My advice is to use this page:
http://www.ae7q.com/query/The information, terminology, nomenclature and FCC process is overwhelming, exactly the same as some of the Extra exam preparation was when you first started it. But as you navigate, read the color code explanations, etc., everything will become more clear.
I expect to get my choice this Saturday and I never had to enter a lottery for it. Here is my expected call sign NB6Q:
http://www.ae7q.com/query/data/CallHistory.php?CALL=NB6QThe first thing I did was populate my calendar with upcoming available call signs. That turned out to be unnecessary for me because I am probably getting my first choice and I am in region 6 (California) which is very competitive.
Search region 8 (your region) here:
http://www.ae7q.com/query/list/GenLicAvail.php?REGION=8 and scroll down and look for GREEN calls. There were 11 when I just looked. That is a gold mine!
Click through on each and scroll to the bottom and check for the status. If there is no GREEN Assignment status then apply for that call today before midnight EST and you will be queued up for competition. If nobody else competes with you on that day you will get it by default.
I picked one at random
http://www.ae7q.com/query/data/CallHistory.php?CALL=NX8U and it is available. They are there ready to be gathered up. You might ask why. I had the same question. The reason is multi-faceted. Many people make multiple requests in preferred order and they get assigned a higher preference call so they are removed from competition. Others are too early. Others are insufficient class. For whatever reason they are removed from competition and the call is available, waiting to be claimed. Based on what I see you should get a call today with that many available.
Do not submit more than one request in a 24-hour period and risk being flagged as a multiple requester on the same day. Bundle up your choices and put them on the list.
One crazy part of this is finding the FCC page to request a vanity call. I can never find it when I'm looking for it. If you go to the "My Licenses" page the "Vanity" link is on the far right side. Hopefully, you can find this. Once you find it just put in your call signs in preferred order.
Good luck.