I did not waive my rights for FERPA without understanding what it meant.
- How detrimental is this for my application?
- If you were to receive my app, what would be the best way to explain this error?
I am considering explaining in the “Additional Information” section of the common app that I have been treating the agreement as if I did waive my rights and my teacher recommenders and counselor can vouch for it.
FERPA basically means “I am not going to read my teachers’ recommendation letters so they are authentic.” Refusing to agree to FERPA could make the officers raise their eyebrows.
You should have asked your counselor if you didn’t know what it meant.
All you can do may be directly contacting them and say “I misclicked the FERPA waiver. It should have been waived.” Telling them you didn’t understand what FERPA meant would only hurt you.