<p>Is there some advantage to doing so? If not, I don't see why anyone wouldn't want to know what was said about them.</p>
<p>So that your teachers can be completely honest without having to worry if you read the rec. Hopefully you wouldn't have to worry about that, but I waived my right anyways. I didn't want to seem nosy.</p>
<p>some teachers/counselers dont want you to know what they wrote because
a) if its good, they dont want you thinking they favorite you, and don't want to deal with "why wont you give me an A on _____, you wrote me a great rec!"
b) if its bad, they dont want to deal with you or your parents</p>
<p>theres no "advantage" other than your rec will most likely be more honest (so dont get a teacher that doesnt like you/you arnt doing well in their class), and if a teacher likes you, they'll be more open about highlighting your strengths without worrying about how you'll react...
some teachers will let you read them, i had two teachers do so, but only after they sent them (i knew both teachers loved me, and we were already on personal basis) ive had three others, including my counseler, that just said "trust me" and i did, and i got into great colleges/scholarships</p>
<p>Waiving rights will add more weight to whatever the rec says. Confidential recs are often regarded as more honest. If the teachers know that the student may see what was written they may be more inclined to write some bland, middle-of-the-road praise rather than their honest opinions.</p>
<p>By the time you'll be able to see them, you will no longer have a school relationship with your teachers, so I don't really consider that much of a valid point...</p>
<p>Although I can definitely see why they may be more honest. Still, I may want to see what was said about me eventually, so I didn't waive my right. :] I trust my teachers enough to write well either way.</p>
<p>I wonder if a teacher would really refrain from writing "bad" stuff (no teacher would do this, really) just because a student could view it... <em>after</em> the admissions process.</p>
<p>our teachers require us to waive our rights, despite my intense curiosity :-</p>
<p>What? They can't require you to waive your rights. It's your choice.</p>
<p>My teachers don't let me see their recs, which makes sense to me, they mail them themselves with envelopes I give them...that way I can keep my right to see them later and not fracture any trust there.</p>
<p>It is CRUCIAL that you waive the right to see your recs. If you do, it's a sign of honesty and that you trust your teacher. However, if you don't, then that implies you do not have much trust in your teacher. Yes, they might write you a better rec that way, but how would the colleges look at it? Will they treat it equally, seeing that you could have influenced how the rec is written? Or will they treat it with minimal consideration? Since you can't even trust your teacher (as demonstrated by not signing the box), then why should the college trust them?</p>
<p>THat's my reason... and our counselor told everyone that you HAVE to sign the waiver anyways.</p>
<p>Forgetmenots, you're right, they can't require you to waive your rights.... but they could also just not write you a reccomendation.</p>
<p>Your choice.</p>
<p>My teachers wouldn't write them without me signing it (but they still gave me copies). Apparently, a few years ago, a former student came back and started yelling at teachers for keeping him out of his first choice school. Nothing violent occured, but they want to keep anything like that from ever happening again.</p>
<p>most teachers will let you see them after you get accepted, but if they dont, leave it alone, cuz its either bad about you or they just dont want you to see it</p>
<p>Colleges will definitely give more weight to a recommendation where the waiver was signed because it is a more open and honest evaluation.</p>
<p>AdmissionsDaniel
College Rep</p>
<p>Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Johns Hopkins University
Posts: 834</p>
<p>Let's settle this debate simply...</p>
<p>IT DOES NOT MATTER</p>
<p>The question about waiving your rights is on the Common App not the JHU App. The reason because we do not think it is a necessary question.</p>
<p>We assume that all counselor recs and teacher recs are written honestly, truthfully, and providing us all the information we need -- whether a student waives their right or does not waive their right. We really would hope that a counselor and teacher would still write the most honest rec. letter even when a student does not waive their right. No matter, we just don't look at that when reviewing applications.</p>
<p>Plus, if we ever need more information, we will pick up the phone and call your counselor or teachers. We will get the information we need.</p>