Recommendation Caution to PNM's

[AGDLynn]

Wow!!

I've already gotten a very nice handwritten (!) thank you note for writing a rec!

[CallieQ]

How soon is too soon to ask about recs? One of my teachers told me she'd get one for me and I didn't even ask her.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by CallieQ

How soon is too soon to ask about recs? One of my teachers told me she'd get one for me and I didn't even ask her.

are you a senior? I hope, LOL, because if not your teacher is seriously obsessed. But if she volunteered, how nice of her! It's never too early to start collecting recs, that way when it gets closer to rush you can worry about other things, like shoes and clothes. What school will you be attending?

[CallieQ]

I'm a junior, and she is obsessed! She made us memorize the Greek Alphabet "because we'll need to know it in college". She's still my favorite teacher, and I know I'll need her help.

I'm applying to Mercer, UGA, USC, and Clemson, for sure. I haven't figured out my safety nets yet. Or should I delete those? I see everyone who tells her story uses code names.

[CallieQ]

I forgot about clothes! My mother is forever saying that "this would be lovely for a Pref Party" or first or second or third rounds! She's funny -- I think she's a tribute to Lily Pulitzer & Anne Klein, lol!

[adpiucf]

The earliest time to start accumulating recs is in March of your senior year of high school/the March before your recruitment if you are an upperclassman already at college. Put together a social resume and a headshot/full body photo for each of your recommenders,as well as the addresses for the sorority chapter where they should send the rec. Begin contacting alumnae within your network and contact the Alumnae Panhellenic in your area to see about obtaining the rest.

If you do not yet know where you will be attending school, it is ok for the alumnae to send recs to the universities you have applied to. Make sure they send the recommendation directly to the sorority chapter at the university. There may be a form associated with the rec; the alumna will get it from her sorority.

Make sure to send a Thank-You note to your recommenders once they send in the rec. You should not have any sort of communication with the collegiate sorority women at your university, even though it may be tempting to check and see if your rec was received. Don't even think about it! You can ask your recommender if she sent it; usually the chapters will send the recommenders a thank-you to let them know it was received.

Update your recommenders post-recruitment with a last thank you note and let them know how it turned out. Whether or not you joined their sorority (or even if you dropped out of recruitment), they will be happy to hear from you.

ETA: The photos you provide your recommender with don't have to be Glamour Shots- just a friendly snapshot - but it does help the chapters to be able to put a face to the name and here in Texas we encourage the women to submit these photos with their recs. It isn't required.

[FSUZeta]

to add on to adpiucf's excellent advice, you might even want to include an addressed, stamped envelope that the alum can put her completed rec. in and mail-might help speed up the process and as an alum., i certainly appreciate and am impressed when a pnm thinks to do this!!

[greekcheek]

I just have a question...would it be wrong to send more than one recommendation letter? would having more letters increase my chances?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by greekcheek

I just have a question...would it be wrong to send more than one recommendation letter? would having more letters increase my chances?

More letters do not necessarily = increased chances at getting a bid.

But more than one rec CAN give the chapter another opportunity to get to know who you are.