<p>From your experience, how important are letters of recommendation?</p>
<p>I would say that LORs are integral to your candidacy, considering they are the only qualitative indicators of what OTHERS think of your work, and of you, and particularly when choosing who to interview, HBS is looking for those who are appreciated by their supervisors/professors, who seem to come off to others as results-driven leaders that can communicate well.</p>
<p>Have you ever worked a campus job? Perhaps had an internship last summer? If you did, and that’s the previous supervisor you refer to, I don’t think it’s too late to ask for a recommendation. In your request, you can include a short recap of what you accomplished while working under him/her, perhaps a resume, and offer to speak with them by phone to help “jog their memory” of what you did while you were there.</p>
<p>In your short term projects, have you ever worked with an academic advisor? You may not think you’ve formed lasting bonds with professors but look back on your time in school, particularly the last year – have you ever gone to office hours? Sought help about questions maybe beyond the scope of the course? Think about the classes you’ve done well in and whether there was anything that you did that would have made you stand out. If not – well, the semester’s not over and the HBS app isn’t due til June – can you start forming that relationship with a prof you have now and maybe have had for a couple classes before but haven’t bonded with? Start going to office hours, proposing your own research topics, etc! Maybe by mid May you will feel more comfortable asking for a rec.</p>