<p>So, My son is planning to apply to as many as seven schools this January.</p>
<p>I noticed that some of those schools use the Gateway application and some do not.
It looks to me like all the schools that he is looking at accepts the SSAT web site application.</p>
<p>Is there a preference or does it really matter ?</p>
<p>Do you think that at his top 3 schools he should use their own application, or do you really think that schools know how many different schools that the SSAT application goes to ?</p>
<p>My advice to your son - use the SSAT common application. It will save him SO much time and effort - all the short answers, and most of the essays, are the same. Plus, it will save your teachers a HUGE amount of work as well, because they’ll only need to submit one recommendation each. Some people recommend to fill out the individual application for their favorite school(s), but I disagree. Honestly, the schools you are applying too don’t care which form of application you use. The SSAT common application will save you tons of hassle - everything’s done in the same spot. Now, there will still be extra work, because some schools require extra essays in addition to the SSAT ones. But, in the long term, using the common application will make this application process a much less stressful one. There is already tons of work to do - interviews, recommendations, studying for the SSATs, filling out applications, etc. You might as well cut out extra work where you can.</p>
<p>Bottom line - use the SSAT common app. Your son will thank you.</p>