<p>proudinnj...thanks for specifying how similar your boys stats are. My girls share ECs and CS, haven't started taking SATs or ACTs yet and have almost identical course loads. 1 major dif is that one will have taken AP Calc and the other Math Analysis and Pre Calc. GPA wise they are a couple of tenths apart but both are in the top 10% of their class. As the next year and 1/2 unfolds they may become more similar, or not.</p>
<p>Update...Going through the Clarmont McKenna viewbook this pm and D2 shares that she has no intention of applying to CMC. D1 is quite excited about it and is going to an admissions reception for all the Clarmont Consortium schools later this month...she is also drawn to Scripps and Mudd. I guess time will tell and all those other cliches. The mommy's heart in me would like them to remain at the same school for support but the decision will be theirs and I will keep my mouth closed.</p>
<p>I watch my two girls spending every day talking and laughing together, teasing, sharing most activities. Hard to believe that they will separate in 2 weeks, off to different lives till next summer. When asked today, they said 'there's always email' and seem unconcerned. Somehow they've just accepted that this is how their life will be.</p>
<p>My twins' GPAs are 0.02 apart! Now that they are preparing their apps and I have read this thread, I am going to have them send in some of their "twin" stuff.</p>
<p>That ONE letter of rec. was really over the top. I might have complained about that to the teacher/g.c. and reminded him or her: they are two people. </p>
<p>Let's have a contest to see who's had the biggest twins! I think I win: 8# and 8#7 oz. Anybody else?</p>
<p>Two things...one) great lakes mom I would love to hear updates on your girls at college. I know exactly what you are talking about. My two w/ their heads together, finishing eachother's sentences, laughing at an unspoken joke etc it's hard to think that they may be living apart in two years. Then again, maybe it's just me that will struggle with it.</p>
<p>fencer...lol when I first saw your "who has the biggest twins" bit I though that it was their current size in feet and inches. I was astonished that they were not basketball players too. When I re read I realized you were talking birthweight. I think you may win. Mine came 4 weeks early and were 5# 10 and 5# 15. Nice sized for preemie twins. I was enormous. We'd stop at a cafe after my apts. and towards the end I couln't fit in the booths or at the bar. Just put my plate on my belly :-)</p>
<p>My girls have a bit of a twist on the college separation thing. One starts freshman orientation in two weeks at a LAC not far from home. The other is off to S. America for a Rotary exchange sometime this month, when the paperwork is finalized. She also did a Rotary exchange in Europe as a junior, and that was the big separation point. Was quite good for both of them, but especially for the one who was left behind, as she found herself socially during that time, took on the communication and initiation that had previously been left to her more outgoing sister. At this point is hard to say who is the outgoing one. And that is the point of separation, so the books say, to take on some of those developmental tasks that can easily be left up to your twin. On the other hand, at times I think too much is made of independence in this culture, and maybe it shouldn't matter so much, if they're happy and doing well. </p>
<p>My girls were 7'13 and 8'3. Perhaps some of us read the same Eliz. Noble book on eating massive amounts of protein to avoid pre eclampsia? 150 grams a day or so. Made for big healthy babies. I've wondered since whether any more research has been done on that theory. It certainly worked for me, as well as a few other women I know. fencersmom, you certainly did well with 36 week babies at those respectable weights.</p>
<p>After reading your posts and everyone else's comments, I don't feel quite as bad for feeling so maudlin as our twins begin their senior year. My twins are boy/girl who are very close to one another, but very different in personality, study habits, etc. My son is the social butterfly and my daughter is the more bookish, academic type. Both with a wicked sense of huimor and gratefully, loyal to each other. </p>
<p>My daughter has always been the stronger student, more honors courses, higher GPA, etc. Since their junior year, things academically have evened-out somewhat. Course rigor, GPA's now almost the same....except D's SAT >1300 and S' was not. They have all the same LAC's on their list- both play competitive tennis and my son is being recruited by one of the schools' DI tennis teams. That is a source of envy for my daughter. I really want them to be at the school for my own emotional comfort- I know that is not a great thing. Like another mom, when people ask if they will go to the same school, they are non-committal, but I do not see one child picking a school off of the radar of the other. </p>
<p>My biggest question, as a mom, is how do parents cope when their only children leave home at the same time? Perhaps when I know they have found a school where each of them truly feels "at home" much of my anxiety will be alleviated. BTW, our twins were 6'8 and 6'14 at 38 weeks.</p>
<p>historymom,
Mine (currently HS sophs) came 4 weeks early, too, and were 5 lbs. 9 oz. and 5 lbs 7 oz. Still good size for preemies and I distinctly remember being asked if I was sure about my due date since they "reacted" as if they were full term. These posts have all made me quite curious as we have had only the most general discussions about college with my boys. I am sure that they have never considered whether they would like to attend college with each other. I may ask!</p>
<p>My term+ g/b twins were 7-7 and 6-15. My very tall (6 lb 15 oz) son now jokes that it was because his sister stole all his milk in utero. That pretty much sums up their relationship! Prior to college, they had spent many summers apart so separating for college was not even a question. </p>
<p>They are better friends when they have time apart, but they are a terrific support system for each other and love to visit one another at school and meet each other's friends. </p>
<p>Their college lives could not be more different. One attends an urban university and one a bubble LAC. Both are happy.</p>
<p>At a reception during parent orientation at Harvard, out of curiosity, I asked an admissions officer how they treat the applications of twins. (My other twin did not apply.) She said that often they admit both, but often they are forced to separate them. It goes both ways. However, there do seem to be a few sets of twins at Harvard that we know of. </p>
<p>Neither mentioned that they were twins in their essays.</p>
<p>I found it hard when both left home at the same time, although they had both spent many summers away. It is like having an only child go to college. Fortunately, their move-ins were staggered, and one helped the other move in. </p>
