Is it normal for letters of recommendation to exclude my name? I’ve been applying for scholarships, and one local scholarship I’ve come across specifies that if my name appears in the letter or the file name, it won’t be accepted. All of my letters currently include my name, and I assumed it was standard practice to have the applicant’s name mentioned. I’m a bit confused about why I need to obtain additional letters that don’t include my name.
It’s definitely a bit confusing! Some scholarship committees want to ensure that the evaluation process is completely unbiased, so they request that letters of recommendation are anonymous to avoid any potential favoritism or bias based on the applicant’s identity.
What you can do is reach out to your recommenders and explain the situation. Ask them if they would be willing to write new letters that don’t include your name. They might be familiar with this requirement, or they can easily adjust their letters to meet the scholarship guidelines. It’s common for recommenders to adjust their letters for specific applications. Good luck with your scholarship applications!