I recently read that a condition of FERPA allows applicants to request the comments and critiques of their application after receiving a decision. Is this just a myth, or is there some credibility to this?
Only if you’re accepted and matriculate… not if you’re rejected or otherwise choose not to attend. And then schools are wise to this too and now by policy quickly expunge all notes. For instance, my college deletes alumni interview write ups almost immediately (for which I’m grateful). If I give an honest but negative report about someone who is ultimately accepted, I don’t want him/her to read what I had to say. IMHO, it’s none of his/her business.
Your school will also have a record of if you went to see your application comments. If you’re thinking about grad school at the same college then it’s currently unknown how that affects your chances (since colleges highly discourage you from looking at admission comments).
There is credibility to the myth. Numerous friends of mine have seen their admission comments. It’s interesting hearing what officers wrote but none of them felt that it was life-changing. Our school started destroying comments/records so that students can’t request to see anything (since nothing exists). Sometimes you’re better off not knowing. Comments from when you were in high school don’t define you.