famtree

Has anyone used a service where you can obtain one set of teacher recommendations and admission application to submit and apply to a number of boarding schools? It looks like SSAT has a service eliminating the need to fill out multiple reference forms which would certainly make life a lot easier for the teachers and eliminate the need for parents to fill out numerous admission applications.

If anyone has used SSAT or any similar service for applying, could you share your experience and the name of the service you used? It would be so appreciated!

dodgersmom

Both SSAT and TABS have standard recommendation forms available that can be used for English, Math, and head of school (or guidance counselor) recommendations. They're virtually identical. It doesn't matter which you use. Just print out the form, give it to the teacher, ask him or her to fill it in, make multiple copies, and then sign each copy separately.

Don't overcomplicate things. Some schools have their own online recommendation forms, others have their own printed forms . . . and none of it matters. Any standard recommendation form will do for any school.

As for the application itself, some schools accept both the TABS application, and/or the SSAT application, in addition to their own. Some schools don't. Once you know which schools your student will be applying to, figure out which application forms you want to use. Using one of the two standard applications will make your lives easier (and the two are virtually identical), so feel free to submit one of those if the school says it's okay.

The key difference between TABS and SSAT, by the way, is that SSAT is, as you suggested, an actual service. You submit the stuff online, SSAT then processes it and sends it on to the schools(s). TABS simply has a collection of application/recommendation forms that you print out, fill in, and submit to the schools yourself. Unless your student is applying to a school that actually requires one or the other (such as Lawrenceville, for example, which accepts ONLY the SSAT application), just pick the one you prefer.

mountainhiker

We used the TABS recommendation forms for all schools our child applied to. We did call the schools first; all said the TABS forms were fine. If In doubt, always ask.

Two schools used the Gateway to Prep Schools admission form, although each of those schools had specific sub-sections with unique essay questions etc. The other schools had unique-to-them application forms.

Yes, the application process is very time consuming. For the fall semester, I would estimate that our child spent on average 5 to 6 hours a week perusing websites, reading viewbooks, visiting schools, filling out apps, writing essays, and communicating with the schools. Some weeks were very busy (we live in the West, so we took a five day trip to visit east coast schools), and other weeks had very little activity related to the school search or application process. We researched about 10 schools, visited 8, and our child applied to 4.

Periwinkle

I just checked. These schools use the Gateway to Prep Schools, as of 7/27/12:

Chatham Hall
Concord Academy
Dana Hall School
Deerfield Academy
Emma Willard School
Fay School
Groton School
The Hotchkiss School
Kent School
The Marvelwood School
The Masters School
The Newman School
Northfield Mount Hermon
Oldfields School
The Perkiomen School
Phillips Academy Andover
Portsmouth Abbey School
The Putney School
St. Paul's School
St. Timothy's School
The Thacher School
Valley Forge Military Academy
Walnut Hill School for the Arts
Westminster School
The Williston Northampton School

Momof7thgrader

SSAT makes the application process as easy as possible. We had one school that required Gateway to Prep and I found it much less streamlined.

famtree

Thanks to all for the info. I have spoken with the schools we are interested in and all utilize some common form. SSAT appears to make the process easier (application, recommendations) but only one of our interested schools utilizes SSAT. It seems the SSAT process (by mailing to SSAT common teacher recommendations and SSAT submitting them to schools) provides a modicum of confidentiality if you don't want to disclose to your present school some or all of the schools you're applying to.

famtree

Another thing I learned along the way while talking with an admissions office....some schools will accept the SSAT essay in lieu of the application essay.

GMTplus7

The BS may accept the SSAT essay questions, but strategically should you do it?

IMO, if I was the AO of a very elite and low admission rate school (some of the schools accept as few as 1 in 8 applicants), I would be less impressed w a candidate who couldn't be bothered to answer my own school's essay questions. It would be like asking a girl to marry me by mailing her a form letter...

From our S's experience w the application process, the schools can have very personalized & amusing essay questions

dodgersmom

If a school states that accepts a common application, then it does. Period. And there's no need to second-guess the process.

Occasionally a school will say that it accepts the common app . . . but prefers its own. In that case, honor the school's preference. Otherwise, take what the school says at face value, and if it states that it accepts the common application, and it's easier for your student to submit the common application, then do so.

If your student is applying to only two or three schools, then it doesn't matter so much . . . but if he or she is applying to five or six or more schools, that common application can be a life-saver!