Applying to college more stressful

NEW YORK, March 28 (UPI) -- Sixty-nine percent of those applying to U.S. colleges this year describe the application process as highly or very highly stressful, a survey indicates.

That's up 13 percent from 2003.

The Princeton Review's annual College Hopes & Worries Survey of college applicants and parents of applicants indicates 86 percent say financial aid will be very necessary, while 72 percent say the state of the economy has affected their college choices.

The Princeton Review, an education services company, has conducted its College Hopes & Worries Survey since 2003 and this year's findings are based on surveys completed by 12,185 respondents -- 8,219 college applicants and 3,966 parents of applicants -- from all 50 states. The 15-question survey ran in The Princeton Review book, "Best 373 Colleges: 2011 Edition" and on www.PrincetonReview.com from late January to early March.

Perhaps adding to the stress of applying to get into college is that high school students see things a bit differently than parents. For example, 66 percent of the students estimate their education will cost more than $75,000, but 82 percent of parents say it will cost more than $75,000; 66 percent of students say their "ideal" college would be farther than 250 miles, but 50 percent of the parents prefer their child go to a college closer.

In choosing a "dream school," students and parents differed again -- student say they wish they could attend Stanford while parents wish their child was headed to Harvard.