Waiving Right to Review Interview Summary

I have an upcoming college interview and I've been asked if I want to waive my right to review the interview summary. What does this mean, and what are the pros and cons? Should I waive it or not?

When you're asked to waive your right to review the interview summary, it means you're being given the choice to either access the interviewer's notes about your performance or to keep those notes confidential from you. Some schools allow applicants the option to do this.

Pros of waiving:

1. Trust: Waiving your right can indicate that you trust the interviewer to provide a fair and accurate assessment of you, which may reflect positively on your character.

2. Unbiased assessment: Admissions officers may feel more confident that the interviewer was able to provide an honest and unbiased perspective without any concern over the applicant viewing the report.

Cons of waiving:

1. Less transparency: By waiving your right, you won't be able to view the interview report and therefore won't be able to learn what the interviewer thought of you or how their insights influenced your application process.

2. Unable to correct misconceptions: If there's any misunderstanding or incorrect information in the interview summary, you won't have an opportunity to address it or provide clarifications.

Generally, it's recommended to waive your right to review the interview summary. This approach is the norm and demonstrates trust in the process. College interviews are primarily evaluative and are meant to help colleges get to know you better (rather than being a gotcha-type situation). Interviewers are expected to write a fair and accurate summary, so waiving your right typically should not harm your application. However, if you're someone who prefers transparency and would feel more comfortable knowing the contents of the summary, you can choose not to waive your right. Keep in mind that this decision is a small part of your college application and is less likely to significantly impact the overall outcome.