<p>There is a lot of questions! </p>
<p>Anyways -</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I don't think there's any harm in exceeding the number of SAT 2 tests that you take, because they will see all of your scores and you can put the extra scores in "additional information" if there isn't space. Some colleges even give additional spaces for SAT 2 exams. I personally took six and all of them were 750+, so I thought it was pretty good. I can't say that it will definitely help, though. I just think it looks better.</p></li>
<li><p>At this point, I think you shouldn't worry about AP-self studying or extra SAT 2s yet. You need to raise that SAT 1 score, because it will be more important than SAT 2 or AP scores. You need to meet the basics before you attempt to do extra stuff. Get a solid SAT 1 score, and 2 solid SAT 2 scores, and you can pretty much do whatever you want. It's worth the effort to study for Math 2C, because it's almost an universal SAT 2 test now that a vast majority of the student population takes - so put that as your primary focus. Then take something else that you know you will get a good score on. If it's physics, then go ahead.</p></li>
<li><p>You will satisfy the requirements for all colleges if you take 3 SAT 2 tests. There are a couple schools (like Harvard) that still require 3 SAT 2s, but the vast majority now require 2 tests only. No school requires 4 SAT 2s.</p></li>
<li><p>That is the right website for UC admissions.</p></li>
<li><p>AP scores are self-reported on the application. This means you don't need to send in an official transcript to your college (like SAT 1 and SAT 2s) and thus, you can "hide" the bad scores by not writing them down at all. But if you took an AP course at school and you didn't report the corresponding AP exam, then it would look weird, so make sure you do well on the APs that you signed up for at school.</p></li>
<li><p>The vast majority of schools now use online applications. The common app is an "universal application" that lets you quickly apply to 300+ schools with one application. Granted, you would have to fill out supplements (additional forms that each individual school wants along with the Common App) for most selective colleges on Common App, but it still makes your life easier because you don't have to refill a lot of information like your house, your parents, your scores...etc.</p></li>
<li><p>It is better to send online applications because processing is easier both for you and for the college. Everything is electronized now and it just makes filing and filling forms out easier and less time consuming if you type in an online form, rather than having to mess with typewriters or other word-processing programs.</p></li>
<li><p>If you apply too close to the deadline (for example, if you are applying online at Dec 31 when the deadline is Jan 1), the server might crash because a lot of people are trying to get their applications in, but I filled out 15 online applications on different servers and there isn't a single glitch at all.</p></li>
</ol>