Should I listen to my gut feeling or logic? (deciding to reapply to USAFA)

[bananafish]

Last year I was accepted to USAFA and would have attended, but unfortunately I tore my ACL and was medically disqualified. I ended up enrolling at a different school and taking a gap year. If you feel you need more info, I think I discuss my situation a bit more in some of my old posts.

Last spring I was absolutely crushed that I couldn’t attend USAFA and I was 95% planning on reapplying. But now I’m not so sure. First off, in order to reapply to USAFA, I’ll have to unenroll from my current school (I knew this when I enrolled btw). So essentially I’ll be losing the bird in hand to chase the one in the bush. The school I’m currently enrolled at is great. It’s a T50 in my home city with a D1 team for my sport (the team isn’t as good as USAFA’s, but I don’t want to get too into the weeds in this post so I digress). If I went to my current school I would honestly probably be pretty happy there.

However. Ever since I visited USAFA last fall, I’ve felt this desperate need to go there. To be honest I don’t even really get why I feel this way. I just do. I have always had great respect for the military, and always kind of daydreamed about flying fighter jets, but I’d never before actually planned to join the military. I’ve never before wanted to go to college in Colorado. And when I first started looking at schools, one of my main requirements was access to good food. Which I think Mitch’s is…not. And yet, despite all this, every time I think about USAFA I want to go there so badly. I just have some strange attraction to it.

When I applied to USAFA, I didn’t just have this feeling. I also had logical reasons. It’s free, and I want to be independent from my parents. I’m interested in med school, and the USAF would cover it if I got that spot. I’m also interested in maybe (against my parents wishes lol) becoming a fighter pilot , and this would be the best place to find out if that’s what I should pursue. I like the low student to teacher ratio. The people there seem happy and motivated — what I want to be. And, perhaps most importantly for me, I was being recruited by a very good D1 team.

Well, now that I’m thinking it over, those reasons aren’t really good enough to choose to give up the college I’m already enrolled at (for reasons I won’t get into). And re: D1 sports, the USAFA coach actually left the team, and while the program could (would, I think) still recruit me, the whole situation is a lot more messy. The program is a little bit of an unknown now because idk who my coach would be.

And of course, reapplying to USAFA but would be a ton of work. Nominations, getting back in shape, taking the CFA, writing essays, medical stuff, you know the drill. I’m not afraid to put in the work (already did it all once) but well 1) there’s a small concern that I literally won’t be able to pass the CFA in time because I’m still finishing up my knee recovery 2) the whole process is so long that I basically need to decide *tomorrow* whether or not to apply and 3) the application process alone is worth it….but is it worth it in combination with the sacrifice of giving up my current college?

So now, to get to the heart of the matter: logically, I don’t think there’s a good enough reason to give up my current school to apply to USAFA. But I still, at a deep level, really really want to go to USAFA. Any advice on how to make a decision?

If you got through this whole post, thank you. I know there is truly no one right answer, but it feels good to even just type up my thoughts.

 

[FutureAcademyDad?]

At the end of the day, it really just depends on what you want. There is no right or wrong answer objectively, it all comes down to what is going to fulfill your dream.

 

[StarSon2028]

So now, to get to the heart of the matter: logically, I don’t think there’s a good enough reason to give up my current school to apply to USAFA. But I still, at a deep level, really really want to go to USAFA. Any advice on how to make a decision?

If you got through this whole post, thank you. I know there is truly no one right answer, but it feels good to even just type up my thoughts.

Are you processing the what-could-have-beens? I think having worked so diligently for an appointment, having had it in hand, only to be dq'd due to injury presents a young person with a lot to work through.

If you're finding that after a year at your current uni, you're mostly content moving in a different direction, you may just need time to come to terms with that monumental shift!

If you want to serve in the USAF, then re-apply. No regrets!!!

 

[bananafish]

Are you processing the what-could-have-beens? I think having worked so diligently for an appointment, having had it in hand, only to be dq'd due to injury presents a young person with a lot to work through.

If you're finding that after a year at your current uni, you're mostly content moving in a different direction, you may just need time to come to terms with that monumental shift!

If you want to serve in the USAF, then re-apply. No regrets!!!

Thanks for the response! Yes, I think the what-could-have-been aspect may be at play. I will say though that I haven’t actually been attending my “current” college
yet, so that’s a slightly different thought process I think.

