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You may be wondering: Should I waive my right to see letters of recommendation? Letters of recommendation are critical to your applications. Specifically, they provide valuable perspectives on your achievements and potential. So, can you read your recommendations? Applicants often wonder whether to waive their right to view these letters.
In this article, we’ll discuss the letter of recommendation waiver. Additionally, we’ll talk about why schools ask this question and the pros and cons of waiving your right. Also, we’ll discuss tips for selecting and preparing your recommender. Finally, we’ll answer frequently asked questions.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- What Does Waiving Your Right Mean?
- Why Schools Ask About Waiving Your Right
- Pros of Waiving Your Right
- Cons of Waiving Your Right
- When You Should (or Shouldn’t) Waive Your Right
- Tips for Selecting and Preparing Your Recommender
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is a FERPA waiver?
- Do you need letters of recommendation for college?
- Do letters of recommendation need to be college-specific?
- Do letters of recommendation include only academic achievements?
- Can letters of recommendation be sent after the application deadline?
- How long are letters of recommendation?
- What’s Next?
What Does Waiving Your Right Mean?
Should I waive my right to see letters of recommendation? First, understand what this means.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law allowing applicants to view their letters of recommendation. In other words, candidates who do not waive their right can access their letters of recommendation in the future. However, applicants who do waive this right forgo this right. As a result, the letters remain confidential.
KEY FACT:
A FERPA waiver refers to the process of waiving the right to access letters of recommendation.
Why Schools Ask About Waiving Your Right
Colleges and universities include the FERPA waiver to uphold the integrity and confidentiality of recommendations. In other words, admissions officers encourage honest feedback. Admissions officers generally believe that confidential recommendations allow writers to be objective.
KEY FACT:
Most undergraduate and graduate programs in the U.S. require letters of recommendation.
Pros of Waiving Your Right
You may be wondering: Should I waive my FERPA rights? There are several pros to waiving your right. These include:
- Getting honest feedback from recommenders: Your recommenders can provide an objective evaluation.
- Building trust with recommenders: Waiving your right signals that you trust what your recommender says.
- Following norms: In the MBA admission process, for example, waiving the right is the norm.
Cons of Waiving Your Right
Not all candidates are comfortable with waiving the right to see letters of recommendation. A couple of the cons to waiving your right include:
- Loss of transparency: You won’t know what your recommenders will share.
- Potential risks: If you’re unsure about what your recommenders will provide, not waiving your right might help you verify what they say.
When You Should (Or Shouldn’t) Waive Your Right
You might be wondering, “Should I waive my right to see letters of recommendation?”
If you’re unsure whether to waive your right, here are some ways to think about the process. On the one hand, you could waive your right if you trust your letter writers to support your candidacy. Additionally, you should consider waiving your right if your target program prefers confidential recommendations.
On the other hand, you shouldn’t waive your right if you don’t have trusted recommenders. In other words, don’t waive your right if you have doubts about your recommender’s support. Additionally, you don’t need to waive your right if your target programs don’t explicitly encourage this.
TTP PRO TIP:
Attend info sessions for your target programs to ask whether waiving your right is encouraged.
Tips for Selecting and Preparing Your Recommender
As mentioned, letters of recommendation provide valuable third-party perspectives. However, be selective about whom you ask.
Here are some tips for selecting your recommenders:
- Choose people you trust: Collaborate with individuals who know you and your work well. These individuals should know your strengths and growth areas.
- Provide supporting materials: Share a document outlining your goals, achievements, and specific examples.
- Confirm their willingness to help you: Make sure your recommenders understand and are aligned with your goals.
- Give your recommenders time: Provide 4–6 weeks for your recommenders and a firm deadline. Additionally, check in along the way.
TTP PRO TIP:
Choose trusted individuals who know your work well and give them 4–6 weeks to prepare your recommendation.
Key Takeaways
We know that requesting letters of recommendation can be stressful. Follow the advice in this article regarding waiving your right. Then, prepare your recommenders effectively. Your letters of recommendation should be a value-add to your candidacy!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are letters of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation are evaluations written by professors, managers, and other team members. They provide a third-party perspective on your achievements and potential.
What is a FERPA waiver?
A FERPA waiver allows letter writers to submit confidentially. The waiver does not enable you to access these letters in the future.
Do you need letters of recommendation for college?
Refer to the instructions for each program to understand the requirements. Many undergraduate and graduate colleges and universities require letters of recommendation.
Do letters of recommendation need to be college-specific?
Generally, no. However, the requirements vary across colleges and universities. Therefore, recommenders must follow specific instructions. As a result, you should share recommendation letter best practices.
Do letters of recommendation include only academic achievements?
It depends. If you’re applying for colleges, many of your recommendations will reflect on your academic achievements. However, if you are developing MBA applications, your letters of recommendation will include professional achievements.
Can letters of recommendation be sent after the application deadline?
Generally, no. However, you should refer to the instructions for each of your target programs. Most programs require recommendations to be sent by application deadlines.
How long are letters of recommendation?
The length varies by program. Therefore, you and your recommenders should refer to the specific instructions for each of your target programs.
What’s Next?
If you’re applying for an MBA but don’t know where to start, we can help! Target Test Prep’s experienced MBA admissions consultants will evaluate your MBA profile, discuss your goals, and help execute strong applications.
