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Should students waive their rights to see their letters of recommendation?

Collegewise Admissions advice from Kevin McMullin

Most colleges that require a letter of recommendation also ask you to fill out a form that the writer sends to the college along with the letter.  One of the questions on that form asks you if you agree to waive your right to access the letter in the future.  If you waive your right, it means once the writer sends the letter to the school, you have no right to view it.  You will never know what the writer said about you or whether it helped or hurt your chances of admission.  I know–that sounds risky.

Still, you should always waive your rights to access.

Here's what happens when you don't waive the right. Continue reading "Should students waive their rights to see their letters of recommendation?"

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UAHuntsville/NASA-MSFC Heliophysics Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates

The deadline to submit applications for the 2016 Heliophysics Research Experience for Undergraduates program (REU) at the University of Alabama-Huntsville and NASA-MSFC is this upcoming Friday, March 11, 2016. The final deadline to submit letters of recommendation is Friday, March 18, 2016.

This NSF funded program brings 10 undergraduate students to Huntsville, Alabama for a 10-week research experience. Students will be paired with a UAH or NASA scientist specializing in research from solar interior to heliopause. Research topics include solar and helio instrumentation, visualization tool development, data analysis, computation and modeling.
Applicants should be full-time, undergraduate students with a GPA of 2.5 or better and majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematical (STEM) fields. This program is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents and runs May 31 - August 5, 2016. Selected participants will receive a $5,000 stipend, lodging, meal card, travel expenses and provide partial support to attend the Annual American Geophysical Union Meeting in December 2016. Rising sophomores, students from under-represented groups, and students from small institutions are encouraged to apply.