Waiving LOR Rights

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dcmorgan96

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3/5 of my letter writers have uploaded their letters and I assumed that there would be either a place on the primary or school secondaries to indicate that I am waiving my right to read them. I did some research and that doesn't appear to be the case. I did not tell each of my writers and figured it would be assumed. Should I contact my letter writers and have them include that in the letter?
 
3/5 of my letter writers have uploaded their letters and I assumed that there would be either a place on the primary or school secondaries to indicate that I am waiving my right to read them. I did some research and that doesn't appear to be the case. I did not tell each of my writers and figured it would be assumed. Should I contact my letter writers and have them include that in the letter?
Usually when requesting a professor to write a letter of recommendation, their is some paperwork the student fills out, and waiving your rights is on that form. Does your school offer any such form?
 
I'm pretty sure when you enter their information into AMCAS there's a little box you check saying something along the lines of "waive my viewing rights" or something... That's where I'd check.


- On the little form you give them that has the request/your ID# it should say there I believe.
 
Usually when requesting a professor to write a letter of recommendation, their is some paperwork the student fills out, and waiving your rights is on that form. Does your school offer any such form?
My school does not. We are instructed to approach professors individually and with necessary information such as a CV. I did not think to tell each professor that I am waiving my right as I met with each one. I'll contact each one and ask if they indicated it when uploading.
 
I'm pretty sure when you enter their information into AMCAS there's a little box you check saying something along the lines of "waive my viewing rights" or something... That's where I'd check.


- On the little form you give them that has the request/your ID# it should say there I believe.
That's exactly where I thought it would be but there isn't an option.
 
My school does not. We are instructed to approach professors individually and with necessary information such as a CV. I did not think to tell each professor that I am waiving my right as I met with each one. I'll contact each one and ask if they indicated it when uploading.
If that's the case, feel free to inform them before they write it as well. A simple e-mail honestly stating you intend to waive your rights outta suffice.
 
I think mine carried over from high school.... it's "FERPA"
 
There are no areas to indicate it and my professors said there was no way to indicate it when uploading. Can any adcoms tell me if they assume one way or another? Or is it required to be written into the letter? I could still have each writer add it to the letter and re-upload. @LizzyM @gyngyn @Goro
 
There are no areas to indicate it and my professors said there was no way to indicate it when uploading. Can any adcoms tell me if they assume one way or another? Or is it required to be written into the letter? I could still have each writer add it to the letter and re-upload. @LizzyM @gyngyn @Goro
I just read them!
 
I assume that the applicant has waived the right. This is your right under FERPA which provides you with the right to see everything in your academic file and the letters would be on that category if the writer is employed at your school.
So it isn't necessary for me to contact them and have them explicitly state it in the letter?
 
Sometimes a letter writer will state that the applicant has waived their right but frankly, I don't consider things one way or the other if the statement is missing. I can't recall ever seeing "the applicant has not waived his right..." but some schools have a cover form that has a waived/not waived line with "waived" underlined. Don't worry about it.
 
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