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College admissions has always been stressful—but today’s students are facing a level of anxiety and pressure unlike anything we’ve seen before.

From social media-fueled perfectionism to overwhelming college messaging, mental health is now a major factor in the admissions process.

Joining the conversation:

• Mary O’Malley, Co-Head of Advising at Union Hall Admissions Counseling, shares what she’s seeing firsthand—why students struggle to define what they actually want and how parents, counselors, and colleges can help.

• Alicia Bourque, Vice President for Student Affairs at Loyola University New Orleans, gives insight into how colleges should proactively support students’ mental health, from admissions through graduation.

We discuss:

• The biggest mental health struggles students face in the college process
• How colleges' deadlines and messaging can either help or hurt
• Why peer support networks matter more than ever
• What admissions professionals can actually do to support student mental health