Next steps towards college

Answered

First of all, I wouldn't even consider going past researching colleges and what you'll want to look for in one at this time. If you really want to work ahead, you can start thinking about a college list in the late spring, but you can't apply until the fall of your senior year.

WHEN that time comes, YES, apply to multiple. You need those multiple chances in case you don't get into one or multiple, even if your profile is objectively strong (you can never be sure.)

If you're worried about how to decide which colleges to apply to, I'd recommend researching schools. Research the ones that email you or send you physical letters in the mail---you never know if one might be perfect for you. Think about what you want out of your education and the majors/programs you'd be most interested in. Which schools best fit you? That's what I'd recommend.