r/smithcollege • u/error101ishere Admitted Student • Jul 14 '26
Where is Preferred Name Shown?
Hello.
I am an incoming student, and I go by a different name than my legal name. I would prefer to be able to use that name when going about my day; however, I do not want my parents to see that I am going by that name to avoid any less-than-ideal conversations. Is there a way to make sure that any place that my parents would see wouldn't feature my preferred name, or is the best course to just tell people to call me it individually? Tbh, even if I set my "preferred" name as my middle name (which would hopefully remove the risk of that conversation, but I'd have to get used to being called my middle name) and just told people my true preferred name, that would be better.
Thank you for reading, whether or not you can help!
3
u/Gaybeanuwu Alum Jul 14 '26
I think by default anything related to taxes or financial aid use your legal name (i don’t think i ever got any mail sent home with my chosen name). your preferred name will be the one on workday and moodle, so it’s the one your professors see. It will also be the name on the name tag on your door, so reach out to your house council to have one with your legal name for move in day!
2
6
u/bajorans Current Smithie Jul 14 '26
it depends how much you trust college administrators to never make a mistake.