In Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series, true names grant power over the named, and to be told someone’s true name is to be given their trust. Here is how we learn — and use — yours.
We could collect your name from many possible sources.01 For example: via the application, when a prospect signs up for an event or the newsletter, or when a third party (a testing agency, a community-based organization, or a program) sends your name to us with your consent.</p> <p>We will also make inferences where it seems advisable. For example, the College Board has a question much like ours for how you would like to be addressed, so we default to using that as your mailing name unless you tell us otherwise. When we do so, we will usually ask you:
- Your legal first name,02 While naming practices vary widely across countries and cultures, for our purposes, a first name is your given or individual name. which should match official records03 For example, a transcript, test records, identification, or other institutional/governmental documents.
- Your preferred first name,04 Imagine us discussing your application in committee; what would you like us to call you? This could be an abbreviation of your first name, a nickname, or a chosen name. For example, if your legal first name is “Timothy,” your preferred first name might be “Tim.” if different from your legal name
- Any middle names05 While naming practices vary widely across countries and cultures, for our purposes, middle names are any names associated with you beyond the first (individual/given) and last (surname/family) name. We do not use these to address communications.
- Your last name,06 While naming practices vary widely across countries and cultures, for our purposes, a last name is your surname or family name. On the application, we will also ask you for a “preferred last name,” but we do not use this to address any communications. which should also match official records
- Whether we should use your legal name or your preferred name as your mailing name, which we use to address you in official outbound MIT Admissions communications, such as email campaigns, paper mail envelopes, and printed name tags
Your mailing name selection only affects how we refer to you in these official outbound communications from MIT Admissions. It does not affect:
- Your financial aid offer and other communications from Student Financial Services (SFS)07 This is determined by how you fill out the CSS Profile when you apply for aid. After you enroll, it is determined by how you <a href="https://registrar.mit.edu/transcripts-records/personal-information/name-changes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set your name in the MIT directory</a>.
- Your name in MIT’s directory and other systems after you enroll08 If you enroll, we will transmit your legal name to the MIT Student Information System. You can then <a href="https://registrar.mit.edu/transcripts-records/personal-information/name-changes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">modify your legal or directory name via the Registrar’s instructions</a>.
To update your name(s) or change how you are addressed in official MIT Admissions communications:
- If you have not yet submitted an application: Email [email protected] and tell us how you’d like us to adjust your name(s)
- If you have submitted an application: Submit the data change request form in the portal
- For example: via the application, when a prospect signs up for an event or the newsletter, or when a third party (a testing agency, a community-based organization, or a program) sends your name to us with your consent. back to text ↑
- While naming practices vary widely across countries and cultures, for our purposes, a first name is your given or individual name. back to text ↑
- For example, a transcript, test records, identification, or other institutional/governmental documents. back to text ↑
- Imagine us discussing your application in committee; what would you like us to call you? This could be an abbreviation of your first name, a nickname, or a chosen name. For example, if your legal first name is “Timothy,” your preferred first name might be “Tim.” back to text ↑
- While naming practices vary widely across countries and cultures, for our purposes, middle names are any names associated with you beyond the first (individual/given) and last (surname/family) name. We do not use these to address communications. back to text ↑
- While naming practices vary widely across countries and cultures, for our purposes, a last name is your surname or family name. On the application, we will also ask you for a “preferred last name,” but we do not use this to address any communications. back to text ↑
- This is determined by how you fill out the CSS Profile when you apply for aid. After you enroll, it is determined by how you set your name in the MIT directory. back to text ↑
- If you enroll, we will transmit your legal name to the MIT Student Information System. You can then modify your legal or directory name via the Registrar’s instructions. back to text ↑