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so i have two questions here:

1. on some forms they have a space for 'preferred name'. if i put down my english name, which is not stated on my passport, in that column, is it ok if that name does not appear anywhere else on my application? usually i prefer people to call by my english name but i put my formal chinese name on my resume and all other documents. Columbia specifically says 'use a name consistently' does that mean i should also put my english name in all other documents?

2. my parents were divorced since i was a baby and i don't see any point of even mentioning the name of my mom in my apps if she has nothing to do with it. is it ok if i just write '(divorced)' in the column of mother's name and everything else "N/A"?

xqhp82 wrote:so i have two questions here:

1. on some forms they have a space for 'preferred name'. if i put down my english name, which is not stated on my passport, in that column, is it ok if that name does not appear anywhere else on my application? usually i prefer people to call by my english namebut i put my formal chinese name on my resume and all other documents. Columbia specifically says 'use a name consistently' does that mean i should also put my english name in all other documents?

2. my parents were divorced since i was a baby and i don't see any point of even mentioning the name of my mom in my apps if she has nothing to do with it. is it ok if i just write '(divorced)' in the column of mother's name and everything else "N/A"?

Where is your pride, you should put THE MIDDLE KINGDOM instead of China.

Your passport name is the name that should consistently be put there.
that is, your chinese name should go in. Application is not a place for preference.

To save yourself any mishaps, put your mother's name in there. Otherwise risk going incomplete and held.

I have no real contact with my father. I put his name and then for address put "unable to provide - no contact"

blowhard wrote:I have no real contact with my father. I put his name and then for address put "unable to provide - no contact"

show off

SplitterPride wrote:Your passport name is the name that should consistently be put there.
that is, your chinese name should go in. Application is not a place for preference.

To save yourself any mishaps, put your mother's name in there. Otherwise risk going incomplete and held.

There you go.

OP, I go by a nickname (though it is a common one for my given name), and I put that in the "preferred name" spot on all my applications.

Also, I think you'd be fine putting "divorced" and then "n/a" in those spots, but just in case, you could put your mother's name, follow it by "(divorced)" and then fill out the rest as "n/a." I'm positive law schools have received applications before where the applicant doesn't know info about a parent due to whatever reasons.