Hi!
I would like to ask a few questions about 'studying in the USA' as a transgender. I'm from Europe, so I don't know the 'realities' of the States. That's why I'm asking them.

//I'm not on hormones yet.

Since secondary school I really wished to attend to a US university. Doing extracurricular activities, getting good marks, working, etc. Right now, when I'm finally able to start my educational adventure in the states I got the other 'problem' - the gender dysphoria, which is a little bit complicated for me.
I'm attending to the university in Europe, but I would like to transfer in the next year (going into junior year) to the States, and there graduate my school (getting bachelor).

It wouldn't be any problem, if I have much more time (at least 1.5 year). But I don't.
When I want to transfer in the next year (right now it's 1 year exactly to start junior year), I'm afraid if I will be able to pass.
I would like to stay at 'boy mode' up to transfer to the us uni (7 to 9 months on hormones). But after finishing my sophomore year I should in the express time start to be a girl - buying clothes, make up stuff, and just start being a girl.

I know that the transition is just for me, not anybody else, and I should be happy by myself, but I don't want to be a topic of the whole campus, just because I'm transgender.

I don't want to coming out in the states, that I'm transgender. I would like to hide this fact, and live as I should since my born (of course the most trusted people will be informed).


And here are my questions:
1.Can I stay at the girls dorms (even I have still male id)?
2.I saw on the recruitment application an annotation about being in minor sexuality (including transgender). For what they want that information?
3.How does the universities in USA appears to the transgender people? Are professors making troubles?
4.Is it possible to get into the full time and move to the campus in just 7/9 months?

Thanks in advance for all replies!

Hi Emma, you should contract the Dean of Students office for any school you are thinking of applying to, because they will be able to answer your questions. Each school may have different policies on trans students.

Good luck

The thing with the USA also is the culture varies a lot depending on location. Attitudes on the west coast are much more accepting and progressive. I would advise against the south and Midwest unless you look at a major city like Chicago or Miami. Lastly, as already mentioned,  talk to the Dean of students.  Some schools will also have different supports and protections.

Please let us know where you end up:)

And about dorms, it'll likely depend on the school and how progressive their policies are, but some schools have co-ed dorms. Boston University (which, by the way, Boston is a very progressive area and tends to be very accepting of LGBT people), has a few buildings that are purely male and purely female for dorms, but they also have one giant co-ed dorm building. In the co-ed dorms, a male and a female wouldn't share a room, but at least the building is mixed. I am not sure what Boston University would require to allow you to share a room with another female. 

Also, you might be able to live off campus. Quite a number of schools in Boston have limited dorm space, so being a junior/senior in undergrad, you'd likely be steered towards living off campus. Schools will often give you a living allowance (usually from your loan money), and will have an off-campus living office. At that office, they'd be able to help you find roommates from the school and find an apartment that is affordable nearby. If you live off campus, you won't need to worry about whether or not you can live with the other females.

Don't forget, you are going to need a student visa.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html

I won't forget

Emma you will also find that our rights and protections vary by State and even by the City you live in.  San Francisco is famous for being progressive but even in California the reactionary forces seek to overturn new rules that could protect us.  Oregon has anti-discrimination laws for us.

Best of Luck !

I forgot to mention where I would like to go
I don't want to jinx, so I will not write name of the school yet, but it's in the area of New England (closer to NYC than Boston ).

Thanks for the advice - I will contact with Dean's Office.

Quote from: Antonia J on September 18, 2013, 05:23:57 AM
Please let us know where you end up:)

I will

Oh I think I can guess! Great school, good luck!

New England is quite liberal for the USA.  It should be fine.  They might even have a trans dorm.

Even though they have, I would like to be considered more like a girl, not trans.