<p>Hi there, i actually wish I'd had the sense to ask this Q BEFORE 1/15-2/1, but here it is now, anyway. Did you use a common application or each school's individual app? I realize not all schools take common apps; turns out all the schools we applied to did, and we decided that for our own and DC's sanity, we'd use the common app. It was a much easier way to submit a number of applications; yes there were a few "supplement" forms, but it still seemed worthwhile. Post-3/10, I am wondering if this was a wise choice. I think it might have impacted how DC's application was received, but I'm not sure? Anyone else have opinions on the convenience of the common app versus the "express love" of using a school's own app?</p>
<p>I used the SAO and was accepted to my top choice. But even though I was accepted, I think it would have been a good idea for me to use the school’s personal application. It shows a certain commitment and seriousness to the specific school. If time isn’t a factor, I would definitely recommend using schools’ personal applications, but as my case proves, using standard applications doesn’t destroy your chances of admission.</p>
<p>I think it makes sense to use a school’s own form. They have the ability to pose questions that give them insight into the qualities they value in applicants. For example some schools may strongly value a student’s judgement skills or other schools may be more concerned about a how the applicant will contribute to their community. The schools can manipulate the responses they get by posing very specific and direct essay topics. Common applications usually have very generic and general topics that can get quite boring and repetitive.</p>
<p>Used a common app. Andover’s specifically. Got waitlisted there and Hotchkiss, into Choate, denied Exeter.</p>
<p>used the TABS common forms, except for 2 schools which required their own. got accepted to 6 schools, waitlisted at one</p>
<p>We used the common application. It turned out well. I really DON’T think which form you use matters. If it did they would ask you to use one form and one form only. GLADCHEMS schools get enough applicants to dictate terms. So if that is what they wanted that is what they would ask.
You are just torturing yourself with this. Great kids don’t get accepted to their top choices NOT because they failed in some way but because they outnumber the places the schools have to offer. Nothing more.
I am sorry that you were one of the unlucky ones. :(</p>
<p>My son used the TABS common application. He couldn’t bear writing out so many different ones, sad to say. He included whatever supplements they asked for, such as a graded English essay, and we sent in parent comment forms for the two or three schools that had one. It did not affect his outcome, though we had worried much about it when putting them in the mail.</p>
<p>We didn’t even know that there were common apps (TABS/SSAT) until way too late in the game. The only common element we used was a supplemental teacher recco form from one of the schools that did not ask for one. </p>
<p>Due to relatively small amount of schools D applied to, this was not an undue burden and I think using the school-specific form says you are truly serious about a school. St. Andrew’s (DE…I think it’s funny that that’s become the standard way to reference it, as if there aren’t a zillion other St. Paul’s or other “St. X” schools) requires that parts of the application are hand written…but they also say they accept most common apps/recco forms.</p>