Waiving LOR access rights Forum

[BizOwner]

In LSAC's LOR form, there is a clause that applicants can sign waiving rights for access to the letters of recommendation. Can anyone clarify what this clause is? Required or not?

[Kilpatrick]

It means that you won't be able to see the letter your recommender wrote. Usually it's advised that you waive your right because it looks better to adcoms. If you waived, schools will feel reassured that the recommender wrote an honest letter.

[amputatedbrain]

Once submitted, the LOR becomes part of your academic record. Naturally, you have the right to see your own academic record, and by extension the LOR. However, by signing the clause, you give up the right to view the LOR. What it's doing is essentially telling your recommenders you trust them to write a positive recomendation (because you won't be able to read it later and doublecheck what they wrote). Not signing it will make your writers think your are suspicious of what they might write, and looks bad.

So no, it's not required, but it would be a mistake to not sign.

[BizOwner]

A promise that no duress was involved.

I'm asking for my first LOR tonight and just came across it for the first time. Seems excessive considering the nature of the LOR process.

[Kilpatrick]

It's just checking a box, I don't think it's that excessive.

[BizOwner]

The LOR has to be either sent directly to LSAC or given to the applicant with a signature across the backflap of a sealed envelop.

In addition to this, the waiver is suggested? Not a little bit?

[Anonymous Loser]

The waiver merely facilitates FERPA compliance. Whether or not you waive your right of access has no effect on your admissions chances.

[amputatedbrain]

The waiver merely facilitates FERPA compliance. Whether or not you waive your right of access has no effect on your admissions chances.

Exactly, like I said, it's about the relationship between you and the recommender, not you and the school.

[Anonymous Loser]

The waiver merely facilitates FERPA compliance. Whether or not you waive your right of access has no effect on your admissions chances.

Exactly, like I said, it's about the relationship between you and the recommender, not you and the school.

No. What you are suggesting is actually the complete opposite of what I've said. The relationship between the recommender and the applicant has nothing whatsoever to do with FERPA, and is therefore not implicated in any way by the waiver.

[legalized]

A promise that no duress was involved.

I'm asking for my first LOR tonight and just came across it for the first time. Seems excessive considering the nature of the LOR process.

I completely agree. Information that affects my entire future as far as being part of my law school admissions process that I basically have to waive the right to see just seems vaguely intimidating. Esp. if you didn't JUST graduate UG.

[BenJ]

Vaguely intimidating but absolutely essential. Schools will look askance at any LOR written without a waiver of your right to view it--it implies that you do not trust your recommenders, and moreover that the recommendation may not be totally honest in the first place (might be more positive than the recommender would have written otherwise).

Most recommenders will let you see the letter before they send it off if you ask.

[legalized]

Vaguely intimidating but absolutely essential. Schools will look askance at any LOR written without a waiver of your right to view it--it implies that you do not trust your recommenders, and moreover that the recommendation may not be totally honest in the first place (might be more positive than the recommender would have written otherwise).

Most recommenders will let you see the letter before they send it off if you ask.

I'm kind of making myself stick to not seeing it til after it's been sent off to the first wave of law schools. Just to feel honest.

[Sakura3210]

This maybe (probably is) a stupid question, but - is there anyway to see your LORs once you've waived your right? e.g. Assuming they're in your file, looking them up after you've gotten into a school. I kind of want to see what my profs said about me.

[Anonymous Loser]

This maybe (probably is) a stupid question, but - is there anyway to see your LORs once you've waived your right? e.g. Assuming they're in your file, looking them up after you've gotten into a school. I kind of want to see what my profs said about me.

The whole point of waiving your right of access is that it excuses the school from its obligation to keep the letter on file for you to review.

[Sakura3210]

This maybe (probably is) a stupid question, but - is there anyway to see your LORs once you've waived your right? e.g. Assuming they're in your file, looking them up after you've gotten into a school. I kind of want to see what my profs said about me.

The whole point of waiving your right of access is that it excuses the school from its obligation to keep the letter on file for you to review.

Right, but does that mean they have to get rid of it? If they kept it for whatever reason, could you then gain access to it?

[YCrevolution]

..

[Sakura3210]

This maybe (probably is) a stupid question, but - is there anyway to see your LORs once you've waived your right? e.g. Assuming they're in your file, looking them up after you've gotten into a school. I kind of want to see what my profs said about me.

The whole point of waiving your right of access is that it excuses the school from its obligation to keep the letter on file for you to review.

Right, but does that mean they have to get rid of it? If they kept it for whatever reason, could you then gain access to it?

No.

Dang. Alright, thanks for the info, appreciate it.

[motiontodismiss]

Two of the three letters I got I already saw anyway. Just sign it. And if you want to see it that badly, ask them if they would mind showing it to you but after you're done with the whole process.

[legalized]

This maybe (probably is) a stupid question, but - is there anyway to see your LORs once you've waived your right? e.g. Assuming they're in your file, looking them up after you've gotten into a school. I kind of want to see what my profs said about me.

Yeah ask the professor who wrote it to send you a copy.

[amputatedbrain]

I wouldn't worry about it . . . IMO the LOR is by far the least important part of the application. Shitty students can schmooze their way into good LOR's, and sometimes really great students just don't forge personal relationships with their professors that make really great LORs. Unless it's a particularly glowing letter from a famous professor, or the other end of the spectrum, your writer torpedoes you, your LOR's don't really matter.