Applicants from high-performing high schools routinely enter the college admission process overscheduled and overwhelmed. Stress and sleep-deprivation have reached epidemic proportions at competitive high schools, while rates of depression and anxiety among US teens and young adults have skyrocketed. For this generation of students, the stakes have never seemed higher when it comes to college admission--leading more and more young adults to prep for higher education in ways that are both unhealthy and unsustainable. Rather than giving their students a leg up, an emerging body of evidence shows that hyper-competitive and overly demanding high school experiences can take the joy out of learning, undermine mental health, and leave teens less prepared to make the most of their college years. A new narrative--one that designates perfection as a prerequisite for admission--is increasingly driving the way students select classes and schedule their time out of school. And the messages colleges send to prospective teens can inadvertently add fuel to the fire. Students who are fixated on grades, test scores, and performance can find themselves in a lose-lose situation. Not only do they put their mental and physical health at risk, they often fail to develop the skills needed to successfully navigate life after high school. This article shares four ways counselors can help students take a more balanced approach to the college admission process.