Applying to college used to be a fairly straightforward undertaking: Students applied to a few colleges that met their academic needs, and the institutions responded by admitting the most-worthy candidates. But that seemingly benign process is a distant memory. In its place is a swirling cauldron of angst and anxiety, especially for the families that aim to get their children into highly selective colleges. Nowhere is the effect felt more acutely than in secondary schools as administrators and counselors deal with heightened expectations for college placements. In particular, guidance counselors and others who assist in the college application process find themselves in a constant battle with parents in an effort to set realistic expectations. This article discusses trends in the college admissions process and the need for administrators to make sure their schools provide solid resources and information to help students and their families cut through the hype and restore sanity to the college admission process.