Should I mention being transsexual on graduate application

[Arch]

I had an interview for an MFA program in Theatre at a Maryland state school.  I wouldn't say its too much of a stretch for any variety of program to have an interview process.

Ah, maybe MFA programs are different, especially in performing arts.

[MikeG500]

Since I'm the other one who brought up this possible issue, I'll answer it. Your best bet is to visit the school's website and/or contact the registrar to see if the school will let you change your records and if so what you need to do. Unfortunately not all schools will change a past student's record upon request (some argue that FERPA would require them to*, but that would require a court case to test), so if a school won't change your records and you need to submit a record from there when applying you will have to explain the name/gender change. *Assuming it's a public and/or non-religion-based institution. FERPA only applies to schools that get federal funding, and religious schools can use the First Amendment as a justification not to be bound by laws that secular institutions are.

A tip I heard from someone (non-trans-related, but not for marriage) looking to change the name (particularly for K-12 public school records) is to present your new/amended birth certificate (and not just the court order or surgeon's letter). Many primary and secondary schools have a policy that a student's name must match what is shown on the birth certificate, and if you've changed that you may have more leverage to get your record updated.

Ah, I always hate doing these things. It makes me nervous and I get somewhat embarrassed. But it comes with this life I guess! I shall contact my old high school and community college and see what I can do. Thank you for the advice.

[jebee]

If you were in england id sat yes, they'd probably give you extra marks for it lol.

[missy1992]

If you were in england id sat yes, they'd probably give you extra marks for it lol.

Those darn marxist influenced learning institutions! When Reagan was president, he could count on Thatcher to do something about that!

[mandonlym]

If it were me, I would be strategic and find out more about the departments and see how progressive they are. Then I'd be tempted to cite Ben Barres' essay on gender and science in Nature to discuss the larger implications of having a trans-identified person in the department: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442133a.html

[Arch]

Folks like us tend to have trouble getting high schools to change records after the fact. My high school said that it would not change my records. I could have pressed the point, but I had no reason to except that I value completeness.

The community college was a snap.

Both were public schools.

[MikeG500]

If it were me, I would be strategic and find out more about the departments and see how progressive they are. Then I'd be tempted to cite Ben Barres' essay on gender and science in Nature to discuss the larger implications of having a trans-identified person in the department: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442133a.html

Interesting, thanks!

Folks like us tend to have trouble getting high schools to change records after the fact. My high school said that it would not change my records. I could have pressed the point, but I had no reason to except that I value completeness.

The community college was a snap.

Both were public schools.

I'm wondering what to do at the moment. My community college looks simple, there was an online form for name change, I just checked. But, I need my high school transcript in order for me to graduate because of the foreign language requirement. I wonder if I will be able to send the transcript to my college now and somehow not make a big fuss about the difference in name... I've built a nice reputation here and am completely stealth in the engineering college. Sucks!

[Arch]

I'm guessing that you will be bumping into some deadlines (you will have to file for degree checks, intent to graduate, stuff like that?), so you don't have much time to change documents, right? I would get in touch with the high school now, tomorrow, and see what you can do.

Is there no other way for you to satisfy the foreign language requirement?

[MikeG500]

I'm guessing that you will be bumping into some deadlines (you will have to file for degree checks, intent to graduate, stuff like that?), so you don't have much time to change documents, right? I would get in touch with the high school now, tomorrow, and see what you can do.

Is there no other way for you to satisfy the foreign language requirement?

The only way to satisfy the foreign language requirement is to either know another foreign language, which I am studying mandarin in my spare time but not good enough to pass on that, or to take 2 semesters of a foreign language (Which I don't have time for at all).

Also, I am only a junior so I still have time. I have until around next October. I'd hope that's enough time to get it all settled. I also just talked to my school and they said that I just have to send my transcripts to the university registrar and then show them proof of name change, so I don't think it would even be going through the engineering college.

[Arch]

It's interesting that they will allow high school work to satisfy college requirements. Is that what you are saying? My school required four quarters of foreign language or a pass on the proficiency test. Does your school not have such a test? Or are you saying that you simply don't have the proficiency to pass?

My school also used to have one of those summer programs whereby people could satisfy the entire language requirement by taking accelerated classes all summer. It looked pretty brutal to me, but if you need only a year, maybe you can find a way to take a couple of summer classes back to back?

I would be careful about the transcript situation. Find out exactly who sees what before you commit. But even if you don't change your HS transcript, do change your name on the CC records because you will likely need to submit those records to grad schools.

[MikeG500]

Basically the school needs two semesters of a second language to receive your degree, but that can be waved if you took two years of a foreign language in high school. I'm not sure if there is a proficiency test but if there is, I barely remember anything from my Spanish high school classes.

I really don't mind if the University Registrar sees my high school transcript and name change, I only mind if my specific college does. I doubt any of my professors or anyone of importance will see it though.