Quadruplets got into Yale and Harvard. All four of them.

👏 👏 👏
Quadruplets got into Yale and Harvard. All four of them.
Harvard: It's a school for smart people. Credit: Steven Senne/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Imagine thinking you're having twins, and ending up with quadruplets. Then, fast-forward 18 years, and imagine that all four of your sons get into two of the country's most prestigious Ivy League schools.

That's what happened to the parents of Nigel, Zach, Aaron, and Nick Wade - four extraordinary high school seniors who found out they were all accepted to Harvard. Oh, and also Yale.

The four brothers were all at track practice at Lakota East High School in Ohio last week when they turned on their phones and learned of their life-altering news, The Washington Post reported.

“We’re still in shock, honestly,” Aaron said of their acceptance. “I don’t think it has sunk in yet.”

“I just felt blessed at that moment,” Nigel said. “It was an unreal feeling, I guess.”

“Honestly, to have one child from a family be accepted to a school like this is amazing,” Zach chimed in. “But for all four to be accepted — I just don’t, I don’t know how it happened.”

In case it isn't clear how unbelievable the quad's accomplishment is--according to Yale's website, more than 32,000 people applied to be part of their 2021 class. Of those 32,000, merely 2,272 were admitted. Even more impressively, Harvard reported that of an applicant pool of 39,000, only 2,056 were admitted. These kids are the real deal.

"The outcome has shocked us,” Aaron Wade revealed. “We didn’t go into this thinking, ‘Oh, we’re going to apply to all these schools and get into all of them.’ It wasn’t so much about the prestige or so much about the name as it was — it was important that we each find a school where we think that we’ll thrive, and where we think that we’ll contribute.”

Though the four brothers were accepted into the same universities, their academic interests greatly vary. Zach plans to be an engineer, while Nick sees himself double majoring in international relations and economics. Nigel is interested in neuroscience, and Aaron intends to study computer and cognitive science. (Maybe these quadruplets will save us all.)

"We're just shocked"

While the family is thrilled with their acceptance success, the $64,000 (Yale) and $63,00 (Harvard) price tags will play a role in the boys' decision making.

“Financial aid is going to be a big player in our decision,” Nick Wade said.

The Washington Post noted that the young men also individually got into other distinguished universities like Stanford, Georgetown, Duke, and Cornell - so their options are far from limited. The brothers are--as of now--unsure whether they'll stay together for their college years.

“We really don’t know. We still have to make those decisions,” Nick Wade said. “We’re just shocked. We still don’t believe that we got in.”

(H/T The Washington Post)

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You

Polestar will launch four new electric cars by 2028
Polestar new models

The best open earbuds in 2026: These picks stay put, sound great, and keep you aware of the world
open earbuds from anker soundcore, shokz, nothing, and bose on oak tabletop

BTS fans, you've got to see Google's trivia quest
Google Search results for BTS showing bubbles and the icons for the album "Arirang."

How to turn a tablet into an e-reader: The best settings and accessories
A hand holding an iPad Mini with the Libby app open

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 4, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 4, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!