Newbie:
Seeing as I went through all of this last year my #1 piece of advice to you is: DON'T WORRY!!! Everything will work out just fine in the end!
I am off to Northwestern in the fall and I didn't even visit until I had been accepted and basically made up my mind to go there, so don't worry about not visiting schools first - of course, I would visit SOME schools so you at least are positive that you like them. (btw, NU has an excellent undergraduate school of Education and Social Policy... plus a good greek scene and a prime location just outside Chicago!)
In terms of SAT IIs, definitely take the writing and the math. I have heard literature is a killer, but my friend really enjoyed taking it - to each his own I guess. If you have been taking a language for awhile you may want to consider taking one of those...
And, after you get accepted to schools, visit your top choices again! I LOVED one certain school when I went to their open house in the fall, but in the spring when I did an overnight, I realized that I felt like I wouldn't fit in at all if I went there - of course, I have only been interested in rushing for about the past six months, and the school didn't have the greek system I wanted - but remember that people change, and so its always worth a second look before you send in that tuition deposit.
Good luck with everything!!!
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