Getting into college is tough. There are so many choices, so much paperwork to fill out. Then there's the very likely chance that you (or your child) won't get into the college of choice. Sometimes there is a legacy to follow--mother went to a certain school, and older sibling went to a certain school. But what if the competition is your twin? She'll be competing for the same spot you might occupy at the same school. And, it's quite possible only one of you will get in. The competition gets even more fierce when you're a triplet. With more women having children later in life, which has lead to more cases of multiples being born (through IVF as well as the old-fashioned method), it's a situation on the rise.

It has long been believed that many top schools such as Harvard will only accept a few students from each school or geographic area. If two students from the same school apply then the competition between them gets pretty tough. If that logic is true, then it's even worse within the same household. Harvard maintains that it does not follow this practice. Other ivy league schools such as Duke take being a multiple into careful consideration--for one, it's important to keep the identities of the children separate, as an easy clerical error can confuse the two (or three) siblings into one); additionally, by considering the multiples as individuals and together the school can examine the seemingly minute differences that may or may not set them apart from each other academically. More often than not, multiples share the same interests and have similar aptitudes.

Many multiples are choosing to follow separate paths in order to remain loyal to each other yet be successful and get into the school of choice without dampening opportunities for their siblings. Whether or not it's best to separate multiples in school is a good idea remains to be seen. Studies in Finland indicate it has little impact. Mostly the decision works best when left to the siblings, who may or may not prefer to lead separate lives.