Help! What Does 'I Waive My Right' Mean on College Apps?

I've been filling out my college applications and there's a section that says 'I waive my right...' in regards to certain application components. What does that mean? Should I check it? Kinda nervous here, can anyone explain this?

Sure, I'd be happy to explain! When you see "I waive my right" in your college applications, it's usually in reference to your letters of recommendation. What it means is that if you check it, you're giving up your right to ever read your recommendation letters. This practice is very customary and follows the guidelines set by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Now, why do colleges offer this option and why you might want to consider it? The idea behind waiving your rights to view recommendation letters is to allow your recommenders to be completely honest in their evaluations. If recommenders know that you won't see what they write, they may feel more able to speak candidly, which tends to result in more authentic, substantive letters.

Most students do actually choose to waive their rights because colleges also tend to appreciate it. Admission officers may view letters of recommendation as more reliable and candid when students waive their rights to read them.

So, although waiving your right may sound intimidating, it's actually a typical part of the college application process. That said, you are not obligated to waive your rights—this is completely a personal decision and does not make or break your application.

To help you decide whether to waive your rights or not, consider your relationship with your recommenders. If you trust their judgement and believe they'll write you favorable letters, then waiving your right might be the right move. However, if you're unsure about what they might say, then you might choose not to waive your right.