Will they take us both?
When working with twins, the question invariably gets asked, “What if we apply to the same school?” And so we’ve asked those that make the decisions… hundreds of them. Not surprisingly, the answer is often, “it depends.”
Every admission officer that we approached assured us that twins were looked at as individual applicants first. For those colleges using holistic admissions, that means that the student’s essay, transcript, test scores, recommendations, etc. are evaluated together. After that first read and a provisional decision is rendered, however, approaches vary. But there seem to be some common themes:
If the multiples are quite different in their academic profiles, extracurricular activities, or writing ability, or if they are applying into different majors or schools within the college or university, the siblings could get a split decision. One could be admitted and one could be denied. “If we are going to admit just one, we want to have a justifiable reason should we get a call from a school counselor or student.”
But what if the students are virtually identical? Similar transcripts, test scores, and activities. “We try to make the same decision for both if they are close,” an admission dean told us. “It’s a yield thing.” Does that mean that a stronger twin can give a boost to a slightly weaker sibling? “Sometimes, yea.”
And that makes sense. Twins are tight! They look out for one another. And so, even if they aren’t intending to go to college together, a school saying no to their other half can be off-putting!
So, if you are a twin, think carefully about the schools that you choose to apply to! Confer with your twin, but make the best decisions for you and your future.