I recently came across an article highlighting the fact that in May three siblings became the first set of triplets to graduate from the University of Michigan.  It got me wondering how often triplets attend college together.  In an earlier post I highlighted scholarship opportunities for twins and triplets.  It's not true in all cases, but most of those scholarhips require the twins or triplets to attend the same school, so the decision obviously has a financial dimension as well as a social one.

By way of contrast, at about the same time the Jankelovitz siblings were graduating from Michigan, another set of triplets was taking top academic honors at their high school in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.  The Biernat sisters are now attending three separate colleges.  My guess is that they've been able to secure some scholarship money based on their academic achievements, which would help to neutralize the financial part of the college decision.

In any case, these are noteworthy accomplishments.  Congratulations to both sets of triplets, and good luck in the future.

I found an interesting article in the NY Times from a couple of years ago on the admission prospects for twins and triplets when they apply for the same college.

The basic question the article seeks to resolve is "does the candidacy of one sibling of the same class negatively impact the candidacy of another"?

It has always been my perception that selective schools seek geographic and demographic diversity.  For obvious reasons twins and triplets will be the least diverse prospects imaginable, at least on paper.  In fact, my kids have very different personalities, and that is consistent with other multiples that I know.  Nonetheless, environment plays a significant role in shaping one's views, and I think to some degree the college admissions process is a statistical crap shoot, so assuming a lack of diversity seems pretty rational.  If the siblings go to a small high school in a small town, and all apply to an Ivy League School, it seems logical that the likelihood of all being selected is low, even if their applications are very similar.  I'm not sure the article dispels that theory, although Harvard's Dean of Admissions suggests the diversity quota is a myth.  Interestingly, Duke University considers twins individually and as a unit.  I'm not sure how the average twin or triplet would view being evaluated for college admission as a package with a sister or brother, but at least nobody would be ruled out strictly by virtue of one being admitted.

Speaking from experience, one of the daunting things facing parents of multiples is paying multiple college bills simultaneously.

In an earlier post, I listed some of the college scholarship options available to twins, triplets and other multiples.  Another consideration is the impact on the Expected Family Contribution (or EFC) of having several children in college.  As the name suggests, the EFC describes the amount of money a family is able and expected to chip in to pay for the cost of college, as calculated in the federal student aid application process.  It is used to determine "financial need" in this process. After taking the EFC into account, a loan and/or grant package can be developed to bridge the gap and help pay for schooling.  Of course, the lower the EFC, the higher the financial need.  Families that can show high financial need are eligible to receive more financial assistance.

The "silver lining" in the case of multiple siblings attending college at the same time is that the EFC is a family-level calcuation.  In other words, if it is determined that a family can contribute $21,000 per year to college and there is one child in school, it will be expected that all $21,000 of that EFC will be available for that child.  If three kids are in school, it will be assumed that roughly $7,000 is availabe for each student.  If those kids are triplets that all complete their schooling in four years, and they all have a $21,000 total bill for school each year, each student will be eligible for $14,000 per year of aid.  On the other hand, if three children were each born two years apart but otherwise followed the same path and paid $21,000 each (ignoring inflation), the family would a) have eight years of college ahead of them, and b) in four of those years they would not be eligible for traditional federal aid at all.  In the middle four years they would only be eligible for $10,500 per student of such aid.

It should be noted that the calculation of the EFC and financial need is a somewhat complex process.  In reality, the numbers will not work out this precisely.  Although this is a simplistic example, the message is valid regardless of the numbers used.

This all may seem like cold comfort to my fellow triplet parents, but why not look on the bright side when there is one?

As we approach the time of year during which high school seniors finalize their college plans, I thought I'd offer a post detailing some scholarships that are either exclusive to or particularly valuable for twins and triplets.  Paying for college is a burden known to most parents, but it's particularly taxing to those who have multiple kids going away to school at the same time.  Please note that I've done some research on each of the scholarships listed, but I am certain there are more out there.  I will post more as I become aware of them, but please feel to use the Contact page on the main Foothills Financial Planning site to send me a note with any information that might be helpful to others.

Note that these are not in any special order, although I am starting with my alma mater. 

Kelley School of Business, Indiana University

The Kelley School offers the Layton Frazier McKinley Scholarship established by his brother, Lewis E. McKinley.  The preference is that the recipient is a twin, especially an identical twin.

George Washington University

Although not specific to multiples, George Washington University offers a 50% discount for siblings, which would obviously be beneficial for twins and triplets. 

Wilson College - Chambersburg, PA

The all-female Wilson College offers the Twins and Triplets scholarship, which provides a 45% discount on tuition as long as all students remain enrolled full-time.  

Eastern Michigan University

The Furlotte Twins Scholarship is available at Eastern Michigan, in the amount of $571.

Lake Erie College

Lake Erie calls its Twins Scholarship a full tuition scholarship, although it is split 50/50 between twins.  Nonetheless, Buy One Get One Free is a pretty good deal when it comes to a college education.

Appalachian State University – Boone, NC

Appalachian State offers the Misti Dawn Triplet Memorial Scholarship, which doesn’t appear to have formal criteria beyond a North Carolina state residency requirement, but presumably being a triplet would help.

Sterling College 

I have read that Sterling College in Kansas offers a scholarship for twins, but I have not been able to verify that.

Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, OH

Scholarships are awarded each year at the Twins Days Festivals.  Awardees are repeat festival-goers.

There are many local clubs and organizations dedicated to parents of multiples, and they sometimes offer scholarships.  By their nature, the sums may not be as substantial as what is provided by the schools themselves, but every little bit counts.  One very noble offering comes from the Illinois Organization of Mothers of Twins Club, Inc., which offers $100 and $300 scholarhips to several parents of multiples who are furthering their education.