My D attended the AF Summer Seminar and enjoyed it immensely. Thought that was it. That's where she wanted to go. Didn't really have CG on the radar until her guidance counselor recommended it and thought she would be a good fit. But her school has several SA appointees every year, but mainly AFA and West Point, and her dad is a Navy vet. Thankfully it was just before the AIM application closed. She had to hustle to get it in on time, but she did. She wasn't too enthused since she hadn't really explored that SA but wanted to still keep her options open. A couple of her friends/teammates went to AFA, so she was more familiar with them.
Well, she got in, but she still wasn't too stoked about it. We applied for the scholarship and was going to let that be the deciding factor. If she got it, she was going, and if she didn't, then her dad and I weren't going to push the issue. Well, she got the full scholarship, travel and attendance. She went to AIM Week 1. When she returned, she couldn't stop talking about it, the things they did, having leadership roles, she built a robot, the cadets she met and is still friends with, the camaraderie, meeting with the XC coach, etc. She said that's where she was meant to be, and so she applied, went to Genesis Invitational and stayed in contact with the coach. I guess they saw something in her as well. She's been appointed a CGA Scholar and is looking forward to seeing some of her fellow AIMsters in New London in a couple of months.
I suggest going if you can. I think CG does give you a more realistic view of what it's going to be like than the other SA's which helps in making a more informed decision.