Before you submit the common app, it asks for your signature. I’m not sure if I have to use my legal name or if I should use my preferred name, since that’s the name I usually sign things with. Also to make things more complicated, I began the legal name change process about a week ago. It takes a while for it to actually be changed, but within a few weeks my preferred name will be my legal name. I’m also transgender, so that’s why I don’t go by my legal name, and I really don’t want to sign it with a female name (I mean they know my legal name anyway because I had to put it on the application but still)
I would use the name that you used when you opened up your collegeboard account and the name you have used for standardized tests - hopefully all of those are exactly the same. If you start changing the name you use mid-process, I think there is a chance that schools will not be able to link your tests scores, transcripts, etc. to your application.
I will say, I am sympathetic.
Once you get your apps all in and get your name change docs back, you can send to each school and they will process for you.
The application says my old name too though because I had to put it where it asks for my legal name, so how would that make it hard for them to find my test scores?
It won’t. If you use the new name now, mid-process, it may cause problems.
How though, if they know my old name too?
Look, I’m giving you the advice that I’d give my child. Schools may not be set up to link your old name to your new name - honestly, I doubt they are, and I wouldn’t risk it. That’s not a common occurrence. I recommend that you have continuity on your Common App name and on all of your tests. If you don’t want to do that, then I’d call the folks at the Common App and ask for advice.
I did legal, but that’s also what I used on all the other accounts/documents/standard tests