Should I waive my FERPA rights on the Common App? Get the quick answer, what you give up, and what happens if you don’t. Updated for 2026.
When filling out the Common App, you will likely encounter a section that asks if you wish to “waive your right to view recommendation letters.” The wording used in this area of the application is often difficult for students to understand. Do you want to allow colleges to see recommendations written for you by your teachers and counselor, or do you want to retain the ability to read what they say about you?
Most applicants will most likely find that making the waiver choice is the best way to go. This is a breakdown of what the waiver choice means to you, what could happen if you choose not to waive, and what you need to consider prior to submitting your application.
For more information about student rights, education privacy, and related legal topics, explore our Legal updates section.
Should I Waive My FERPA Rights? The Short Answer
If you are asking Should I Waive My FERPA Rights, the choice of “Yes, I waive my right to access my recommendations” is common among applicants. Choosing “Yes” tells the college that your teacher(s)/counselor(s) will be able to provide an honest opinion of you through a letter of recommendation because they know you won’t see it until after you’ve been accepted.
Colleges cannot force you to give up your right to see your letters of recommendation when you apply for college. Some people who would otherwise be willing to recommend you for college might refuse to do so if you don’t allow them to know what they said about you. It’s probably best to discuss this issue with your high school counselor before you make up your mind.
What Does FERPA Actually Mean?
FERPA is an abbreviation for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. FERPA is a federal statute that provides protection to student education records and allows students to access their education records.
For students applying for college, the relevant section is on confidential letters of recommendation. Once you enter into a college, any letters that are kept on file with the college can be considered a part of your education record. If you have signed away your rights to see qualifying confidential letters of recommendation, the college has no obligation to let you view these letters.
Think of it as a sealed envelope; you have given permission for the person writing your recommendation to send the letter in a confidential manner and you have relinquished your rights to view the letter at a later date. You have not relinquished your FERPA rights or rights to access all of your other educational records.
Why Do Many Applicants Waive?
There are three practical reasons:
- The waiver lets admissions officers know you don’t plan on reading the letters of recommendation, which provides them with confidence that the letters are honest.
- This can make the recommendation letter process easier on you. Many teachers and counselors would rather write a confidential letter. The Common Application has stated that some recommenders may not complete the letter if you do not waive your right to see it.
- Commonly used in applications. Many students choose to waive access based on their trust in the individuals who will be providing recommendations for them.
Waiving the right to view a letter of recommendation does not ensure that you will be accepted into a college, nor does it necessarily help make your application look better. Instead, waiving your rights allows the recommendation writer to submit their letter with complete confidentiality.
What Happens If I Don’t Waive My FERPA Rights?
If you do not waive, it does not necessarily mean your application will be turned down. But there may be some real-world implications.
| If You Don’t Waive | What It Means |
| You Keep the Right to Review | After you have enrolled, it is possible for you to view qualifying letter(s) that are maintained by the college as education records. |
| A Recommender May Decline | Teachers and counselors might be hesitant to provide a written letter that can be viewed at a later date. |
| The Letter Is Not Waived as Confidential | The college will not be as sure as you were about your willingness to give up your rights to see the recommendations. |
A college cannot make the waiver a requirement for being accepted into the school. However, individual teachers/counselors are typically under no obligation to provide you with a recommendation and can therefore set up their own rules.
Can I Read My Recommendation Letter Anyway?
If you waive your right, in most cases you will not be able to review the confidential recommendation that has been waived under FERPA. However, you can inquire of your recommender if they would be open to sharing the letter with you. Some may allow you to view the letter, while others will choose to maintain its confidentiality.
If you do not choose to “waive,” you may have access to review qualifying letters after completing your enrollment process. Your access will be determined by both FERPA regulations and the college’s record keeping practices. Although a recommender has chosen not to provide the letter voluntarily, this does not automatically indicate that the letter contains negative information.
Can I Change My FERPA Decision?
Common Application allows you to make changes to your FERPA choice until one of two things happens:
- Your first recommender submits a school form for you; or
- You submit your first application.
Once either occurs, you will no longer be able to use the Common Application to revise this selection.
Federal regulations provide that a written waiver may be rescinded due to any action taken after the waiver has been revoked. Since federal regulation and application-platform procedure are two different things, please contact either Common App support or your high school counselor should you need to alter what you previously selected.
How to Help Your Recommender Without Reading the Letter
You can still help your recommender prepare a strong letter:
- Ask early and give your teacher or counselor enough time.
- Share a short “brag sheet” listing your activities, achievements, and goals.
- Be sure to mention the projects you worked on together, how you contributed to class, and the difficulties you successfully faced.
- Explain what you hope to study and why you are applying.
Specific examples help recommenders write personal, detailed letters.
FAQs
Should I Waive My FERPA Rights on the Common App?
If you are wondering Should I Waive My FERPA Rights on the Common App, most candidates will choose to waive their rights, as this shows the college that the letters of recommendation were written by individuals who feel free to write about what they know without worry of being sued for saying something negative about you. If there is anything you are worried about, discuss it with your counselor first.
Can a College Force Me to Waive My FERPA Rights?
No. Under FERPA rules, colleges cannot force you to sign away your rights in order to gain entry into the school, receive services from it, or get some other type of assistance. However, a person who wants to write a recommendation for you has the right to refuse to do so.
Am I Giving Up All My FERPA Rights?
No. This waiver will apply to the confidential recommendations you have signed for, but will not apply to other aspects of your education records or to your general right to privacy.
What If I Selected the Wrong Option?
Verify the latest instructions on the Common App site. You may update your choice of colleges to apply to prior to either of the following occurring:
- One of your recommenders completes and sends in a form for a specific college; or
- You complete and send in the first application for any of those colleges.
Key Taking
- Waiving is a typical option as it gives colleges confidence that the letters of recommendation are truthful.
- You are not giving up all your FERPA rights.
- Colleges are not allowed to use a waiver as a requirement for admission into their institution, however, some recommenders will refuse to write letters on behalf of students unless they sign a waiver.
- Common App has limitations on how long you can wait until making a final choice of college, therefore consider the options available to you prior to clicking “submit.”
Additional Resources:
- U.S. Department of Education: Student Privacy Policy Office (FERPA): The federal office that administers and enforces FERPA. It’s the main source for what the law covers and how to file a complaint.
- Student Privacy 101: FERPA Overview (U.S. Department of Education): A plain-language introduction to FERPA for parents and students, hosted on the Department’s student privacy site. It works well as a beginner-friendly link in your article.
- Common App: FERPA & Your Application (official PDF): Common App’s own guide to the FERPA Release Authorization. It explains what an education record is and how the process works. The PDF is dated September 2026.
- Common App: Affirmations (official waiver wording):The exact “I waive / I DO NOT waive” language students see. It’s the best primary source for the “What happens if I don’t waive my FERPA rights” section.
