One thing I want to just bring up to you. (Before I say it; let me 1st say that it is DEFINITELY worth it if it's what you want to do). Anyway, I had an enlisted person working for me (a long time ago) that came into the military at 22-23 years old. She seemed to be "stand out" with her peers. Here's the problem.
The average cadet walking in the door (Or enlisted walking into basic training) is a 17-18 year old "Kid". I say KID with all do respect. These people were at home with mom and dad taking care of them. Now, whether you go to a standard college, academy, enlisted basic training, or a typical job at Wal-Mart; there is a certain amount of maturing and growing up that an 18-20 year old goes through. In the military, it's even more dramatic because you're pretty much forced away from your friends and family. Also, in the military, there's a certain amount of Moaning, groaning, whining, *****ing, complaining, pissing, etc.... For a young cadet/enlisted, THIS IS NORMAL!!!!! Don't try and change that. It's nature. it's the way things are suppose to be.
I bring this up for 2 points. 1) The girl who worked for me had already gone through HER MATURING and growing up period prior to coming into the military. As such, she didn't hang out with many of the same rank. She "Tried" to hang out with those her age and that didn't go over well either. Plus, when the time came for her to supervise, she didn't understand the "Attitude Problems" that these E-1 through E-3 were having. That's because she never went through the NORMAL PROCESS that these airmen were going through. The airmen weren't the ones with the problem. She was the one with the problem. She wanted them to "Grow Up". She didn't understand they were NORMAL.
2) At 20-21 years old, you're going to be told WHAT TO DO by many people younger than you. Many may appear to not be as "Mature" as you. They are normal. They are acting normal. You've got 3 years of independence, maturity, getting into trouble, doing what you want, BASICALLY GROWING UP; over many of the cadets at the academy. Keep this in your mind and in perspective. And don't think that because you are the same age as a C1C (Senior) that you will automatically attract to them. You won't and shouldn't. You need to be a team with YOUR CLASS. That means the other 18 year old cadets. Use you maturity to help your classmates put things into a different perspective at times. DON'T use your age/maturity as a gauge that the other classmates are suppose to mature to. They will, in their OWN time. That is natural.
I bring this up because from the age of 5-10 kids think pretty much the same. From 11-15, they tend to think and act the same. From 16-20, each person becomes very independent. The mature much more rapidly, yet differently from each other. It's a very difficult time. The military is a great environment because it keeps everyone focused on their tasks at hand; plus they given COMMONALITY to all the cadets. Each cadet has a lot of things in common. But these cadets are SUPPOSE to go back to their room at the end of the day and say how much the place sucks. They're suppose to talk about their superiors. They're suppose to say how "If they were in charge........". At 20-21, you may have gone through a lot of this. LET THEM GO THROUGH IT. Don't try to mature them, change them, etc... Prior enlisted going to the academy has the advantage of having been there at 18, so it's different. 20-21 year old from College can sometimes have problems with it. Fortunately, by the time you graduate, you're pretty much all on the same maturity level. I.e. a 24 year old and 30 year old aren't that much different.
Anyway; it's definitely worth it. If you want it, do it. It's hard to redo 3 years of college, but that's your decision. No one here can tell you what to do in that. But as for the academy being worth it; it's worth the same today as it was when you first applied. best of luck.... mike.....