Do I need to waive my right of access to recommendation letters?

Hey folks, so my teachers have started writing my recommendation letters for college applications and I came across this 'waive my right of access' thing. What's it all about? Does it affect my chances of admission?

In the college application process, "waiving your right of access" means that you give up your legal right to view the letters of recommendation written about you. You won't be able to see what your recommenders write.

Why would you do this? There are a few reasons. First, it's a demonstration of trust. It shows the colleges you're applying to that you have confidence in your relationships with your recommenders and believe they'll speak highly of you without your oversight.

Second, admissions officials tend to view confidential recommendations as more candid and realistic depictions of a student's abilities and personality. Knowing that a student hasn't seen the letter can reassure the admissions department that the recommender has written freely and honestly.

So, does waiving your right affect your chances of getting admitted? Potentially. The weight admissions committees give to essays varies, but they generally hold recommendation letters in high regard. If an admissions officer gets the impression that a recommender could not speak their mind, or if they think the letter may have been edited by the applicant, they may not value that letter as highly.

In the end, it's a personal decision. However, most students do choose to waive their rights because they trust their recommenders and want admissions officials to take those letters into account as genuine and complete depictions of their character and capabilities.