recruitment recs

Now. You need to be asking now. Get them in before mid summer.

I came into recruitment and had one letter. Went through recruitment and got the house I wanted and I didnt even have a rec letter for them. If they like you they will ask you back. I wouldnt stress

You need recs and you need them in place by mid summer. A rec puts your "application" in a different pile from girls who do not have one. Additionally, most chapters cannot pledge you without a rec per national policy.
The most successful recruiting chapters are required to release the largest numbers of girls at the very beginning of recruitment. Poor Grades and Lack of a Rec are the easiest way for them to do this, so don't put yourself in that category. Get your recs.

Some people are giving you bad advice. On the UTK website you can see which sororities require letters and make sure you have them for those. If you don't, you will most likely be cut first day.

The best reason to have recs is to give the sororities a chance to really look over your information about academics, activities/sports, clubs, volunteer work, etc... If they like how you look on paper, they will purposely look for you during recruitment. If you have a lot to offer, the rec gives them a heads up. I would say if you didn't do clubs/sports/activities/volunteering, your grade point average was average but you are full of personality and make a great 1st impression, then you might do better not sending in a rec. If they love you and you have that connection with the girls you talk to during recruitment, they will find an alum to give you a rec.