I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with Major Hanak!!!
I was the benificiary of this a LOOOONG time ago (Carter was POTUS) but...it was THE key to my gaining admission!
I went, with letters of rejection from EVERY SA, and a 4 year ROTC scholarship with a "Pilot Slot" attached...to give it one more try. There were 57 of us at Northwestern Prep in 1978-1979.
At the end...if my memory is correct, 52 or 53 of us received appointments to the SA of our choice; some of us received multiples (I received USAFA/USNA/USMA).
If offered this chance, TAKE IT! It will only help, regardless of the eventual outcome.
IMHO.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83