<p>Which name should I use for my college apps? My SSN name or my Birth/Legal Name? Most documents will use my SSN name but I put my Legal Name on most of my college apps.</p>
<p>I have a lot of faxing to do to the Offices of the Registrar, don't I?</p>
<p>Are you saying that the name on your SSN is not your "legal name". Please explain...</p>
<p>My birthcertificate name and the name on my SSN is different. One is just John Doe(SSN) and the other is John Hosea Bi Nami Doe(Legal Name). See the difference? I put the latter, but I think I should have put my SSN name.</p>
<p>Usually you put your first and last name only on official documents...not middle names. Thus it seems your first name is "John" and your last "Doe". The other names are middle names, but since I'm not an expert on this, why not call and ask. When you file taxes, what name do you use...first and last....not all the middles?</p>
<p>This entire process has all been very confusing for me. I learned to use my first and last name on financial aid documents. Until now, Joe Hosea was considered my first, and Nami Doe was considered my last. I only had one middle name. That's where I made my mistake. On my birth certificate I have two first and last names...I just assumed that since that is my "legal name" that I should put it on my legal documents. I also didn't know that my SSN name was different until after all my applications.</p>
<p>I'm a little confused...but here is my opinion. You should check with the colleges for info on how to correct or do this correctly. The problem as I see it here is that your last name as listed on your apps is Nami Doe...and your last name on your SS card is Doe. This could cause some confusion because your file at the colleges per your application will be in the "N" pile. But your SS is in the "D" pile. I guess the question here would be...how did you (and family) file your taxes? Your name on your taxes needs to match your SS# or it will get bumped back to you (I know this because when I got married, I neglected to inform the SS administration, and when I filed with my married name...I got a love note telling me that the name and SS didn't match). Still...I would call the colleges and ask. Also there is a FAFSA "help line" and you can call them too.</p>
<p>Whatever you decide, be consistant. I have a friend who couldn't graduate from med school because her school records were all mis-mashed. On some she used her maiden name and others her married name (she got married while in school). It took MONTHS to unravel and prove who she was in the end. </p>
<p>Yes, she did end up graduating but during a time when she should have been on air at finishing her education she was constantly filling out paperwork and sitting with office employees unraveling her transcripts!</p>
<p>I certainly am in trouble then. My taxes and my FAFSA are all filed under John Doe. I had one college change my name to John Doe(state uni) and the small LAC told me it was no problem. I've yet to finish with two other colleges. Thanks all. My only problem may be that my PROFILE has a middle name. I don't think that'll affect me much though. WOOT!</p>
<p>Today's been a wonderful day. I was offered an 80k(20k for four years) scholarship from one of my safeties, and I got into one of my top choices...EARLY.(yes, they sent it almost a month early to give ME time to see if I wanted to choose THEM! And I didn't even think I would get in!) WOOT!</p>
<p>Also, when I check my FAFSA online it says that it has a data mismatch. I changed my name on it a while ago so it should be right. One of the schools verified that my FAFSA was recieved successfully, and when I called FAFSA they said that everything was fine. But the computer still says Data mismatch. The name I use to log in is still the incorrect one...but the one on the FAFSA is the correct one. It's all correct-I tripled checked it. </p>
<p>It's two against one. The FAFSA specialist said it was right. A college said it was right. Only the computer said it was wrong. What should I do?</p>