Thanks for the offer Dan!
Question I would have and perhaps many other perspective candidates and their parents is this:
1) Of those cadets you have interacted with, how many are "superstars" (you know, the ones with ACT scores above 30, GPA's of 4.0, walked on water the past 4 years in high school, etc.) as compared to more acedemically challenged cadets (ACTs in the 24 to 28 range, GPA's of 3.2 to 3.8, perhaps 1-2 leadership roles, varsity sport (letter winner for 1-2 years), perhaps Eagle Scout, etc.
Not recruited athletes mind you, just interested in the lower decile cadets.
A simple: "well, of the 12 cadets I know pretty well, 8 are what you call superstars, and 4 are more of the lower decile...".
2) How are those lower decile cadets doing acedemically? Do they seem in over their heads, do they regularly seek help from tutors and upperclass cadets? Are they involved in mandatory remedial academic study sessions?
Many thanks for your help and best of luck with your first year! Don't lose faith, focus on 1 day at at time if you have to...