If I want to serve in the USAF is honestly probably the big question here, but it’s weird, although I feel attracted to the academy and USAF in general, I feel that if I don’t attend the academy the chances that I end up serving are fairly low.

In short, I’m having a very hard time figuring out what I want. I keep thinking about this in a very detached way, almost like I’m advising someone other than me. I think part of me is waiting for someone to just tell me what to do

 

[GWU PNS (emeritus)]

If you decide you do not wish to serve in the Air Force, what do you feel is your calling in life? Or is that still being decided?

Is the draw to this college/university that it isn't as structured as a service academy?

 

[bananafish]

If you decide you do not wish to serve in the Air Force, what do you feel is your calling in life? Or is that still being decided?

Is the draw to this college/university that it isn't as structured as a service academy?

For some years I’ve been interested in attending med school and becoming a doctor (maybe pediatrician or orthopedic surgeon). Not sure if medical stuff is exactly my calling in life, but it's something I've been interested in since I was 5, and it's a well paying industry that centers around a topic I'm interested in. I think some less likely but possible jobs for me would be biotech researcher, biology/zoology researcher, something in engineering/physics, or trying to be a novelist.

The #1 draw to the other college is that I'm already accepted to it. I don't have to do anything more to go there. It's the bird in hand. The #2 draw is that it allows for more opportunities/flexibility. I could always apply to med school, whereas at USAFA I would need to earn a spot. And I could choose to pursue any other job I wanted to, including a job with the military. And if sports works out really well for me and I'm in striking range of some great achievement like qualifying for the Olympics or World Championships, then I could pursue that opportunity on my own instead of hopping to be granted a WCAP slot. Although that would have to be on my own money which would be tough.

I like the structure of the Academy

 

[MDhopefully2023]

Last year I was accepted to USAFA and would have attended, but unfortunately I tore my ACL and was medically disqualified. I ended up enrolling at a different school and taking a gap year. If you feel you need more info, I think I discuss my situation a bit more in some of my old posts.

Last spring I was absolutely crushed that I couldn’t attend USAFA and I was 95% planning on reapplying. But now I’m not so sure. First off, in order to reapply to USAFA, I’ll have to unenroll from my current school (I knew this when I enrolled btw). So essentially I’ll be losing the bird in hand to chase the one in the bush. The school I’m currently enrolled at is great. It’s a T50 in my home city with a D1 team for my sport (the team isn’t as good as USAFA’s, but I don’t want to get too into the weeds in this post so I digress). If I went to my current school I would honestly probably be pretty happy there.

However. Ever since I visited USAFA last fall, I’ve felt this desperate need to go there. To be honest I don’t even really get why I feel this way. I just do. I have always had great respect for the military, and always kind of daydreamed about flying fighter jets, but I’d never before actually planned to join the military. I’ve never before wanted to go to college in Colorado. And when I first started looking at schools, one of my main requirements was access to good food. Which I think Mitch’s is…not. And yet, despite all this, every time I think about USAFA I want to go there so badly. I just have some strange attraction to it.

When I applied to USAFA, I didn’t just have this feeling. I also had logical reasons. It’s free, and I want to be independent from my parents. I’m interested in med school, and the USAF would cover it if I got that spot. I’m also interested in maybe (against my parents wishes lol) becoming a fighter pilot , and this would be the best place to find out if that’s what I should pursue. I like the low student to teacher ratio. The people there seem happy and motivated — what I want to be. And, perhaps most importantly for me, I was being recruited by a very good D1 team.

Well, now that I’m thinking it over, those reasons aren’t really good enough to choose to give up the college I’m already enrolled at (for reasons I won’t get into). And re: D1 sports, the USAFA coach actually left the team, and while the program could (would, I think) still recruit me, the whole situation is a lot more messy. The program is a little bit of an unknown now because idk who my coach would be.

And of course, reapplying to USAFA but would be a ton of work. Nominations, getting back in shape, taking the CFA, writing essays, medical stuff, you know the drill. I’m not afraid to put in the work (already did it all once) but well 1) there’s a small concern that I literally won’t be able to pass the CFA in time because I’m still finishing up my knee recovery 2) the whole process is so long that I basically need to decide *tomorrow* whether or not to apply and 3) the application process alone is worth it….but is it worth it in combination with the sacrifice of giving up my current college?

