The purpose of this study was to gain a more thorough understanding of the development, implications, and treatment of perfectionistic tendencies within academically gifted student populations in higher education, specifically former high school valedictorians and salutatorians. A basic qualitative study was conducted using data collected from a series of semi-structured interviews of former high school valedictorians and salutatorians at Ball State University.Ten former high school valedictorians and salutatorians were interviewed to determine the role of perfectionism within their college experiences. Four themes emerged from the data: (1) former high school valedictorians and salutatorians held themselves to higher standards than their peers, (2) former high school valedictorians and salutatorians dealt with perfectionism, (3) former high school valedictorians and salutatorians were motivated in specific ways, and (4) former high school valedictorians and salutatorians had a unique self-awareness. Emerging themes coincided with the designed interview questions, which were used in all ten interviews. Themes and concepts were determined by interpreting the significance of comments within the data collected.