High school counselors and students continue to face intense stress as college admissions become increasingly competitive and selective. Despite growing application numbers, most students apply to more 'reach' schools, fostering a cycle of elevated anxiety and unrealistic expectations. Counselors observe that families and applicants perpetuate this pattern, under the illusion that a coveted elite college education signifies superior value. The entrenched system benefits institutions that associate low acceptance rates with quality, overlooking broader educational merits. Experts suggest that this dynamic reinforces inequities and contributes to widespread disillusionment in the college admissions process.