[DubaiSis]

HOW DARE YOU INDIANASIGKAP! HA! I think your information is spot on. Having gone to Iowa (not nearly as competitive, but still Midwestern Big 10), I would say recs are seen the same way. I know of at least one chapter that requires recs, but if they want you, they find an alum who knows someone who knows someone to get it done. My chapter loved getting them so we could have a leg up in preparing to meet them, but not having them didn't hinder a girl's chances with us.

With so many sororities headquartered in Indy, I bet you CAN find a rec-writer for every chapter, but I wouldn't let it make you crazy. And think of it this way: it's a fantastic networking/conversation skills workout. If you make a job of finding all your recs, you are undoubtedly going to reach outside your comfort zone in talking to people you don't already know well and learn how to "make the ask" politely and succinctly. So they may or may not be mandatory, but the process could make you a better PNM when the time comes.