Cases of obsessional slowness, a variant of obsessive compulsive disorder, have been documented in case literature regarding relatively low functioning populations. However, obsessional slowness can also present in higher functioning populations, including college and graduate students, as illustrated here by three case examples from a competitive college setting. Some sufferers of the syndrome experience slowness secondary to rituals typical of obsessive compulsive disorder, while others suffer from primary obsessive slowness in the absence of such behaviors, the slowing serving to block a sense of anxiety. For college students, the disorder can cause significant impairment but can be effectively treated. More research is needed to determine the best treatments and whether obsessional slowness may be more common than once thought.