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University siblings choose companionship instead of rivalry

After spending an entire childhood in a house with siblings, you'd think that college would finally offer the perfect opportunity for brothers and sisters to forge their own paths in life.

So, why then, would siblings decide to attend the same college? Four sets of University siblings offer some unexpected answers to this question. Across the board, these siblings agree that the positives significantly outweigh the negatives, if such negatives even exist. In fact, most siblings are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to share their college experience with their family members because it allows them to form a special bond that would not have been possible otherwise.\nFrom study buddy to confidant and grocery store companion to wingman, siblings serve many different roles and have a varying degree of involvement in each other's lives. Often you'll spot the Fisher twins, third-year College students Hank and Alex, walking to class together. Both political science majors, the Fishers take advantage of their shared area of study and take classes where they can sit next to one another.

The Rahman brothers, third-year College student Andaleeb and first-year College student Monty, also spend a significant amount of time together since they are both involved in the Muslim Student Association and intramural sports. Their academic interests differ significantly, however. Andaleeb is intrigued by the world of medicine, while Monty is drawn to the world of business.

As for the Hurd siblings, third-year Commerce student Will and second-year College student Hillary, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society provides some common ground.

The Twaalfhoven sisters, first-year College student Nicole, and fourth-year College student Danielle, hang out on the slopes when they participate in Virginia alpine ski and snowboard team events.

These siblings agreed that their college bond - different from and more complicated than their childhood bond - started the first day they stepped foot on Grounds.\nPerhaps the greatest benefit of attending the same college as one's sibling is the positive impact it has on the first-year experience. Initially, the Rahman brothers did not intend to attend the same school, but after Monty had the opportunity to visit his brother Andaleeb for a week during Spring Break, Monty changed his mind and decided to attend the University.

"When I came to the University I already had a strong support system ... and it made the adjustment to college life smoother," Monty said.

Danielle Twaalfhoven and the Fisher twins also would agree with Monty that having a sibling at the University was extremely beneficial in making a easy transition as a first year. Born and raised in Holland, Danielle had to adjust not only to the independence and responsibility of college, but also to an entirely new country and culture.\n"As an international student there are a lot more details you have to sort out, such as setting up a new bank account and starting a new phone plan," Danielle said. Therefore, having a sister who had already been through this experience was a useful resource. But most importantly, Danielle says she feels like Nicole is the person she can turn to when she has a problem or needs guidance.

For the Fisher twins, making the decision to be roommates during their first year made the dreaded move-in process significantly less complicated.

"We didn't have to debate about who was going to bring the TV because we would just bring 'our' TV," Alex said.

Although some might consider their choice to live together limiting because they missed out on the experience of living with a stranger, the Fisher twins believe their decision to live together first year actually allowed them to meet more people than they would have otherwise.

"The 'twin thing' was always a good topic of conversation," Hank said. It helped them easily make a solid group of friends as well as continue to meet new people throughout the year.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of two siblings sharing the college experience is the impact it has on their relationship.

"Our academic interests and extracurricular interests diverged early on because we attended different high schools," Hillary said. Now that they attend the same college, however, the siblings have found some overlap in their extracurricular activities, including the Jefferson Society and Alternative Spring Break. The Twaalfhoven sisters also expressed this sentiment and believe that sharing the college experience has brought them closer.

The Rahman brothers have noticed that attending the same college not only has affected their relationship but also has played a role in the development of their personalities and interests. As the older brother, Andaleeb has always considered it his responsibility to look after Monty. Now that Monty attends the University, Andaleeb has felt his responsibility as older brother has significantly increased in comparison to high school, and he constantly keeps a watchful eye on his brother. Both remarked that perhaps if they had attended different colleges, Andaleeb's duties as older brother would not have been as exaggerated and pronounced, and Monty might have matured more rapidly since it would be his responsibility to look after himself.

Furthermore, the Fisher twins also speculate that going to different colleges would have resulted in noticeable effects on their interests and personalities.

"I'd say that our interests would probably start to differentiate. We would have our own group of friends at each school, so we would be influenced by them when it came to stuff like music, movies, sports and classes," Alex said, adding that perhaps they would have become more competitive.

Regardless of how similar or different they are from one another or how much time they spend together, siblings realize the significant influence of sharing the college experience. From providing a valuable support system while at college to building the foundation for a stronger relationship with each other, siblings agree they wouldn't trade this experience for anything.

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