Hi everyone! I recently submitted my applications to graduate school… I checked the “no” box for the FERPA waiver. I checked it for 3 reasons: I typically do not waive my rights, I feel that I deserve the right to see something that is written about me if the circumstances allow for this, and I also felt that I did not fully understand the implications of waiving your right until I read discussions and advice online AFTER submitted my apps.
I submitted my apps, not really thinking much about this one detail. I feel strong about the quality of my apps, and I am confident that my recommenders were very honest in their letters. I would not have chosen them otherwise. I understand NOW that it is expected that a student DOES waive their rights. I had no idea of this before submitting my application, hence why I did not waive the right, and thought this decision was more common than it is.
I do not want this to negatively affect my application, because I think that the LOR’s are completely honest and candid (they actually wrote them almost a year ago when I asked them to be my recommenders verbally). I trust these professors very much. I have 100% not seen the letters they have written for me, had no influence on their writing, and do not plan on seeing them until after I am accepted to a program and attend (which is a rule laid out by FERPA).
I have anxiety and cannot stop thinking about how this small detail might be a reason for my rejection because my LOR’s are now seen as discredited… I would ask that dramatic and negative comments are withheld on this discussion. I am just looking for honest and experience based responses from admissions counselors, admissions committee members, etc. if this is a MAJOR problem and will actually end up making or breaking my application decision?
This is graduate school, you’ve been through this before. What did you do for your undergrad? Did you check “no” then? Do you feel it effected your results?
I suppose you could contact the schools to see if you can “info” this.
I do not remember what I did for undergrad, because it has been 5 years. I assume that I checked “yes” for undergrad if this is a very big deal, because I had a college counselor helping me with everything. This time I am independently doing my applications and was not educated much on this matter.
I do not want to contact the schools if it is unnecessary because I do not want to draw attention to it if it will not really even be a major factor in the decision making process. Just trying to find the best solution here. Leave it alone or contact them?
FERPA is important in protecting confidentiality, but I find it hard to believe that Admissions makes decision on the basis of your response km this ultra miniscule form that would over ride all the other significant materials you submitted with your application. Students with significant health or other issues may find that allowing parents to be informed in case of an emergency or allowing student services such as health, counseling or disability share information could be very helpful.
@zannah - You are thinking of the rules in place that prevent a school from sharing things with parents of enrolled students without the students permission. That is not what the OP is concerned about. The OP did not waive the right to see his/her letters of recommendation. By refusing to waive this right, a school might think that the teacher who wrote the recommendation did not write freely and honestly because the OP might end up seeing it. It’s usually recommended a student waive this right so the school is assured that a teacher felt free to be completely honest.