I know it’s smartest to waive your right to view letters of rec, but since that just means colleges won’t show them to you, I know you can still ask teachers. I don’t intend to be disrespectful by implying I don’t trust the teacher writing the letter enough to know they’ll say positive things about me. But when somebody is writing something about you (something that serves importance since it contributes to college admissions), it’s natural to be curious and wonder what they say about you. I want to ask the teacher who writes my letter for a copy, just so I can see what they chose to say about me. I’m asking specifically people with experience writing letters of rec, but also people who are the subjects of letters - is asking out of line?
@socalkid1 are you saying you waived your right to read it and now want to ask your teacher for a copy?
Or that you’re not intending to waive your right to read it?
I wouldn’t. Most people don’t. It’s not how it’s supposed to work.
@Emsmom1 I haven’t done any applications yet as I’m not a senior, but I’ve been looking into portions of the college application just to familiarize myself with everything in advance. I do intend to waive my right to read it, but I’ve always been told that waiving your right means the colleges won’t show you a copy but the teacher(s) still can if they choose to. So I wanted to waive my right but still request a copy once the time comes, I’m just getting opinions on if I should ask or not
I think it is sleazy. Teachers won’t appreciate it. It is skirting the intent of the waiver.
If they choose to means if they offer. Don’t ask. It’ll make it awkward and come across as not respecting what you agreed to. If they want to share, they’ll share of their own volition.
I wouldn’t. Teacher’s take the waiving of your right to read it as an indication that you won’t read it. But I was told that when you ask for a letter of recommendation that it is fine to ask the teacher or prof if they feel they can write you an enthusiastic letter. If they say no (obviously) or waffle, you should get a letter from someone else.
Don’t ask. You waived your right to see the recommendation. End of story.
Yeah don’t ask that will make things so awkward.
I don’t know anything about waivers - but my youngest 2 kids got rec letter copies from 3 of 4 teacher recs. I don’t know it the teachers volunteered, or were asked by my kids for a copy. GREAT letters BTW! 
On Common App you waive your right to see it. I wouldn’t ask anyone for a copy. The only weird thing that happened to me once was that I had a teacher who couldn’t figure out CA, so she just emailed a copy of the letter to an admissions office and CCed me. The school was fine with it, they didn’t care. You really aren’t supposed to see them though. It kind of takes are the validity and purpose of them.