Name changes and the SAT

<p>I registered for the November SAT with the name Agnes K*<strong><em>. When I apply to college, it'll be as Elisabeth E</em></strong>**. There's a long story behind this, but it can be summarized as "my grandfather disinherited my dad and his brother (the remains of his first marriage) for no apparent reason, my dad cut off relations and took his mother's maiden name, and I took advantage of the situation to exchange the first name I've always hated for my much less offensive middle name". Ignoring the logistics of this situation, which are daunting enough, how do I deal with the College Board? My GC claims that I can write the new name on the test form despite having registered as something else. Is that true? Will I be able to create a collegeboard.com account after the fact? What about sending scores to colleges? Would it be easier just to use the name on the registration form and somehow change it afterwards?</p>

<p>...Is there anything else I should know?</p>

<p>Thanks for your help, as always,
thisyearsgirl (who usually goes by "Anya" as a variation of the "other" name, but now doesn't even know what name to use to sign her post...)</p>

<p>I have no idea what to tell you. I created a college board account with my son on this computer when he was a junior in high school. My daughter is now a senior and we could NOT change the account to her name or open another account from this email address. So...she had to open her own college board account from her computer and email. A pain to say the least (this is the faster and better machine). The college board does have phones....call them and ask what to do.</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply. I tried calling the CB but the office had already closed, and the SAT is tomorrow. I really should've done this earlier, but I only realized today that it might be a problem... I'm useless at planning ahead. :eek:</p>

<p>The easier thing to do would be to apply to colleges under your old name. Then, when you are admitted and have decided on a school, you can notify the school that you have undergone a name change.
If your name change officially occurs before you send your application, you could make a note that you are also known as Agnes and to please make sure that documents issued to Agnes are combined with your app and other documents made out under your new name.
It might be easier than dealing with the CB.
What about your school transcript and other official documents? Your teachers'and GC's recs?</p>

<p>I'm only a junior, so I still have a year to get the documentation in order. According to my GC it won't be a problem provided that I make sure that all the forms are consistent. I don't know how long it'll take for the name change to become official, but my dad says that it's extremely straight-forward (they're fairly small changes and the names are already in the family). I don't think that'll be a problem. I'm asking about the SAT because it's ... tomorrow ... :eek:</p>

<p>For tomorrow, I would use my old name. Then deal with it for the next admin of the SAT. The CB uses your social security number as well...and that will NOT be changing. They probably have had name change situations in the past and can deal with it. But not on no notice.</p>

<p>If you are expecting to take more SATs (e.g SAT-II) you could contact the CB and ask them to combine the scores under your old name with those under your new name.
I'm not clear if you are entitled to register under your new name if it has not become official yet.</p>

<p>I don't have a social security number, so that's out of the question. I'm not planning to retake the SAT I, but I will be taking SAT IIs at some point. Combining the scores sounds like a good idea, if possible.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I'm not clear if you are entitled to register under your new name if it has not become official yet.

[/quote]

I accidentally registered (and yes, took the test) as "Anya K*****" once. I don't know if it's technically allowed--it was an honest mistake on my part--but it didn't cause any problems that I know of.</p>

<p>I think that what the GC suggested is to fill in the new name on the test form and create a CB account later, ignoring the old account. Is that possible at all, or did he give me bad advice?</p>

<p>If you have a GC, go to your school Guidance Counselor & explain the situation. My son created two separate on-line accounts--one with his 1st name 1st & the other with his last name 1st. The College Board said NO WAY to combine the two accounts & he'd forever be stuck with 2 accounts & have to send scores from BOTH accounts to all his colleges.
We went to the HS GC & he called the College Board on our behalf (with my son in the room) & they were able to get it all straightened out so now son has ONE account with ALL his scores under that account & everything is FINE. The GC said that the important thing is the same Social Security Number was used in both accounts.
I'd start with your GC & see what s/he can do. Some GCs even have a special phone number for the College Board that is not available to the general public--maybe yours does.</p>

<p>If you do not have a SS #, use your date of birth. It is not as unique as a SS#, but it is a possible alternative. No use worrying about it now. Take the test tomorrow, and deal with CB next week through your GC if necessary.
If you think your new name will be formalized by the time you are ready for the SAT II, then use it tomorrow. I'm assuming you have not previously taken tests administered by the CB (SAT, AP).</p>

<p>Hmmm... My son had two accounts for AP tests (he registered second time using the middle initial, and we moved to another state). The collegeboard combined the accounts after one phone call, no problems (and he did not have SSN, either)</p>

<p>I would not advise to use the "new" name tomorrow... The registration was under the "old" name; you paid under the "old" name - do not create confusion. They might just lose your scores altogether if they won't know which account they belong to... </p>

<p>BTW, you will have to bring a document with you tomorrow, right? And you must use that same name during the test which is printed in that document - otherwise the requirement would not have any sense, right?</p>

<p>Thumper, your situation puzzles me. I have created three College Board accounts,one for each of my three kids, with the same e-mail address on the same desktop. I even use the same password for all three user names!</p>

<p>I had a similar problem- that being my actual legal name is slightly different to the one on my passport. You cannot change it via internet/email but I think you can change it by calling up. It shouldn't be difficult if the name change isnt too significant otherwise they will ask for a detailed explanation.</p>

<p>It seems like the easiest thing to do is to use my previous name and call the College Board after the test. Thanks for your suggestions, everyone.</p>

<p>Just a question....how can you not have a social security number (unless you are not a citizen)? Parents have been REQUIRED to put their dependent's social security numbers on tax returns for YEARS. But of course that is another issue. I also believe that the CB should not be requesting SS numbers. They should be assigning a student number...but not SS number.</p>

<p>Thumper, I felt the same about the SS#... I didn't feel comfortable giving it to CB. It's optional so just don't worry about it.</p>

<p>I believe I remember from reading other posts by thisyearsgirl that she is, in fact, not a US citizen (I'm not a stalker...I just tend to remember the other people in the IB threads :-D). Hence the SSN issue.</p>

<p>One of my close friends also changed her name - though it was a much more minor change, with differences in Americanizing her last name. Her biggest problem with it (and mine!) is remembering the spelling difference. This was all taken care of before SAT's and things, which probably makes it considerably easier, but she still did have to go through the process of making sure everyone important had the change.</p>

<p>I think your best bet is just to call (or have your counselor call) CollegeBoard and explain. I'm pretty sure there isn't any sort of protocol, because it's such a unique situation, and they should be able to take care of combining the accounts. Worst case should be that you just need to show proof of the change.</p>

<p>sheetmusic, you made some good points (presenting official documents in a worst-case scenario, etc), and you're right, I'm not a US citizen. The SAT is over, I used the old name, and will call the CB when the office opens Monday for more information.</p>

<p>Again, thanks for all your advice.</p>

<p>Actually, I changed my name mid-SAT's as well, and for some reason, College Board would not change the name on my account. What I eventually did was just keep my SAT account under my old name and wrote a letter to all of my colleges explaining (and proving) the name change. However, maybe you will have better luck with the College Board.</p>

<p>One year, I used my middle intial on the AP tests, and the other year I did not. When I received my score report, I noticed my test from the first year was missing. My parents called CB, they merged the accounts, and sent me a new (complete) score report. I wasn't that hard. Granted this was with APs, not the SAT, but they're the same company. Good luck</p>