Waiving Letters of Recommendations

[chup203]

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If we waive our right to access the letters of recommendations, we will not be able to see them? And if we do not waive, we will be able to see them? Is that how it is? When applying, what do most of you do? Not waive it?

 

[kellia]

I waived my right to see the letters. During my interview, my interviewer read segments of my letters of rec. to me, basically emphasizing the reasons why I was chosen to interview. While they were all extremely positive, one letter had a HUGE mistake in it. My organic professor (who NEVER forgets anything) somehow has it stuck in his head that I have a child with health problems and included this in his very personal letter of rec. He went into detail of a dramatic event that did not exist in my life. There was quite an awkward moment in the interview when I had to explain that I did not have children, and that this was a mistake that the professor had made before... try to do that without ruining the credibility of that recommendation! While this professor knew me very well, he still got a large personal fact wrong. I think that it would be good to be able to read letters of rec. just to avoid such a scene- but I think that it is expected that you waive your right.

 

[chup203]

why are you interested in seeing your letter of recommendation? If you picked the right people to write the letters, you basically know what they said. I don't think there is a need to view your letters. Plus this is a factor that makes recommendation letters relatively unimportant for most school. Most students are going to pick those they truely feel will write a positive letter....it is sort of like and open book test.....relatively meaningless. Most positive letters say the same thing...he/she works hard, very intelligent, wonderful personality, caring person, exceptionally intelligent and compasionate person, very skilled, very scientific mind, blah, blah, blah. Unless the recommendation is negative, most letters are uninformative and weigh little on the acceptance scale.

But while letters for many schools don't weigh heavily, it is still important that you get very positive letters send....you don't want a negative letter. Positive letters basically tell an admissions committee that you have been able to pick a couple of people that have confidence in you...vs people that do not.

I know that the people I picked will write positive letters, and I am not interested in seeing what they wrote. I was just curious what most people do when answering that question on the application b/c I thought I might have been the only one that doesn't want to see the letters. Thanks for your replies.

 

[rougemarie]

If we waive our right to access the letters of recommendations, we will not be able to see them? And if we do not waive, we will be able to see them? Is that how it is? When applying, what do most of you do? Not waive it?

I always waived mine. Hope this helps 🙂

 

[b*rizzle]

If we waive our right to access the letters of recommendations, we will not be able to see them? And if we do not waive, we will be able to see them? Is that how it is? When applying, what do most of you do? Not waive it?

Waive it. You won't do yourself any good by not waiving it.

 

[gablet]

I thought I might have been the only one that doesn't want to see the letters.

😉

 

[bananaface]

If we waive our right to access the letters of recommendations, we will not be able to see them? And if we do not waive, we will be able to see them? Is that how it is? When applying, what do most of you do? Not waive it?

If you waive your right, you don't get to see them. Usually peopel are more honest if you waive your right to see them. Personally, I wouldn't even write a letter for someone if they insisted on seeing it.

 

[Bubble Thi]

Imagine having to write for someone knowing that they can scrutinize it later. That would be uncomfortable. I waived all of mines. However, because my recommenders were all close to me, they all let me see their letters anyway before they sent it off...a very nice gesture.

 

[fidelio]

I waived my right to see the letters. During my interview, my interviewer read segments of my letters of rec. to me, basically emphasizing the reasons why I was chosen to interview. While they were all extremely positive, one letter had a HUGE mistake in it. My organic professor (who NEVER forgets anything) somehow has it stuck in his head that I have a child with health problems and included this in his very personal letter of rec. He went into detail of a dramatic event that did not exist in my life. There was quite an awkward moment in the interview when I had to explain that I did not have children, and that this was a mistake that the professor had made before... try to do that without ruining the credibility of that recommendation! While this professor knew me very well, he still got a large personal fact wrong. I think that it would be good to be able to read letters of rec. just to avoid such a scene- but I think that it is expected that you waive your right.

I've been told that it is BAD to not waive your right. Those letters should always be confidential because if you can read the letters, that means the recommenders won't tell the school the whole truth about you. It makes them less open to talk about you since you're able to read their letters.

ALWAYS WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO REC LETTERS.