My twins have a few points difference on their GPA and ACTs and the schools they are interested in looking at are mostly different schools. However, there will 2 or 3 schools on their list that they would both like to apply to. Does anyone know if schools will accept one twin and not another. or will they both be evaluated based on the twin with the lower grades scores since they won’t want to admit one and not the other. Or connversely will the one with higher grades help the one with lower grades. Is there even a question about twins or siblings on the common app? TIA.
Elite-College Admission for Twins
https://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/000266/
Rookie Mom Seeks Early Advice on Financing College for Twins
When my youngest started college she found that there were several sets of twins in her class. I found out from a parent that they offered a 2 for the price of 1 deal to the twins. Any financial aid from the school itself was based on having one. I don’t think they offered that deal after that, but that was a year when, for some reason, there were a lot of twins, even in grade school.
Such a great question, one which I have thought about for a long time. The “Elite-College Admissions for Twins” article mentioned above seems to be a great strategy for twins with similar stats, EC’s and interests.
But what about twins attending entirely different high schools, and having completely different EC’s and interests…but with the same stats? (e.g., valedictorian, SAT scores, GPA etc) In this instance, would it help these twins to apply to the same tippy top school in the hopes that if twins A’s unique application didn’t spark the AO’s interest, the AO might like Twin B’s and thus, give Twin A a second look knowing they are twins?
My twins’ applications overlapped at 3 schools (out of 14 applications each). They had the same results at each (2 admits, 1 reject). Another set of twins we know both got into the same selective school too. That doesn’t always happen, but our counselor suggested there can be a very modest bump for the slightly less qualified twin, because a school wants the more qualified twin and thinks they’d prefer to be at the same school as their sibling. I think that is more plausible than the more qualified twin being marked down. I can also see the argument that splitting EA and RD applications could provide a boost to the RD applicant if their twin was admitted EA.
I have this same question, as I’m a twin myself and though we have both had impressive ECs, my sister has a significantly lower GPA and SAT score than I do, because of personal difficulties she had throughout the first couple years of HS.
Shared attributes:
- Varsity XC captains + ran 2 half marathons together
- Started a nonprofit together to help underrepresented communities in Chicago, Miami, NYC, California (don’t want to go into specifics for privacy reasons, but this is connected to one of our shared passions)
- Hispanic females
- We are lucky to be from a very international family and are citizens of 4 different countries + permanent residents in the US. We have moved 6 times, speak 3 languages fluently, and have developed an enormous appreciation for other cultures; we are both SUPER passionate about this!
My stats:
1550 SAT
3.9 UW / 5.2 W
6 AP + 7 IB classes
4s on my AP tests, 6 on IB SL History
800 Spanish SAT II
730 French SAT II
TBD Math II , Chem
Speak Spanish, French, English fluently
Studied Latin, German, Arabic
Arabic summer program at a top 5 university on a full scholarship in summer 2016
Writing summer program at same top 5 university on a full scholarship in summer 2018
Her stats:
1450 SAT
3.2 UW / 4.4 W
5 AP + 6 IB classes
3-4s on APs, no IB scores yet
790 Spanish SAT II
780 French SAT II
TBD Math II, Bio
Speak Spanish, French, English fluently
Studied German, Arabic
Thanks to anybody who actually read this
My twin sons are starting at the same college this fall. They did have the same ACT score and SAT was ten point difference. Both got a no from the same school and waitlist also another college. Five acceptances.
@3sonsmom Did they mention being twins in their apps at all? I just made a post about how my sister and I are considering applying together…
@isabella25 This thread should be replies to the original post. Please do not ask your own questions on someone else’s thread.
As a twin, my sister and I got into all the same schools. We applied to the exact same schools. The only difference was that I was waitlisted at a school she was rejected. But another pair of twins I know both got into CMU and UCLA. My sis and I will be going to a Notre Dame so don’t think that if you get in your twin wouldn’t. Just do your applications like you would normally and everything will work out in the end.
Also when I talked to Don Bishop at an admitted students event (he’s one of the leaders of admissions) he said that twins usually both get admitted or declined or waitlisted because of how similar each other are. But if you guys are significantly different (let’s say 5% difference between you two in ranking and percentile of test scores) expect there might be a different outcome.
In the end just be confident when applying to schools because it’s a very stressful time. Don’t worry about your twin and how they will affect you or vice versa. I hope this helped.
@Isabellla25 I’ll ask them tomorrow and find out more info.
A few points difference on ACT can be a huge difference. At better/Best schools, big difference between an ACT 29/30 and ACT 33/34
At top schools, there may be an advantage if the students have a strong hook to begin with. I recall that highly desirable quads who were high stats AA males all got into Yale. I imagine that Yale thought, we really want these young men, so we need to accept all. Without that hook (high stats AA males are highly sought), who knows what would have happened.