How should I answer the question I waive my right to review letters
On so many of the apps there is a box that states "I waive my right to review or access letters and statements of recommendation on my behalf" or something else similar to that. Not that I would review any letters but I don't necessarily believe in waiving my right to that. Is there any certain way that really needs to be answered? If you say no is that a problem?
Think of it this way. Suppose your school required you to submit an evaluation of your teachers each semester. In scenario A is is anonymous, in scenario B you must sign it. Knowing the teacher sees all evaluations, in which case would you be more honest about what you thought?
Colleges discount letters in which right of review is not waived.
IMO, if you don't waive your right to see the letters and you get very glowing recommendations, schools will likely discount them, thinking that the recommender may not have been as honest in their evaluation knowing that you have access to the letter.
Seems kind of silly not to waive your right to read the letters and then not actually read them. That's kind of the worst of all possible worlds.
It says on the website that you waive your rights to view your reccomendations AFTER you matriculated. So I don't think it really matters.
From the commpnapp website
No, I do not waive my right to access, and I may someday choose to see this form or any other recommendations or supporting documents submitted by me or on my behalf to the institution at which I'm enrolling, if that institution saves them after I matriculate.
"Colleges discount letters in which right of review is not waived."
Not one single college admissions officer has ever formally gone on record to state that this is true. Until one of them is willing to do so, this should be treated as an urban myth.
If you don't want to waive your rights, then don't. If you do, then go ahead and do so. It truly is up to you.
I initially advised my son to not waive his right under the thinking that it's just good to keep as many of your rights as you can. But it came back to bite us because his GC said that with the right not being waived, they couldn't electronically submit all of the forms through Naviance. We wanted the process to be as streamlined and efficient as possible, so we went back in and waived it.
