Gianna and Tianna Tout-Puissant, twin sisters from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, have been accepted to Harvard University, where they will play basketball and study medicine.
The twins survived health issues as infants despite being born more than two months early. They persisted in beating the odds and were admitted to Harvard University, which had a 3.4% acceptance rate for the class of 2027 out of 56,937 applicants.
“We logged into our application portals at the exact same time, and then we read, ‘Congratulations,’ on each other’s screens, and then we just started all screaming,” Gianna told The Morning Call. “My mom was crying. It was crazy.”
The twins, who recently graduated from Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, said going to Harvard is “surreal” and they look forward to joining a community of “hardworking and out-of-the-box thinkers.”
“To see them and how they’ve blossomed into the young women they are today, it’s like they’re miracle babies,” said their mother Leah Tout-Puissant.
Both sisters intend to major in chemistry on the pre-medicine track at Harvard, with the ultimate goal of attending medical school. Gianna is considering a future in either cardiothoracic surgery or neurosurgery, while Tianna is especially interested in neurosurgery, as she is fascinated by how different regions of the brain impact personality traits.
The pair is interested in the tactile nature of surgical operations as well as how pharmacological medications might aid patients. Because of their positive experiences with the subject in high school, they ultimately decided to study in chemistry. They excelled at chemistry, taking meticulous notes and staying up late to learn the ideas. They frequently helped other kids with their studies and problem sets.
“I think a lot of their peers thought it was just natural for them,” said their chemistry teacher Cole Wisdo. “But I had the real pleasure of seeing just how crazy hard they were working at it.”
In addition to their academic achievements, the twins demonstrated a remarkable commitment to varsity basketball throughout their high school years. Their efforts paid off, with Gianna developing into an amazing scorer and Tianna developing into a dependable point guard. They spent endless hours honing their talents in the hopes of making Harvard’s Division I women’s team.
Furthermore, the sisters treasure their tight relationship and regard each other as best friends. They do everything together and even share a room with bunk beds. While their work ideals are similar, they are aware of their opposing personalities.
“I know this sounds cheesy, but we’re very yin and yang,” Tianna said. “She says this crazy idea, and then I’m like, ‘OK, let’s think about the pros and cons of this before we do it.’ And then she gets me to step out of my comfort zone.”
As they prepare to embrace the next chapter of their lives at Harvard, they are excited to continue their journey still together, supporting and challenging each other along the way.
“We were really set on going to college together,” Gianna said. “And the fact that we were able to both get into such an amazing college was a dream come true.”
