1. How early did you start your applications?
I started in Early September and October. The last one I ever submitted was in November.
2. What was the earliest registration date that a college you applied for had?
The earliest Deadlines I've seen, were December 1st.
3. How did you decide what colleges and/or scholarships to apply for?
Well, I started with small ones first. I decided which scholarships would pay for my books (And my A Clarinet, since I needed one for college), and chased those first. Then, I looked at how much I needed to attend the school, while keeping my parents' payments reasonble.
4. What do you recommend as a first course-of-action for a college applicant?
If you can, visit the school before making a decision to apply. I can't stress this enough, actually. The school that I wanted to attend, I'd been visiting for three years, and I never, ever felt like I belonged there. The professors loved me, and I was offered a pretty good amount of money, but I couldn't place myself there. The school I go to now, I walked into, and after about ten minutes, I knew I was going there. [:
Also, if possible, sit in on classes, see if you like how they're taught, look at the dorms. You can just settle for a school, but it will suck profoundly if you get stuck somewhere you don't want to be for four years.
5. Overall, do you feel like you got started early enough or do you feel like having started earlier would have made everything easier?
Absolutely, I started early enough. I began making contact with my professor two years before applying, and because of him, I knew exactly what to expect from the school.
Hope this helps!