Last December in Philadelphia, an 11th grade Eagle Scout shot and killed himself in between classes. His parents claimed he was pushed to the edge because his grades were dropping and they had threatened to cut down on his many extracurricular activities.

Although this is an extreme case, this particular story sheds light on the rising number of kids feeling overly pressured by school, other outside activities and the critical decision of finding the right college.

Almost two-thirds of high school students report feeling major stress on a daily basis, according to a study conducted at the University of Michigan.

Most of this is coming from a strong need to find and be accepted into the perfect college.

It is hard to say why students are feeling that acceptance into an elite school is so valued.

Some of this comes from the fact that parental expectations that their children will attend a super-selective college has “risen substantially” in the past decade, according to Jim Conroy, an Illinois college counselor, in an interview with Time magazine.

And there are simply more applicants because of a rising population, increasing affluence and a growing awareness of the value of education.

An estimated 75% of U.S high school graduates enter college, according to the College Board.

Although the amount of incoming freshman is growing, the number of slots at elite colleges has changed very little, making admission into many dream schools harder.

Chris Boyle, Green Fields Country Day School college counselor, agrees that the process is getting more competitive.

“The procedure is getting much more intense. It is harder because there are more kids, more world pressures and they are competing with kids all over the world,” said Boyle.

For many bright and involved students, admission into top universities is imagined to be a golden passport to success. Oftentimes, failing to do so is seen as a major life setback.

More and more kids are balancing many activities. The additional college application process adds to much of the academic stress.

“My life is about juggling balls, and this year I was working hard to keep up quite a few,” said senior Anna Fiastro. “Throwing college applications on top was very stressful because I knew that the essay I was writing was the only substantial thing that someone was going to use to judge me.”

It may be that the basis for all this stress and disappointment - the idea that getting into an elite college makes a big difference in life - is wrong.

A study conducted by researchers Alan Krueger and Stacy Dale found that students who were accepted into Ivy League schools but chose to attend other colleges, were earning, on average, the same income as Ivy League graduates.

This means that it is the student who is responsible for success in life, not the school.

This should come as soothing news to current, college-anxious students.

“It takes hard work, brains, ambition and luck to be successful,” said Boyle. “The most important thing in a school is a good fit.”

If students can shift their focus away from getting into so-called “Gotta-Get-In” universities, to finding an education experience right for them it would alleviate much of the stress.

Joe Linley, a college advisor at the University of Arizona, agrees with Boyle.

“Kids don’t necessarily look at the best college fit,” he said, adding there are ways to find a match right for you.

“Talk to people who went there, find out a good fit from your local college environment, take campus tours or go to the student union” said Linley.

Fiastro, who applied to several California colleges, did take time to visit possible campuses.

“I believe a student can be happy anywhere with the right attitude. It’s just a matter of finding a school that falls into your basic tolerances,” said Fiastro.

Applying to college can feel like the ultimate decision and judgment, and be overwhelming.

Experts stress that what is important to remember is that in the end, character and drive mean more to your happiness and success in life than acceptance into any elite school.