<p>I'm currently in community college, and plan to transfer to another college. Say I change my full name legally and on my college transcript BEFORE I apply to other colleges.</p>
<p>1)Would I have to inform the other colleges that my name was changed?</p>
<p>2)If yes, would that hurt my chance of acceptance, cause them to question, be a big deal for any reason?</p>
<p>People have legal name changes all the time. Don’t worry about this. Do it when it is most convenient for you.</p>
<p>Thank You happymomof1, but if you or anyone else could try to answer my questions more directly it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>“More directly”? Seriously?</p>
<p>What happymom said is exactly right. Change your name when it’s convenient for you. People do this all the time, and it will have no effect on your prospects for college admission one way or the other.</p>
<p>For Heaven’s sake, just take a look at the Common App! (<a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/2012/2012-13TR-FinalHighlighedPreview.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/2012/2012-13TR-FinalHighlighedPreview.pdf</a>) On page 1 it asks for any “former last names” by which you’ve been known. And if that doesn’t fit the name change you’re planning, on page 5 it says, “Additional Information Please attach a separate sheet if you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application.” So if you need to, you simply attach a sheet that says, “On [date], I went to court and had my name legally changed from [old name] to [new name].”</p>
<p>Ok, so say I list my former last name, which seems like its required from looking at the Common App.</p>
<p>Would I still need to give the information regarding the Full name change, or is that optional?</p>
<p>Also, in regarding high school transcripts that need to be submitted, from my research it seems that the name on them cannot be changed. Wouldn’t that cause a discrepancy?</p>
<p>Yes, give them your full former (which is to say, current) name and your full new name. You will, as you said, have some records that bear your old name. Having both names supplied to them on the Common App is how they’ll match your earlier records with your application.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why you seem to be resisting giving them your soon-to-be-former name. Are you going into witness protection, or something?</p>
<p>My new name is more of an “Americanized” name, a name that can be more easily pronounced, understood, and remembered. But my soon-to-be-former name has a completely different background and origin, and is not easily pronounced or understood in the USA. I’de rather not have a admissions officer look at such a name as a current name. Or as a former name, as that might cause some paranoia in that person’s mind as to why I made that change.</p>
<p>I think not listing your complete soon-to-be-former name would be unwise.</p>
<p>And while I can’t absolutely guarantee that no college admissions officer would think badly of you for changing your name to something more Americanized, I think it’s not likely it happen (and it would be a disgrace to both the individual and the institution if it did).</p>
<p>Sent from my DROIDX using CC</p>