I have twin daughters that applied to Viterbi. We have heard that USC likes twins and generally if one is accepted the other is accepted. Does anyone know if this is true?
My twins stats are fairly similar.
Separately, wonder if it’s true they like twins and one twin withdraws her application because she commits elsewhere, will that hurt the remaining twin if she really wants to go there? In other words, will USC be wary that the remaining twin may not want to attend because it will hurt their yield, thus they reject her even if it is her top choice?
I have to confess this made me chuckle. I guess if you know someone with twins that both got into any school together, they would say XYZ school likes twins! But not even admissions would say something like “we like twins.” They can’t. Maybe schools like twins in general - idk. The twins that I know went to different schools because they wanted to, they didn’t try for the same schools. Different strokes as they say. You will just have to see how it plays out. Whether they both get in or not is not reflective of USC liking or not liking twins. It is their applications.
Your second question is thought provoking, maybe even a little paranoid (but I would likely overthink it too and wonder the same thing if in that situation). But they look at each application individually - unless they basically submitted the same app and applied to the same major. Was being a twin a huge part of their applications?
Unless they both pledged in their app that their dream and goal is to be together always in the same major and same school within USC - they will not be seen as a package deal in the application process, but rather processed as individuals. In that case and in general, the one committing elsewhere won’t make a difference.
They did apply for the same program, but they are not dependent on each other. They are identical twins and most people automatically assume they want everything the same. It’s unfortunate for them because they are 2 unique individuals, they just happen to look the exact same! The issue is that they are very similar. Many of the same awards, same activities, sports, clubs, this is actually the first year they don’t basically have every class together. Not by choice, but because there is only 1 section for example of AP Physics C offered, or AP Chem, so you can only mix them up so much. It hurt them more than helped them and I never requested they be together. They want to go to different schools, but USC is especially is known to like twins and has done major twin studies which is why I ask this as we don’t want them to think that if 1 withdraws that means the other is in no way less interested.
@CADREAMIN By the way, maybe you are not aware of this, but there are schools that actually give discounts for twins and I think there is even one that if you have twins and they both go there, you get 2 for 1. They aren’t any that we looked at but I recall seeing that when we were starting our search.
Additionally, and this you obviously aren’t aware of because you don’t have twins, but many of the applications specifically ask if you you have a sibling applying and then ask if it is a twin and what is their name. Not all of the applications do this, but most do. So they are obviously asking for a reason and definitely not doing it to completely keep them as individuals or even separate applications. There are a lot of articles out there about when 1 twin applies for instance to a school ED does it then increase the chances of the other twin getting in the same school RD, etc.
So you may laugh, but it is actually all relevant in the scheme of things and something they have had to deal with their entire lives even though they are individuals and want to be treated as such. One of them can’t even fully stress to her Top Choice school that it is her first choice because it isn’t the other twin’s first choice and we don’t want that to diminish the application of the other twin because this school cares very much about their yield and may not then accept the other kid, so we have to lay low for now and hope they both get in, or the other one gets into her ED school. Then the issue resolves itself, but it is not as simple as it sounds unfortunately.
It makes sense to ask if a sib is applying, but says nothing about preference.
Remember, this boils down to what’s in the app and supp, plus LoRs.
If both are well qualified, know the school, how they match and show that, (more than just stats.) both do a great Why Us, of course a college can have fun admitting two siblings who standout as the matches they want.
If one pulls out, the other isn’t seen as part of duo, but adcoms don’t guess #2 will back out, too. They don;t have time to speculate. By the time final decisions are made, they’ve already decided they like kids ABCXYZ.
This is one aspect of admissions where it may help to assure yourself they did their best on apps and only time will tell.
It seems you answered your own question. btw, The chuckle was over the question if a school “likes” twins - rather than if they give them preference - I would hope they like all people. I have heard some schools will try to keep twins together, but personally have not heard this in particular about USC. You will have your answers soon, good luck!
Interesting I had not heard this. I have twins who applied and were both accepted to USC. However, I know they were evaluated as individuals. One received a Presidential scholarship and the other had to wait the painful and very stressful 8 weeks or so later to get her decision. It worked out for us but I have also heard of one twin being accepted and one not at USC. My twins applied to different schools (Dornsife and Keck). Their stats were pretty similar. They are not identical but look identical so much so that strangers on the street still argue with me. Like yours, they liked the same activities, had similar achievements, and went to a small school so sometimes limited AP sections offered meant same classes. We also worried having two so similar what would be the impact on admission decisions. In our case they wanted to go to school together but not live together. They did not state their desire to stay together anywhere on their application. They decided to let the chips fall where they may, not fall in love with any school and work with whatever acceptances they received.
I’m sure schools have seen it all and know that not all twins want to stay together. If you are still concerned about the impact of one withdrawing, you could have your daughters’ guidance counselor re-confirm her interest or have your daughter reach out to the USC admission counselor for her school and ask the question/ express her continued interest.
Our friend had her twins both apply to USC and Santa Clara, both engineering. One twin got into SCU, one got into USC. The family tried to persuade each U to accept both twins and both Us said no, they only wanted the twin they accepted (different boy accepted to each U). Each twin was awarded >1/2 tuition merit award for their respective U and both attended the U where they were accepted with $$. (Both had similar record and attended same K-12 grades.)