Common App FERPA Waiver: What It Means and Whether You Should Waive Your Rights
When you fill out the Common App, you'll need to complete a FERPA Release Authorization, which asks whether you want to keep or waive your right to review confidential recommendation letters after enrolling. Waiving your rights lets colleges know that you do not plan to read your recommendations, which can help reassure them that the letters are candid and truthful. Keep reading to understand what the FERPA waiver means and how to make your decision.
Key Takeaways
The Common App FERPA waiver asks whether you want to waive your right to review recommendations and other forms after enrolling.
Waiving your rights lets colleges know you do not plan to read your recommendations, which can help reassure them that the letters are candid and truthful.
Some counselors and teachers expect confidentiality and may decline to write recommendations if the waiver is not selected.
The FERPA Release Authorization first gives your high school permission to send requested records, then asks whether you want to waive your right to review recommendations and other forms.
You can change your FERPA decision until a recommender or counselor submits a school form or you submit your first college application.
What Is the Common App FERPA Waiver?
When you apply through the Common App, you'll encounter the Recommenders and FERPA section under My Colleges. There, you'll complete the FERPA Release Authorization, which gives your high school permission to send requested records and asks whether you want to waive or retain your right under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to review confidential recommendations after you enroll.
Under FERPA, you have certain rights regarding your education records, including the right to review confidential recommendation letters submitted as part of your application after you enroll. The waiver asks you to decide whether you want to give up that right. Your choice can still be changed in Common App until a recommender or counselor submits a school form or you submit your first college application.
What Does It Mean to Waive Your FERPA Rights?
Signing the FERPA waiver means you're giving up your right under FERPA to inspect and review confidential recommendation letters and forms submitted as part of your college application after you enroll. Here's what that actually involves:
You waive your right to review the letters: After enrolling, you cannot use your FERPA rights to inspect recommendations covered by the waiver.
Colleges can see your waiver status: Your FERPA selection tells colleges whether you retained or waived your right to review the covered recommendations and forms.
The waiver applies after enrollment: Waiving does not affect your ability to communicate with your recommenders during the application process. It concerns your later right to inspect the covered records under FERPA.
Your choice is visible to your recommenders: Counselors and teachers can see whether you waived your right to review their recommendations.
Should You Waive Your Right to Review Recommendation Letters?
For most applicants, waiving the right to review recommendation letters is the standard choice. If you trust the people you've chosen to write on your behalf and are comfortable giving up the right to inspect those letters later, waiving is generally the simplest option.
The decision is still yours. If you're unsure, talk it over with your counselor, another school official, or a parent or guardian before completing the FERPA Release Authorization.
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What Happens If You Do Not Waive Your FERPA Rights?
If you choose not to waive your FERPA rights on the Common App, you retain your right under FERPA to review confidential recommendation letters after you enroll. Here's what that means practically:
You keep your FERPA right to review covered recommendations after enrolling at the college.
Keeping that right does not let you read recommendation letters during the application process.
The decision applies to your recommendation rights, not your entire application. Choosing not to waive does not prevent you from applying through Common App.
You can change your decision only before it becomes locked. Once a recommender or counselor submits a school form, or you submit your first application, the FERPA decision can no longer be changed in Common App.
If you're unsure which option to choose, talk with your counselor or another school official before completing the authorization.
How the FERPA Waiver Affects Recommendation Letters
The FERPA waiver does not change who can write your recommendation letters or what your recommenders are allowed to say. Instead, it determines whether you retain the right to review certain confidential recommendations and forms after you enroll.
Choosing not to waive your rights also does not give you access to recommendation letters while you are applying. Any FERPA right to inspect eligible records generally applies after you become a student at the institution.
Because the waiver is connected to recommendation documents, it is important to make your decision before your counselor or teachers begin submitting forms through Common App.
How to Complete the FERPA Release Authorization in Common App
Once you've added at least one college to My Colleges, open that college's Recommenders and FERPA section and select Complete Release Authorization.
The authorization has two important parts:
Give your high school permission to release your records. This allows your school to send requested documents, such as transcripts and recommendation letters, to the colleges where you apply.
Choose whether to waive your right to review recommendations and other forms. Read the explanation carefully before selecting whether you waive or do not waive this right.
Complete the required acknowledgment and signature. Enter your name as requested to confirm your selection.
Save your authorization. Review your choices before finishing, especially because your waiver decision will eventually become locked.
Can You Change Your FERPA Waiver After Making Your Selection?
You can change your FERPA decision in Common App, but only up to a certain point. You can update your choice until a recommender or counselor submits a school form on your behalf or until you submit your first college application.
After either of those things happens, your FERPA decision is locked and can no longer be changed in the Common App.
To access the FERPA section, add at least one college to My Colleges and make sure your high school is listed in the Common App. Then select the college, open Recommenders and FERPA, and choose Complete Release Authorization.
If your school uses the Scoir and Common App integration, changes made before your FERPA decision is locked should sync to Scoir. If the status does not update correctly, contact Scoir support.
Common FERPA Waiver Mistakes to Avoid
Even with the best intentions, a few common mistakes can slow down your application or create confusion for your recommenders.
Don't wait to complete the FERPA release. Add at least one college to My Colleges, then open the Recommenders and FERPA section and complete the Release Authorization before working with your recommenders.
Don't leave the FERPA decision unchecked. You must click "Complete Release Authorization," check the acknowledgment box, choose waive or not, type your signature, then Save and Close.
Don't confuse releasing your records with waiving your rights. The FERPA Release Authorization first gives your high school permission to send requested records to colleges. Separately, you choose whether to waive your right to review confidential recommendations and other forms after enrolling.
Don't refuse to waive without asking your recommenders first. Some may decline to write letters if you keep your viewing rights.
Should You Waive Your FERPA Rights on the Common App?
For most applicants, waiving the right to review recommendation letters is the standard choice. It lets colleges know that you do not plan to read your recommendations and can help reassure them that the letters are candid and truthful.
Before making your selection, choose recommenders who know you well and can speak positively about your academic work, character, or contributions. If you're unsure about the FERPA waiver, ask your counselor or another school official before submitting it.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Common App FERPA Waiver
Is the Common App FERPA waiver required?
You must complete the FERPA Release Authorization so your high school can send requested records to colleges. However, you are not required to waive your right to review recommendations. Common App gives you the choice to waive or retain that right.
Does not waiving FERPA hurt your chances of admission?
Common App does not state that choosing not to waive your rights automatically hurts your admission chances. However, waiving is the standard choice for most applicants, so make sure you understand the implications before deciding to retain your rights.
Can I read my recommendation letters if I do not waive FERPA?
Not during the Common App application process. Retaining your rights does not give you access to recommendation letters inside Common App. FERPA may give you the right to review confidential recommendation letters after you enroll at the college.
Does the FERPA waiver apply to my transcript?
The waiver itself applies to your right to review recommendations and other forms. A separate part of the FERPA Release Authorization gives your high school permission to send requested education records, which can include transcripts, recommendation letters, and other school documents.