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Blondie93, your post is exactly why it's a little confusing for PNMs. School website says you don't need it but if you get it send it with no hard deadline. Recruitment book says you can get them and each chapter's website says send recs "here". All a little confusing especially for newbies with no family history. Google and GC are my friends (along with mom).
Regarding recs: I thought I only knew 2 alumnae. They both gladly helped me with the first two recs. Then I reached out to my local Alumnae Panhellenic. They were very nice and helpful, even reviewed and helped me edit my resume. They sent out my edited resume and headshot to their group. Unfortunately I wasn't able to track who did or didn't do a rec so I felt that was up in the air. So I did more googling, found contacts for the local alumnae chapters and started sending out emails. I didn't know what to expect and WOW WOW WOW. These women were fantastic. They all responded within a few days and were extremely kind, generous, and helpful. One even responded while she was at the Natl Convention to let me know she'd help me when she got back and she did (rec has already been sent). I had a few in-person and telephone interviews and recs have been sent on my behalf. I have all my letters but 2 and I'm doing interviews this weekend for those. Once that's done on to shopping. YES!
Not that I'm an expert at all, because I'm definitely not, but be polite when you ask for a rec especially from a complete stranger. Thank them when they say "yes" and thank them again when they say they sent it. Even thank them when they're considering it because they don't have to do anything for you. If you're meeting for an interview, dress nice (not wedding dressy) but not beach dress either. Get to the meeting early, offer to buy a drink (although mine bought me a drink instead which was nice). Followup the meeting with a thank you. I guess I'm trying to say be polite and appreciative. My mom said it best "these are complete strangers doing you a favor, you accomodate them, you make it easy for them".
Thank you for your good wishes.
P.S. Thank you to greekdee who helped me with a rec for Phi Mu. I told my mom she can close her FB account now.
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