<p>Are there colleges that would hold it against me if I don't waive my rights to viewing the letters/reports/etc? What did you guys do?</p>
<p>No, but your teachers might. When you waive your rights to view the letters, what you’re saying is that, if you’re accepted to the school, you won’t want to see the letters-- and implies a level of trust in confidence in what your teachers and counselors are going to say. If you don’t waive your rights, some teachers may ask, “Why?” and may not feel as free to write an honest evaluation-- and that will come across in your letters.</p>
<p>If you don’t waive your rights, then colleges may think that you tampered with your LORs. After all, I think the teachers who you ask for LORs will want to give an honest assessment of your character in class. I waived my rights to the documents. It shouldn’t be a big deal anyways.</p>
<p>What matters is the content an adcom needs. Let the teacher write as he feels best. Let it be an adult educator speaking to a U rep, without concern about your reaction. If you do have a solid relationship, maybe he or she will let you see it, down the road.</p>
<p>My entire LOR for someone who didn’t waive: “xxxx took my class in zzzzz and received a grade of y.” I would warn them in advance and clear it with the school’s legal adviser.</p>
<p>The nerve is astounding. Are you a ■■■■■?</p>
<p>Ix, we don’t fuss about whether a kid waived or not- though it would be very clear if we got your LoR and he hadn’t waived, that he ticked you off. </p>
<p>In general, if there can be a general statement, the short LoR can also reflect on the teacher. Especially when the kid is clearly qualified. Just sayin’. These things happen. When in doubt, waive. Maybe I should just say: with all the competition and challenge in pulling together a great app, don’t chance anything you don’t have to: waive.</p>
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<p>Truth be told, my experience with LORs was from the corporate world, not college applications. By now, the legal issues around corporate LORs are such that you can’t give a recommendation, positive or negative, with HR approval, and “wink and a nod” has become the language of positive and negative recommendations. Write it, regret it; say it, forget it. It’s unfortunate, but c’est la vie.</p>
<p>That said, my son will shortly be applying to college. It would never dawn on him not to waive. Fwiw, at least one of his teachers will likely let him glance at his LOR.</p>