I would love to hear from other parents of twins about how it impacted the college process.
I have twins who are very close, but very different. They like the idea of staying together but also want different things. Not surprisingly this is making things complicated!
I had two graduating the same year (not twins) and they couldn’t have been more different, with one being all math and science (she’s an engineer) and the other being all arts and humanities (she now has a masters in history, but still can’t add and subtract). They are very close NOW, but at the time did not want to go to the same college.
One (D2) was a recruited athlete and what was funny was that the schools recruiting her (many LACs) were really more appropriate for her sister (D1). Both wanted smaller school, but that didn’t work either! The engineer (D2) picked a tech school, about 4000 on campus but larger number of students because of some doing co-ops or at remote campuses, and the other a flagship, although a small one (Wyoming). Both were good choices for that child but wouldn’t have been for the other. The tech school was all STEM, and has very few choices (and no majors) in the social sciences, fine arts, and obviously required math! Wyoming does have a good engineering program, but didn’t have a varsity team in D2’s sport.
Another parent on here also has two heading to schools at the same time and is looking at finding schools close to each other but maybe not at the same school. Another option is schools in a consortium like Amherst/UMass/Smith/Mt Holyoke where they’d be very close but each able to pick the school with the best program for that child. They could also pick a larger school that has something for each of them. Some of the flagships aren’t that big but still offer D1 sports, music programs, strong STEM, etc. If they decide they don’t want to spend all their time together, it’s easy to go their own ways too.
One of mine (boys fraternal) went to the local large public university, in part because several friends were and girlfriend one year younger was still in hs. The other went to a mid sized private 700 miles away. Scholarships/financial aid made the costs similar as local lived on campus/off campus apartments. Both were excellent students and both majored in a science. They shared a room from womb to age 16 and were in many of the same classes after grouping by ability began around 5th grade, they did some same extracurriculars and had overlapping friend groups. They were ok with being away from each other for college. Neither was too happy being a twin, especially when called by the other’s name despite not looking much alike or being treated like they were one unit. My one piece of advice would be if they are both going to finish in 4 years check to make sure graduations aren’t usually the same weekend. Luckily mine were two weeks apart. Good luck with the process!
Identical twins but never dressed alike and always tried our best to treat as individuals. Still they always felt compared and that created competition that was sometimes unhealthy and difficult to navigate. They hated being”the twins” or having their names mixed up or even in some instances mixed up test scores or assignments. They adore each other but recognized they needed time apart to be viewed as an individual and figure out their own path without those comparisons or using their twin as a social crutch . Both at very different colleges and not the easiest of adjustments but they have grown enormously and are closer than ever. The choice was always theirs. We also have friends whose twins have stayed together through college and have had fabulous experiences. Majors often contribute to the choice especially engineering.
My identical girls were set on separate college experiences. One had gone on Rotary Youth Exchange in HS and they were used to being apart due to their very different junior years of HS. The one at home learned to be more assertive with her sister gone that year and resented her return and sharing friends again. Separate colleges were mostly her desire. My girls always were and remain very close, but they needed to stretch in different directions at that point. They were both interested in LAC, and that is what they attended, one in Washington State and one in the Midwest, where they grew up. Both had good and very different experiences, and enjoyed visiting each other’s schools. In their adult life they live about 4 hours apart, wish they lived closer, talk daily, and spend a good deal of time together. Both of their spouses deserve awards for tolerance of twin needs and bond.