First off, congratulations for the appointments, it is a tremendous honor to receive such an opportunity.
When I first read this thread, when the original question was posted regarding other schools, I saw it was a very valid question. Unfortunately as I started to read the replies, it was difficult to keep quiet. I am very concerned with this scenario where appointees that will be travelling to the Academy, 'trying out BCT' and then seeing at the end, if they would like to pursue a different path.
For those who have accepted their appointments, like myself, please read, and I mean READ, the second page in the Instructions for Appointees. I'll quote what Colonel Benyshek writes in the second paragraph, "If you are coming to the Academy to ―try it out‖ or because of peer, community, or parental pressure, I urge you not to accept your appointment. If you were to resign due to a change of career goals or should you desire to pursue another scholarship offer, you will have deprived another deserving and more motivated person of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Please do not take this decision lightly ".
Now, the odds are 1 in 10 could choose to drop the Academy during or post BCT. But to think that, one could easily go from this thread, to the thread titled "Still haven't heard anything..." there are highly qualified candidates that would do anything to have the opportunity your sons and daughters have right now. This is THEIR decision. If there is doubt, talk it over now. Until you do, there are people waiting, for these life changing opportunities, not just for the Academy, but a scholarship to serve their country.
College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.