What does it mean to waive my right on recommendation letters?

Hey, I'm in the process of asking for teacher recommendations, and I see an option to waive my right to access the letter. What does this mean and should I select this option?

Waiving your right to access recommendation letters means giving up the ability to see the content of those letters. By selecting this option, you're indicating that the letters submitted by your recommenders will remain confidential, and neither you nor your parents will have the chance to read them. This is an important aspect of the recommendation process because it ensures that your recommenders can provide an honest, unbiased evaluation of you as a student.

In general, it's recommended to waive your right when it comes to recommendation letters. Colleges may view letters where the right has been waived as more genuine and credible, as there's less opportunity for the applicant to influence the content or sway the recommender to write a more favorable letter. This enables admissions committees to more effectively gauge your strengths and weaknesses from an unbiased perspective and helps build trust in the authenticity of the evaluations provided.