Over the past two decades, college admissions has become a prime-time preoccupation. Most people know at least something about the process, especially if they have a teenager in high school and a college guide on their coffee table. Nonetheless, widespread public misconceptions persist about admissions requirements, the selection process, and the costs of attending a four-year institution, according to an extensive survey of college admissions officials conducted by "The Chronicle." The survey, sent to 2,081 senior-level admissions deans and enrollment managers, provides a rare glimpse at the leaders who have become key figures on their campuses and in their communities, and who, to varying degrees, simultaneously serve as gatekeepers, promoters of educational values, and protectors of their institutions' bottom line. This article describes the results of this survey, which reveal the complexities of the profession during a time of intense scrutiny from parents, college presidents, and a host of other parties with stakes in the annual selection process.