And back to the OP's original question:
For background, I did not apply to any AFROTC programs, I do remember looking at several and considering it as an option, but if I remember right I couldn't find one at any of the other schools I was interested in attending (note, I based my search for colleges on their academic merits and degree programs combined with the opportunity to get a tennis scholarship, and to be honest, the "military thing" was more of a side thought at the time).
Basically if I remember right, I chose to
attend USAFA for the following reasons
1. I wanted to go to a school where I could play a high level of tennis without sacrificing academics, because I knew that while I was decent at tennis, it would not be my career and as such, could not be my number 1 priority in college. Most D1 schools, if you are on scholarship for a sport, that is your number one priority, period dot. (and in retrospect, my coach at USAFA also thought I valued my grades too much...)
2. I love a good challenge and the large number of people who told me I would never get in, never make it through basic, wouldn't be able to handle the military environment etc... pretty much drove me to choose USAFA.
4. I never enjoyed partying in High School, I don't drink, and I wanted to be in an environment where the students (cadets) actually cared about school and learning.
3. Cost. I hinted at this, but basically I needed a scholarship. My parents put a lot into my tennis and the unspoken agreement was I would use my tennis abilities to pay for college, so when I saw that USAFA was a "full ride" that honestly played a huge role in my decision to attend.
Now, those are the reason I signed the papers and showed up on I-day, but those ARE NOT the reasons I stayed at USAFA. I highlight this because the reasons I chose to stay all would have been valid at a ROTC unit because they all had to do with becoming an Air Force Officer and absolutely loving the Air Force and serving my country.
This is just my personal perspective, but I guess what I am trying to say is I ended up at USAFA because it was an attractive option FOR ME. At that point I was thinking about myself and what a college could offer me, not what I could do for the AF/my country.
And...I am sure I am about to be told how I went for all the wrong reasons
, so before you say that I KNOW but I am glad I did because if those reasons hadn't been there to draw me in, I never would have chosen this path and gained the perspective I have now (ps, I plan on making the Air Force a career now).