<p>At worst it tells the adcom that you weren’t confidant in this teacher giving you a strong letter of rec, so you asked them to see it before it was sent to them (which is usually why you wouldn’t sign).</p>
<p>I did the same, except I made in clear that I would not sign the waiver. My teachers now want to pull back their recommendations, and the college office is refusing to send the ones I have. Now I have to scramble to get new teacher recommendations.</p>
<p>I’m guessing that is Penn State and not University of Pennsylvania? I distinctly remember the UPenn app supplement had a box you had to check which bound you to the terms of the FERPA waiver.</p>
<p>^Im pretty sure you have the RIGHT to NOT sign it. I didn’t sign any of mine, though I didn’t read any of them either. I simply exercised my legal right.</p>
<p>…I could swear that the FERPA waiver only applied to releasing the recommendations by request of viewing the records for the college you choose to attend. </p>
<p>I honestly don’t think it has anything to do with your teachers choosing to show you their recs. That’s a personal choice for the teacher. </p>
<p>I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I mean, if you never plan on requesting your application records, then what does it matter at all?</p>