Filling out the Common App?

[Brendon]

I'm starting my senior year of high school this week so I decided to get a head start on college applications. I started filling out the Common App, which I guess is a widely used college application (a few of the colleges I'm applying to require it).

It asks me to mark my legal sex. I figured this was no big deal, I'm listed as male with social security, so no problems. I was dumb enough to click on the question mark next to it which gives you more information about what they're asking you to do. This is what it says:

"How should I answer the sex question? Federal guidelines mandate that we collect data on the legal sex of all applicants. Please report the sex currently listed on your birth certificate. If you wish to provide more details regarding your sex or gender identity, you are welcome to do so in the Additional Information section."

I'm listed as male with social security, the passport agency, and the BMV. I am not listed as male on my birth certificate. I had absolutely no intention of disclosing my status as a trans person on my college applications, but maybe I have to?

So, I guess here are my questions:
1. Do any of you think that it will cause a problem if I just mark myself as male on the Common App anyway?
2. If I mark myself as female (ugh) on the Common App and all of my other documents (e.g. FAFSA, rec. letters, transcripts, etc.) list me as male, do you think there will be a problem?
3. Do you think that marking myself as female on the Common App will forever screw me over in regards to getting housing in male dorms?
4. Do colleges ever actually ask to see your birth certificate? If so, will they accept a passport instead (I mean, when people ask for your BC they usually just want proof of citizenship, right)?

The entire reason I got a passport was so I wouldn't have to show people my birth certificate, so this whole thing is rather annoying. Besides, if federal guidelines mandate this, why wouldn't they ask for the sex designated on something federally issued (e.g. social security or passport)? -_-

Thanks in advance for advice/help/opinions.

[PrairieWolf]

Maybe you should pick a college you would like to attend and call them?  Ask that question without giving your name and see what they say?

[vik2ray]

i just try to avoid paperwork if possible, it makes me uncomforatble. but if you call they should give you a bit of help. who know maybe theyve delt with it before. 

[Ann Onymous]

"oh, I'm sorry...must have misclicked on that."  You would not be the first person to misclick a binary type of question...   

Hey, lets face it...there is not really a repository of birth certificate data online that they can pull from especially since birth certificates tend not to be directly associated by a common identifier (ie. SSN). 

[Robert Scott]

If your social security card says male then check male.  That is the only hiccup when applying to schools.  They won't look at your birth certificate -- but your gender will be caught when they figure the financial aid.    Make sure all your school records have your male name.

[Adio]

That's a bit tough for me to answer, especially when they ask specifically for the gender on your birth certificate.

But...Rob and Ann are right.  If it's "federally mandated" and your federal documents say male, I would check male.  I'm not sure if you'd have problems with housing if you check female.  I can't see how they would figure out your birth certificate says female, because that's not usually something colleges ask to see (I've been to two so far..neither has asked for anything like that; just SS#). 

And yes, they should be able to accept a passport if you have one.  It could actually replace two of your documents (usually BC and DL).  So passports are great to have.  I'm looking forward to getting mine for that reason.

[Brendon]

Thanks for the advice everybody. I didn't think a college would ever need to see my birth certificate, so this made me a little nervous, haha. I clicked male and moved on. 

As it is, I should have the correct name listed on all my school records. I cleared that up with my first high school last week, and I confused no fewer than two desk workers in the process -_- I've not registered for the selective service yet because I'm not quite old enough, but I'll be sure to look into that when the time comes.

Thanks again.