<p>I just wanted to check in with other prep school board parents. It seems like the stress level is rising as application deadlines get closer. How are the people in your family managing? What visits and application bits do you have remaining? </p>
<p>My dd has written most of her essays, but has 1.5 to complete before we can post them to the SSAT common app site. We need to take a look at the forms for those couple schools that do not accept the SSAT application and submit those as well. </p>
<p>I have not been able to sort dd's rather eclectic mix of schools into safety, match, and reach. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. I am concerned that she might not get enough FA to make it possible to go to any of these schools. I am trying not to share my concerns with dd, as she has enough on her plate and there isn't much she can do about this. </p>
<p>One more visit. I’ll be glad when that is over because almost all of them require long drives. My son is almost done with his application essays, but my daughter still has some work to do. She is also taking the SSAT again, this time with some prep and with seriousness of purpose. My husband and I (mostly I) have done all the parent statements, and I filled out the FA parent statement, but I don’t look forward to having to get the taxes done as quickly as possible to send in the 2013 info. We often don’t get 1099s until very late.</p>
<p>I have no idea what my kids’ chances are at any school. Even without the FA issue, it would be hard to tell, although I do think they would have a pretty good chance if we could pay; they have strong personalities and seem to make a real impression with some interviewers. But I’m not stressed about the outcome because I would be perfectly happy if they stayed home and went to our public HS. The kids would be disappointed, but I’m sure they will do fine whatever happens.</p>
<p>Cocoa sounds good…I think I may get some myself!</p>
<p>All of the schools our child is applying to accept common app so I guess that helps. Teacher recs done and submitted. Parent statement just about finalized. Student essays need to be done. Goal is app completed and submitted before Christmas.</p>
<p>On the FA side I identify with what twinsmama said. PFS is done and CPA on notice that 2013 return needs to be done ASAP. I am self employed and keep good records all year long so shouldn’t be a big hurdle to get taxes done soon. However twinsmama is doing better than I because I am stressing over the results!! The thing that terrifies me most right now is the prospect of having to tell my child they were accepted but I can’t afford to send them. I am keeping that to myself because it isn’t for child to worry about but it is bugging me an awful lot.</p>
<p>But if I look at it the right way once the apps are in (admission & FA) it pretty much is what it is until M10. I do feel that we have done everything we can to give child the best chance.</p>
<p>This whole process has been an education all by itself.</p>
<p>You’d think I’d be better at this the second time around. It certainly doesn’t feel that way.</p>
<p>Different kid w/different stats + skills = different schools. So it feels like the same amount of running around.</p>
<p>Using the SSAT common app this time around. Since 7D1 only applied to 3 schools, she used the individual school apps (SPS was the only one of the 3 using Gateway). The common app has its pros and cons. The biggest pro: All recco forms done online and one form for all schools. So hitting up the teachers and head of school for reccos doesn’t make me feel as bad. The biggest con: not being able to tailor responses to each school.</p>
<p>Parent essays are done and student essays are near done (one last round of proofing). Haven’t uploaded anything yet, though. Might be before the end of tonight, though.</p>
<p>I admit to having a higher level of anxiety regarding 7D2’s chances and options should she not get in anywhere. But as noted above, everything has a way of working out, regardless.</p>
<p>I hear you on the different kid thing. DD is a very different person from ds. She might not thrive in his school. I am hoping that the stars will align to bring us all several decent options in March!</p>
<p>The “different kid thing” is also tricky when doing both at the same time. And my daughter got on board late, so at first we weren’t evaluating schools in terms of her needs. We (including the kids) would love it if they could go to the same school, but I can’t even imagine what the odds are of that. My daughter isn’t applying to as many schools as my son is, for one thing.</p>
<p>Guys you can update your financial aid paperwork even after the deadline -the forms update automatically. There is some time to make adjustments after your submissions and before aid is decided if 1099s come in a little different than estimates - you will be asked to upload your actual returns at a later deadline In any case- each schools is different but some were May or June as I recall. </p>
<p>Also I’m pretty sure you can customize the common app for each school - after you submit to one school you can open the app and customize it before you submit to the next school. Good luck to all of you!</p>
<p>I’m done with all essays and ssat and everything I can do. I just need to handwrite exeter’s essay and remind my teachers to get the letters in soon and have my parents finish their parent statements.</p>
<p>Some of the schools we applied to wanted the current tax returns in Feb, so they could give actual awards on M10. Some would give preliminary FA awards contingent on tax return. We did them very early last year to get them to the schools. Check with the schools since there is a range.</p>
<p>I got so overwhelmed today with the applications and essays and getting the teachers to fill out forms that I caved and decided to go with the SSAT online application. I may submit the individual one for Proctor though because their program and essay questions are so unique. But they are February 15 deadline so I have a bit more time.</p>
<p>Last year we used Gateway to Prep Schools for several schools and then did a few individual on-line applications.
I liked the Gateway interface a lot because it was easy to keep track of and one can link/copy/modify forms for each school. Also, each school had different essays and their own supplemental questions. It was easy to upload e.g. scanned graded essay.<br>
For recommendations, Gateway had the standard forms. Thus, we asked the teachers and the counselor to save the Gateway letter in a PDF file and email it to the schools that were not on Gateway. AOs were fine with that.</p>
<p>I don’t think we’ve sent a single item in the postal mail. Everything was done on-line, scanned, youtubed and emailed.
We had at first started SSAT app but abandoned it as we found it clunky and the letters had to be snail mailed to them.
I thought it would have been more convenient to have the option to upload or email scanned items such as the recommendation letters to SSAT.
Is there such an option on SSAT app? Did I miss something?</p>
<p>The teacher and school evaluation forms are all done through SSAT site. I just began the process this afternoon and already my son’s Math teacher has completed her part of the evaluation. Of course I can’t view anything that she wrote, just that the step is completed. I am worried about the essays not being individualized for each school because I had already started answering several and they definitely targeting a specific school and what that school offered.</p>