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McCaughey septuplets reveal plans for life after high school

The McCaughey siblings first made headlines back in 1997 simply by surviving as the first septuplets born in the U.S. Now, they're thriving, and have big plans.
/ Source: TODAY

The McCaughey siblings first made headlines back in 1997 simply by surviving as the first septuplets born in the United States.

Now, they're thriving — and off to college (and beyond)!

Brandon, Alexis, Joel, Kelsey, Kenny, Natalie and Nathan graduated from Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Iowa, on May 22.

This fall, the siblings will split: Kelsey, Nathan, Natalie and Joel will attend Missouri's Hannibal-LaGrange University, which offered all seven McCaugheys full scholarships when they were born. Kenny and Alexis will live at home and attend Des Moines Area Community College, and Brandon will head to Fort Benning, Georgia, for U.S. Army training.

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While the McCaugheys are close, they're looking forward to a little more leg room. "I honestly think it will be good for all of us to be on our separate ways," Kenny told NBC News via email earlier this year. "I am not worried about not seeing everyone that much. We have been around each other the past 18 years. I am ready to be on my way, and I think everyone else is, too."

"I think that we are extremely prepared and know what we are going into," added Kelsey. "(Our parents) have taught us well, and from not having all the fame that we could have had, we have learned to be normal and to just live life and just be a normal family,"

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As for mom and dad, the change will probably hit them the hardest — as is often the case when kids go off to college. "It will definitely be weird at first," Kenny Sr., the septuplets' father, told NBC News. "It will be easier in the sense of (less) groceries and more freedom to do things, but harder in the sense of wondering how each is doing with classes, basic training and just daily concern for their well-being."

But hey, there's always Thanksgiving. Better start calling dibs on the drumsticks!