While filling out college applications — especially if the school uses the Common Application — you’re likely to come across a question asking you to waive your right to see your letters of recommendation for college.
Basically, when you apply, schools are asking you to waive your FERPA right to see these letters related to your educational goals. This is called the “FERPA waiver.”
The good news, though, is that you don’t need to worry about waiving this right. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to go ahead and check the “yes” box and move on to the rest of your application.
So what is the Common App FERPA and the FERPA waiver? And how do they relate to letters of recommendation? Let’s have a look.
What Is the Common App FERPA?
Passed in 1974, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act gives parents of students under the age of 18 — and students above the age of 18 or in post-secondary school — the ability to access their educational records.
On top of that, it says that schools can’t release educational records to third parties without proper permission.
There are some exceptions, though. For example, “directory” information, like dates of attendance and birthplace information, can be released. But you also have the right to request the information not be included in the directory.
And, of course, the idea is that FERPA gives you the right to view your letters of recommendation after you enroll in the school.
Please note, however, that you don’t have the right to see the letters before your enrollment. So if you’re accepted into the school and you enroll, you could take a look at your letters of recommendation, thanks to FERPA.
FERPA Waiver: Should I Waive My Right to View Recommendation Letters?
So, are you supposed to agree to the FERPA waiver? The short answer is probably yes. But before you make that decision, let’s take a look at the Common Application FERPA waiver and authorization to understand what it means.
When you waive your FERPA right to view letters of recommendation for college, you’re basically saying you don’t need to look at this information. Ever.
You say you understand that, even after you enroll in a college, you aren’t going to be able to look at those letters of recommendation.
For schools that use the Common Application, this is fairly straightforward. You fill out the application, and one of the things you’ll do is waive your right to look at the letters.
Once you do that, you’re taken to a place on the application where you can supply information about the people who are writing these letters.
If your school doesn’t use the Common Application, they might still have a waiver for you to sign as part of the process.
You don’t actually have to sign the waiver to have teachers, employers, religious leaders, and others send in letters of recommendation, but it can actually help your application when you waive your right to FERPA as it relates to letters of recommendation for college.
Where is the FERPA Waiver on the Common App?
Locating the FERPA waiver on the Common App may seem a bit challenging at first, as the application platform has many sections and subsections. However, once you know where to look, it’s a straightforward process.
Follow these steps to find and complete the FERPA waiver on the Common App:
- Log In: Start by logging into your Common Application account. If you haven’t created an account yet, you’ll need to do so to access the application.
- Choose Your Schools: After logging in, you’ll see a list of colleges and universities you plan to apply to. Select the institutions you want to apply to or add them to your list.
- Navigate to the My Colleges Section: Once you’ve added your schools, navigate to the “My Colleges” section of the Common App. This is where you’ll find a list of the colleges you’re applying to and various tasks associated with each.
- Select a College: Click on one of the colleges you plan to apply to. This will take you to that college’s specific requirements and application details.
- FERPA Release Authorization: Within the college-specific section, look for a subsection related to the FERPA release authorization. It may be titled differently, such as “Recommenders & FERPA,” “Privacy,” or “FERPA Release.” Click on this section to access the FERPA waiver.
- Read and Complete the FERPA Waiver: In this section, you will typically find a brief explanation of what the FERPA waiver is and its implications. Read this information carefully. Then, you will have the option to agree or disagree to the FERPA waiver. Most applicants choose to agree, allowing colleges to access their educational records. By agreeing, you acknowledge that you understand the implications of the waiver.
- Save Your Changes: After agreeing to the FERPA waiver, be sure to save your changes within the Common App. This ensures that your selection is recorded and submitted along with your application.
- Repeat for Each College: You will need to complete the FERPA waiver for each college you’re applying to, as the preferences may vary from one institution to another.
Why Do Colleges Ask You to Waive FERPA Rights?
It all comes down to confidentiality. Most universities feel that your letter writers will be more honest if they don’t think you’ll ever be able to read them.
When you waive FERPA rights, it signals to the college and — more importantly to the letter writer — that you’re willing to trust them.
And it allows them to feel safe in writing how they really feel about you and your accomplishments.
>> RELATED: FERPA: Students Required to Share Their College Records With Parents?
If you don’t waive FERPA rights, you might actually be suspect. Some schools might worry that you are forging letters and sending them in separately.
Finding the Right People to Write Letters of Recommendation for College
Rather than fretting about whether you are supposed to waive FERPA, focus on choosing the right people to write your letters. When you ask someone to write you a letter, it should be someone you trust to write a glowing review of your abilities.
In fact, many letter writers will actually show you the letter ahead of time. Not all of them will, but some do as a courtesy.
However, don’t ask to see the letter beforehand. Again, the people you ask should be trustworthy and should be people who you’ve built a professional and educational relationship with.
Ask if they’d be willing to write you a letter of recommendation for college, and if they show any hesitation in saying yes, thank them and tell them you’ll be in touch if you need the letter.
Then find someone else who gives you an enthusiastic “yes.”
Also, pay attention to what letter writers ask for. Be timely in getting asked-for information, which might include:
- A few of your accomplishments
- Some of the circumstances that make you unique
- Information about other activities you might be involved in
Some of your letter writers might even show you a draft and ask you to help them polish it. When asked for this type of feedback, be sure to respond quickly — and gratefully.
You Don’t Need to See Letters of Recommendation
The bottom line is that you don’t need to see these letters of recommendation.
If you choose your letter writers carefully, you can trust they’ll say nice things about you and help you look good for the admissions board — whether they show you the letter ahead of time or not.
In most cases, you’re just fine waiving your FERPA rights to see letters of recommendation and then focusing on other parts of the application, like writing a killer essay and practicing interviews.
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