Use SSAT Standard Application Online?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Hi all - My son is interested in applying to quite a few schools, and, because we need a LOT of financial aid, this is probably the right thing to do.</p>

<p>All but two of the schools on his tentative list accept the SAO. Three of the schools on his list accept (and even encourage) the Gateway to Prep Schools common application (and those three also accept the SAO).</p>

<p>I don't think he particularly minds filling out a lot of different forms or writing a lot of essays, but I can't imagine him asking his teachers (at a large public middle school) to write multiple recommendations. </p>

<p>However, I don't want the schools - especially those he cares about most - to get something "generic" from him instead of his answers to their own specific questions. </p>

<p>Does anyone have any experience or insight to share?</p>

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<p>twinsmama, we applied to 9 schools last year, and 8 of them took the SSAT online app. One required Gateway. The teachers did not mind doing 2 different rec forms. For SSAT, you just have each teacher send one form, and the service scans it in to attach later to all of your apps. A couple of people had suggested to us that schools prefer their individual app form, but that was not the case. All the AOs requested online forms and said the common app would be fine. You can also edit the apps as you go, to make them personalized for a particular school (i.e., you can edit the last line of your parent essay to say “We liked XXX School in particular because…” or whatever. The process was relatively easy… and I cannot imagine having to do numerous separate applications!</p>

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<p>PS - A number of schools that use the common app also include an additional form (or 2 ) as a required addendum. They are usually a few different or additional short essay type questions. They will appear on the tab for the individual schools as you create your online app. I think 4 of the schools we D applied required an additional, school-specific page.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much, Cameo43! I can’t respond to your PM because I haven’t posted enough, but you are so right about the $. The first shocker was that SSAT fee :slight_smile: …or should it be :frowning: ?</p>

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<p>And now I see there is also a TABS common application, which only three on his list accept…</p>