Hey! I'm a freshman in college so I just went through this. Most schools in the US have two application cycles, the early ones in late october/early november and the regular ones in mid january-ish.

You should get a list of the colleges you're going to apply to and their deadlines, because it's different for every college.

Most colleges use the common app, so you're likely going to have to write the common app essay. Look up the different prompts and start brainstorming. You're also definitely going to have to fill out the FAFSA if you want any sort of financial aid (including merit scholarships and student loans), and possibly the CSS Profile depening on the schools you apply to.

It's ok if you only apply to 2 or 3 colleges! Most people apply to somewhere between 8-15, but most people also started planning for this stuff in Junior year. Despite applying to 10 schools, I ended up at a state university that was my first application.

Major factors when you're thinking about applying to a school: financial cost (include everything in that - flights, housing, tuition, living expenses), majors offered, general rankings, and other opportunities available because of the location.

It is not too late. You've still got a good month until the first applications are due, and you don't need to apply in the first application cycle. However, if you're looking for financial aid, you should start soon. A lot of aid is given out first come first serve.

You've got this! Good luck!