Again, many schools do NOT publish this information. Sports rosters are just first names at many HSs.
I suggested a way to cover this, just have her put her pen name in the activity description. Done and done. It is highly unlikely anyone will check her ECs. And if they do they will reach out to the counselor if they are confused.
I agree the counselor has to address the legal name change.
And again, I would share less than you seemingly think you need too. When the counselor says restraining order, legal name change, and no parental rights for NCP, AOs will know it’s a BAD situation.
My kid is not trans. I just wanted to provide one less piece of identifying information, so I’m using gender neutral language. They are changing their name to make it harder for their other parent to find them.
I understand your kid isn’t trans. I am just giving an example of where someone changed their name so their record had 2 names and it had to be explained.
I do not think AO check activities listed for most students. The counselor will write the letter and it will be part of the application and financial aid applications, but not necessarily go to the AO/committee.
If you are concerned that this will become part of a record that the other parent can retrieve and somehow access, I think you should look into applying under seal or otherwise confidentially. No one should be able to access a student’s application, but I’m sure Chelsea Clinton and the Obama kids applications weren’t just in a stack of applications, so schools have a way of securing some applications for privacy reasons.
You could state on the application that student’s legal name when starting hs was John Jones but under a court order for privacy he also used the name Sam Smith for activities, his byline, sports and anything that would be public. The AO wouldn’t know if that privacy reason was because of protection from a violent relative, parents needing protection (and thus the family), because of someone stalking the child, or because the family is famous/rich/witness protection, etc. I’d keep it very simple, John Jones is the legal name but for privacy he also used Sam Smith. The school wouldn’t know if there was trauma or therapy involved.
But I really don’t think the school will verify hs activities. If something isn’t on the transcript, let the counselor handle it.