Dean and Aiden Elhadary, twins and students at New Trier High School, achieved a significant academic milestone by each earning a perfect score on the ACT exam following their sophomore year. “I got an email in class saying my scores were released, and when I found out my score, I was pleased and relieved,” said Aiden Elhadary. “Then I texted my brother to see what he got and it was the same score, which was exciting.”
Both students share an enthusiasm for the sciences and have clear academic goals. Dean plans to pursue a pre-med track, while Aiden is considering a major in biology or chemistry. They earned a composite score of 36, a rare achievement attained by only 1 in 400 test-takers according to Juan Elizondo, ACT Communications Director.
While most students take the ACT during their junior or senior year, Dean and Aiden decided to take the exam earlier to identify areas for improvement. “The reason we took this test early was to kind of get a data point to know what areas we had to improve on for future test prep,” Aiden explained.
The twins prepared for the ACT with minimal tutoring. According to their mother, Jenny Elhadary, they spent one month with a private tutor in preparation for the SAT and another month before the ACT, meeting for an hour each week. Most of their study efforts were independent, focusing on practice exams provided by their tutor. Their father, Hamdy Elhadary, noted that one twin showed more enthusiasm for studying than the other.
Complementing their strong academic performance is their engagement in extracurricular activities. They participate in the Science Olympiad, a national competition involving engineering projects, and also assist coaching at Marie Murphy Middle School in Wilmette. “We go there once or twice a week to help coach them,” shared Aiden.
Their parents work in healthcare and have influenced the twins’ interests in the medical field. Jenny Elhadary holds a vice president role at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, and Hamdy Elhadary is a physician assistant specializing in plastic surgery.
Looking forward, the family visited Duke University, the twins’ current top college choice. They are thrilled by the boys’ academic achievements and potential future in the medical field, with Hamdy stating, “This was very shocking and rewarding. I want them to realize how exciting and great this is.”