<p>In my rush to meet the November 1st early action deadline for several schools, I did not do any research on FERPA prior to selecting not to waive my rights. I am now realizing that this may have been a horrible mistake. </p>
<p>Did I make a huge mistake by not waiving my rights? Did anyone not waive their rights and still get accepted at their top schools? I am applying to pretty prestigious universities, like Georgetown and Cornell, and I am very worried about my FERPA decision.</p>
<p>Do not worry about this. Many students don’t waive their rights for many different reasons. And not one single college or university admissions officer has ever gon on record to state that it matters. You will be fine.</p>
<p>Actually, I have read college officers saying that it matters - and professors saying that it matters to them, too. As someone who writes recommendations for students, it’s harder to write them when the student indicates that they may see it at some point in time.</p>
<p>But I still don’t think it will be an issue - it may not even be something the admission officer notices or remembers when they read your file, and it certainly won’t be enough to keep you out of college.</p>