<p>The worst part, however, was all of the applications!!!</p>
<p>I have three sets of twin cousins (all fraternal). </p>
<p>One set went to the same college, but led very different lives there (one a premed very involved with her sorority, the other an independent, an athlete, and increasingly engaged in art over the course of college). They saw each other pretty regularly, but were nowhere near as close as they had been pre-college. Over the years, however, their circles of college friends have merged somewhat, so in retrospect (about 20 years now) their experience was much more "together" than it seemed at the time.</p>
<p>The other two sets never seriously considered attending the same college.</p>
<p>My guys were 6lbs-11oz and 6lbs-2oz at 36 weeks. They were also born on my birthday!!!!!!!</p>
<p>My husband and I had a contest to see who would weigh more at the time of delivery. Had I gone to term I would have won because I was only 2 lbs shy of him when they were born -4 wks early.</p>
<p>I also got stuck in the bathtub and had it not been for our fantastic dog (who is no longer with us) who started to howl, I would probably would have delivered the boys there. </p>
<p>Both are about 6'2" and still growing.</p>
<p>I am approaching move-in day as a bittersweet experience. We are so excited that they are beginning this new stage of life at their dream school. They worked so hard to reach thier goals. I just can't imagine how quiet our house will be. But, I have a lot of friends who will also be "empty-nesters". We'll probably start a support group. Actually, I plan to get back into golf --have a lesson tomorrow.</p>
<p>We also have a huge bear of a dog who is more of a child than my children are. He will get our undivided attention.</p>
<p>I have a close friend whose frat girls left for college two summers ago. As her only children, she began kind of a grieving process their SR. year. I remember her saying "I'm not ready for this stage of my life to be over." Since both girls were in different activities she marked her "lasts" Last soccer game, last basketball game w/ one child. Last cheerleading performance with the other. She kind of honored these experiences as they came. Because they are her only kids and she is such a fantastic mom I was really worried about her when they left. I can only tell you what she did.</p>
<p>When they left home she has recently begun a new job and she began to throw herself into that.</p>
<p>She and her husband began going out and getting together w/ other "empty nesters" on a regular basis. So much of our social life revolves around our kid's activities that when that was gone she had to look for other social outlets</p>
<p>For about 4 months it was quite hard for her but when her girls came home for Christmas and she saw how happy they were at school...both went to same state school but lived seperately and made their own social circles...she was more than OK w/ it when they went back.</p>
<p>I hope that helps. Good luck and come here to CC for support or a shoulder.</p>
<p>My fraternal twin girls are about to start sophomore year at small LACs 2000 miles apart. They have always been very close but were definite about going to separate schools. Their college lists were pretty different, and in the end both applied ED to their schools and were admitted. They have both said they are glad they are at different schools, though being apart was a hard adjustment. One had a more difficult time getting acclimated socially, and was frustrated that her sister wasn't always available for phone conversations (because she was off socializing). By the end of first semester they had worked that out; I think they checked in with each other by phone almost daily. We let them go visit each other at school once too, as it was important for each to see the other's environment. This summer they took a 3-week trip together, which was just what they needed. </p>
<p>D1's school started a week earlier than D2's last year, and we all went with D1 to drop her off. The worst moment was when we had to finally leave her ... everyone had been cheery and good-humored, but when it was time for good-bye both girls burst into tears and clung to one another. It was such an intimate moment ... of course my husband and I wept too, watching them.</p>
<p>Thanks, Historymom
You are so kind to send words of encouragment. I must have a "second life" in your friend's home! I will take your advice to heart-I want our kids to enjoy their SR year and not be overcome with my own sense of loss. YOur perspective and that of others on this thread has already been so helpful.</p>
<p>Thanks again- I am sure I will need the offer of a shoulder quite frequently in the next 12 months!</p>
<p>Are your kids best buddies?
Are they looking at or attending the same schools?
Did you have drama when one got into a school and another did not?</p>
<p>I myself am a mirror image identical twin. My sister and I (we are 17.5) are best friends, especially if its early in the morning or late at night for some odd reason. Yes, we are both attending the same college and will room together. No, no drama here, we each only applied to Valdosta State University, its the only college we really liked. We are starting June 6th, 2008. She is a nursing major, I am a Biology major (going to teach high school biology)</p>
<p>Historymom: This is the one time that having twins is a huge financial advantage. Remember when you had to buy two cribs, two carseats, two highchairs, two tricycles, two bicycles ... each set at the same time - and there were no hand-me-downs?</p>
<p>Your EFC will be cut in half by having two in school at the same time. :)</p>
<p>just bumping this for a “where are they now?” update.</p>
<p>My big concern when I started this thread was the possibility of hurt feelings if one got into schools they both applied to and the other did not.</p>
<p>I am happy to report that, as usual, I was borrowing trouble. Both my daughters applied to many of the same schools but they each had three that they did not share. Both had very successful admissions seasons and finished with 7/9 There was only one instance of 1 being accepted and the other denied and it hit me harder than it did her. “Mom, I wouldn’t have gone there anyway.”</p>
<p>At this point we are still waiting to hear about the waitlist at one of my girls’ schools but if she doesn’t come off, which is looking more and more likely, both will be attending the same college in the fall. Not my druthers but I am sure it will be fine. </p>
<p>Any other twin parents with updates or concerns??</p>
<p>If your daughters go to the same college but choose to live in separate dorms I’m sure things will be fine. Depending on their respective interests and the size of the college, they may end up seeing very little of each other - but it will be reassuring and convenient to have the option of getting together if they want.</p>