Are you an early bird?

This is the time of year when students start hearing a lot about applying to college early from peers, parents, and newspaper headlines -- and maybe feeling some pressure as a result. But before you succumb to that pressure, spend some time understanding how decision plans really work, what the numbers in the headlines actually mean, and whether it's a good idea for you personally. Check out the Chapter Excerpt on the Book page here on the website to understand how your grades and scores could figure into a decision to apply early and benefit from the input on decision plans from the deans at Johns Hopkins, Drake University, and Northern Illinois University, as well as others.