<p>Common app and other applications have box where a student can waive the right to see any of the recomendation letters. </p>
<p>I think the answer is yes ( the student waives all rights) As I understand, waving the right allows the person writing the letters of recommendation the freedom to be candid Are there any circumstances one would not waive the right? Or is it just a matter of preference? Or is there something else to be aware off</p>
<p>I apologize if this has been discussed before, in which case please point me to that thread.</p>
<p>Click on “Search” near the top of this screen and then enter waive+recommendation in the box. You will get something like ten pages of links to threads on this topic.</p>
<p>Actually, if you just look down to similar threads, it’ll pretty much answer your question as well. </p>
<p>All you need to do is ask the question: If you’re worried about what the person your asking is going to say about you, why are you asking them for a recommendation in the first place?</p>
<p>Thank you to both of you. You have answered my question. happymomof1, I did look at the other posts and it appears colleges may discount applications where the right is waived. Hence it makes sense to waive the right in most cases.</p>
<p>Mare_Crisium: You asked a very valid question. The only reason why one might have to get a recommendation from a person who they are not sure about is the GC. It could happen that GC is not favorably inclined for other reasons and schools insist on the GC to fill one recommendation. However, for my child that is not the case (the GC is excellent), and hence it is not an issue.</p>
<p>Glad to have been of help. My guidance counselor stressed that point alot in our college preparation classes. I go to a small school where everyone knows who everyone else is, but if someone goes to a large school, its important to make sure you stand out. But it seems that your daughter won’t have any problem. Colleges want to hear what your daughter wants to bring to them in her essay or interview, but they want to hear what others will think she’ll contribute, which is really why its important that you waive your right.</p>
<p>But what if you are just curious what they wrote in the recommendation?
Why do colleges assume that you have something to hide when you want to view the recommendation letters?</p>
<p>I think that colleges are concerned that the person writing the recommendation will not be as forthcoming if they know that the student or the parent can demand and see it later. There is nothing that prevents a recommendation writer to share that with the student informally but the essence is that it is confidential. Hence the expectation is that writer can candidly and confidentially share their assessment without fear of retribution. If they make an exception for one person, they will have to make an exception for everyone.</p>
<p>Hence if you are curious about the what the recommendation is about, then you might want to diplomatically broach the subject, but going back to Mare_Crisium’s point, choose a writer who you are confident off and leave it at that.</p>
Because they know that some parents are well-connected or powerful in their community and can make a lot of trouble for a teacher if they are displeased with what is written in a rec.</p>
<p>When I was applying to college (80’s), you had a choice of two boxes. One said you would waive your rights under the Freedom of Information Act and would not seek to see the recommendation, the other box said you would not waive your rights and WOULD seek to see the recommendation. I always checked this box although I had no intention of seeing the recommendation. It seemed unfair to me as an idealistic teenager to waive an important right that many people had probably fought for years to legally establish. </p>
<p>On the other hand, I’ve been to college info sessions where they tell you that the recommendation letters are the least considered part of the student’s application package because they ALL are so glowing that they don’t really help the colleges differentiate between students. </p>
<p>I know the teachers where my children go to school work very hard on those letters so that seems a shame too.</p>
<p>Crap what if I already marked “don’t waive” on the recommendation forms that are online? Does anyone know how to revert that, and is it even possible to?</p>
<p>As my college counselor put it, “You should ALWAYS waive your right” if you don’t it essentially means you dont trust them which colleges wont like, if you dont feel comfortable with what the person might say then why are they writing your recommendation in the first place?</p>
<p>fraudulence: if you felt more comfortable checking ‘don’t waive’ the right to see the LOR, then stick with that. you have the right to see them if that’s what you desire and i really don’t believe that that one action will be a deal breaker with the colleges you apply to if everything else on your application measures up. don’t stress over it and enjoy your senior year! :)</p>
<p>Remember that waiving the right does NOT mean that you cannot read the letter. A teacher or GC can voluntarily show it to you, at your request or the teacher’s own volition, and that’s fine. Many kids do ask to see the letters or the teachers give them copies, and all is well, even if they waived the right.</p>
<p>What it DOES mean is that you cannot march into the college’s admissions office and DEMAND to see the letters. You have that legal right unless you waive it.</p>
<p>fraudulence- this question was asked at D’s college night- the counselors said they could reset it, but you had to ask them for help. They strongly recommended checking the ‘don’t look’ box</p>