A brief guide to Common App's name, sex, and gender questions for member institutions

This guide helps colleges and universities understand policies related to names, legal sex, gender identity, and pronouns. The guide also explains how to put these policies into practice according to Common App’s 2023–2024 application updates. Over the past years, these policies have evolved. The Common App has gradually expanded its options to help students accurately reflect their identities.

The changes include:

• Allowing applicants to share a chosen or affirmed name in addition to their legal name.
• Providing options for pronouns and gender identity beyond “male” and “female.”
• Adding “X or another legal sex” as a legal sex option in line with government recognition.

The guide gives recommendations for schools on how to use this information respectfully. It encourages institutions to:

• Use students’ chosen names and pronouns in communications and systems.
• Make it easy for students to update their information.
• Ensure that this information is accurately reflected in areas such as class rosters, housing, email, and ID cards.
• Be careful not to disclose or misuse information in ways that could harm or out a student.