HAMILTON, N.Y. -- Colgate University is now in its 200th year.

"A bicentennial is a good time to look back at our legacy but also look forward to all the possibilities that we aspire to," said Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement for Career Admissions Michael Sciola.

This year, the school is already breaking new ground.

"This is a record year for us in terms of applications," said Jamiere Abney, the Senior Assistant Dean of Admission. "We had over 9,000 applications for admission, and in this incoming class welcoming over 800 students is really about 50 or so more than we typically see."

16 of those new students are twins.

"We both kind of like the same things in a school so it's not a surprise that we ended up together here," said Kate Van Meter.

Colgate staff believe the number is a record for the school.

Kate and Jack Van Meter are one of the pairs.

"Usually it's kind of like we're the twins of the school like, 'oh hey it's the twins', but now that there's eight of us so it's so weird to be around that many people that look like each other and there was a couple identical ones and it was so cool," Kate said.

They're from Minnesota.

"We're from far away so it's nice to have a built-in support system here," said Kate.

"It's definitely really nice to have somebody you know going in and also just to have like someone who has been a part of your home life forever on your college journey," said Jack.

Kate and Jack won't have any classes together but they both will be competing on the school's swim teams.

"It's just kind of cool that we get to go so far away but have so many home feelings here. Like the twins, being with your brother, being together on the swim team. I think it's just a super smooth transition into college so it will be a really good year I think," Kate said.

Another set of twins will be playing women's hockey at the school.

Colgate University is also celebrating the opening of a new $16 million career center.

"Benton Hall" was paid for by donors to the school.