Here's a multiple-choice question for the families of high school students facing yet another round of SATs and other standardized tests.

Why has the college application process grown so stressful and all-consuming?

A. It's supply and demand: There's a record number of graduating seniors heading off to college, just as some colleges and universities are capping or rolling back their enrollment.

B. It's about money: Prepaid tuition plans, as well as Florida's Bright Futures scholarships that offer free and reduced tuition to top students, have created intense competition at some of the state's 11 public universities.

C. It's cultural: ''Over-involved'' parents have forced their own opportunity-narrowing dreams on their children.

D. All of the above.

Oh, for the days of the senior slump! Instead, it's crunch time for the Class of 2009: Seniors have a final shot at the SATs in early November as they polish their college essays and fill out applications -- while keeping their grades up and sticking with extracurricular activities to boost their resumes.

High school juniors, many taking test prep courses, face PSATs next week; even ninth and 10th graders are taking standardized tests to prepare for the big one.

The college application process frenzy, building in recent years, is expected to peak this year, with a record 3.3 million students graduating from high school in the spring. Of course, college-bound kids (and their parents) still have many choices -- though they may need to adjust their expectations.

''There is plenty of opportunity to go around,'' concludes the National Association for College Admission Counseling's (NACAC) newly released State of College Admission 2008 report.

For some kids, the pressure to perform well on standardized college tests starts early. ''The amount of money going into private tutors for eighth and ninth graders is astronomical,'' said Sandi Sirotowitz, who co-founded Educational & Diagnostic Services in Plantation in 1978. ``The stress is huge.''

And potentially dangerous. A study by the Partnership for a Drug-free America found the top reason teens gave for using drugs was to cope with the pressures and stress of school. By the time they are seniors, some students spend so much time, effort and worry on college that they miss out on their final year in high school.

''There are a couple of people I avoid this year because they are so obsessed with college and so intent on getting into a name school like Georgia Tech or MIT,'' said Daniel Rodriguez, 17, a senior in the engineering magnet program at Coral Park High School. ``Every time they open their mouth, it's something about college.''

Elena Korallis, an 18-year-old senior at MAST Academy, had a friend who devoted most of his senior year to applying to 29 colleges. ''He was absent from school the whole year,'' she said. ``It was crazy. I have friends who are juniors who are already really freaking out about college.''

For Elena, the college stress is predominantly financial -- she has two older siblings facing decades of college loan repayment. The yearbook editor dreams of finding a small-size ''creative'' college outside of Florida, perhaps in Vermont.

''My mom says I can go to any college I want -- as long as I get a full scholarship,'' she says with a laugh.

Supported by a parent respecting her choices, Elena has the right idea -- proactively searching for colleges that suit her, according to college advisors.

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