When most people compare me and my sister, Dominique, it usually comes down to something like this: I’m quiet and hard working, and my sister is loud and hyperactive.

When I was little, I would disappear from my birthday parties halfway through, only to be found next to the bookshelf in my room, surrounded by a pile of books. Dominique, on the other hand, would stand on the table and dance around, refusing to leave the party even if she had to go to the bathroom.

Time magazine’s cover article on Oct. 17, "The Power of Birth Order," confirmed what I had assumed (extremely immodestly) for years — older siblings are (usually) smarter.

According to psychologist Frank Sulloway, America’s leading authority on birth order, “In most families, the firstborn is going to get into Harvard and the second-born isn’t.”

As I sat reading this, I couldn’t help but nod, laugh, and cackle evilly. Finally, finally, after waiting so long I could tell my sister that she was less than brilliant and have some justification.

Some research by Norwegian scientists shows that firstborns tend to enjoy a three-point IQ advantage over the next eldest. As an added bonus, this in turn can translate into a 15-point advantage in SAT scores. Being the mean older sister (and Uni student) that I am, this makes me very, very happy.

Older siblings are also disproportionately represented in high-paying jobs. On the other hand, younger siblings are (statistically) more likely to pursue an “exciting” career: firefighter, entrepreneur, artist, or actor.

Of course, there are exceptions. "People read birth-order books the way they read horoscopes," says Toni Falbo, a professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas.

Just because you’re the youngest sibling doesn’t mean that you’re destined to become a hobo while your elder sibling enjoys a successful life as a neurosurgeon.

But for us older siblings, at least, it’s nice to pretend.