The only reason I want to go to college is for ROTC other than that I would just enlist in the Air Force. I am planning on majoring in computer science and would have to transfer into one my sophmore year. I was also curious what freedoms you get such as owning a computer or car etc? Is the only advantage having a guranteed slot for feild training if you meet all requirements? Thanks for any help!
Edit: I cant easily visit one the nearest to me is over 200 miles.
I can imply here that you want the full-time military immersion. If this is the case, and you want Air Force, you should first apply to USAFA.
If USAFA falls through, and you still want the immersion in the military environment, then a SMC is a viable option. There are advantages to an SMC, but also obvious drawbacks when compared to other "regular" colleges. On the plus side, there is a strong academic program, a tight kinship with your fellow cadets, great avenues to pursue leadership opportunities, and usually a very active ROTC presence in daily life. Each SMC is a bit different, with some being more restrictive than others, but generally the negatives center around you not having near the freedoms of your counterparts at a "regular" college. You won't be able to go off to various parties every weekend, you can't sleep late, you have to clean your room, etc. That said, it is a college, so there are avenues for social interaction. There are plenty of extracurricular activities to suit various interests, and as you gain seniority, you'll have more and more access to things that are more enjoyable.
You can of course have a computer, as all SMCs are institutions of higher learning. Some may even require it nowadays. As far as a car, that depends on where you go. It used to be at VMI (my alma mater) that you could have a car in your junior year. I think only seniors can have them now. As far as the other SMCs, I have no idea. You certainly don't need a car as a Rat, as you can't leave the post except for school-sponsered activities.
I went onto active duty in the USAF. I met a few graduates in the service, but I didn't have near the network that USAFA has. This is for obvious reasons. Still, most officers on active duty have heard of the SMCs, and you are bound to run into a few grads as you go about your career. In that case, I'd say there is a bit of a professional plus for SMC grads in the military, but nowhere near the extent of the SA grads. In the end, it is how you perform individually that matters most.
All the SMCs have strong academic programs with some being a bit stronger than others. The chief advantage of VMI, for me, was the top-notch liberal arts education I received at the place. VMI set me up well for law school, which I attended after my stint in the Air Force.
You have to weigh the benefits and costs (both financial costs and costs of giving up traditional college freedoms) and come to a conculsion that best fits your needs. Keep in mind that SMCs, unlike the SAs, do have tuition and other fees. Some of the schools are expensive, but that can be mitigated depending on certain factors. There is financial aid available, and of course ROTC scholarships and other academic/athletic scholarships are there for those who qualify.
PS: VMI has a computer science major, and I'm sure most of the SMCs do (you'd have to check that out with each school).
Its hard in every aspect and the only cars on campus belong to Seniors. The benefits of going through it are great in the end. You learn to lead by putting others first and you gain a sense of personal responsibility for others and yourself and take pride in every detail of your life. When touring the SMC campuses you will notice a big difference in how the cadets carry themselves. Maybe I'm wrong but I see VMI in the same light as a SA, except with more options for branch of service choice and the choice to not commission. SMC's are very different in every aspect. At VMI DS will have only the necessities of life in his room which includes his laptop, but access to social networks etc is even limited the first year. It is a barracks, not a typical college dorm...and compared to the modern barracks I've seen on military bases, even those have air conditioning stateside 