So now, to get to the heart of the matter: logically, I don’t think there’s a good enough reason to give up my current school to apply to USAFA. But I still, at a deep level, really really want to go to USAFA. Any advice on how to make a decision?

If you got through this whole post, thank you. I know there is truly no one right answer, but it feels good to even just type up my thoughts.

My son had a similar dilemma last year. He really wanted to attend a service academy specifically USNA. He was offered scholarships for football at other schools, but not recruited by a SA. He was a lineman and decided to loss weight to do better on the CFA and forgo his scholarship opportunities, ultimately he did not get a medical waiver. He was crushed since now he was also too small to play oline at other schools. He ended up getting a partial scholarship to play FB at a local D2 school. He wasnt sure if was going to reapply for most of the reason you listed. Ultimately he did. Fast forward to this year and he has completed his first 100 days at USNA. It was a long hard path, but at the end of day he was able to achieve his goal, and while difficult, it has been one of his best decisions.

 

[SF_Treat]

This happemed to my son's friend. Recruited to play a sport and tore his ACL in May. He took a gap year and had to reapply, but he knew he would get in, as it was communicated to him by the coach. Has your team not said anything to you? Maybe you could ask. Even if the coach left, the program knows about you.

It is a tough decision though. I was jusg giving information. Reading your posts, it seems you are content with your current situation, which is GREAT. And Mitch's reslly is that bad.

 

[T-37IP]

At this point, the decision is likely made for you if you haven't applied for nominations. Most, if not all, nomination windows are closed or closing very, very soon. Make peace with your choice and move forward.

 

[bananafish]

This happemed to my son's friend. Recruited to play a sport and tore his ACL in May. He took a gap year and had to reapply, but he knew he would get in, as it was communicated to him by the coach. Has your team not said anything to you? Maybe you could ask. Even if the coach left, the program knows about you.

It is a tough decision though. I was jusg giving information. Reading your posts, it seems you are content with your current situation, which is GREAT. And Mitch's reslly is that bad.

Thanks for the reply. Upon reaching out to the program, they said they would restart the recruiting process if that’s what I want. So I should have a very very good chance of getting in but of course there’s a part of me that fears another round of bad luck (another injury or whatever preventing me from going).

 

[bananafish]

At this point, the decision is likely made for you if you haven't applied for nominations. Most, if not all, nomination windows are closed or closing very, very soon. Make peace with your choice and move forward.

I appreciate the reply and I would agree with your statement if the nominations were closed, but for my state the earliest deadline is at the end of the month

 

[Ouzel]

I'm at USAFA this year and I struggled a lot on whether or not to accept my appointment (you can see it if you look at my past posts). You seem to know this already given your last sentence, but I thought I would reiterate it anyways. The best advice I received is that there is no "right" or "wrong" choice. I could have gone to any of the schools I was accepted to and none of them would have necessarily been the "wrong" place for me. It's weird because part of growing up is understanding you now can choose your own adventure, and there is so much emphasis on finding the "right fit" with colleges. College is the first big choice most of us have been able to make, and it is hard to understand and accept that there isn't just one path that is better than all the others, just different. I know it is frustrating and hard to accept, but at the end of the day choosing to apply for USAFA or accept the spot at the other school are both good choices. You have to look inside yourself and decide which path you want. What helped me decide was some advice I got on here: think about yourself in 5 years, 10 years, and 30 years from now. What path would you regret not taking? After a lot of reflection, I knew that if I chose any path other than USAFA I would probably regret it.

Also, you can also apply to some more colleges along with reapplying to USAFA so you wouldn't have to take off another year before starting college. I know a lot of people accept offers to a backup college in case something unexpected happens right before I-Day or even during BCT. As long as you inform the backup college of this it's fine. You will definitely lose your nonrefundable deposit, but it is a nice safety net against outlier circumstances. You would just tell them at the end of basic that you aren't going.

You are in for a stressful and anxious time up until you decide, I wish you luck. The good thing is whatever decision you make you will feel so much better after you make it. (For some background this is a really cool podcast about how we make decisions and how it relates to our happiness https://www.npr.org/transcripts/755850405). Everyone out there will have an opinion, but at the end of the day you need to listen to yourself. I know it can be hard, especially when everyone around you seems to be pressuring you one way, but at the end of the day it's your life and you are the only one who will be living your decision.

 

[justdoit19]

I'm at USAFA this year and I struggled a lot on whether or not to accept my appointment (you can see it if you look at my past posts). You seem to know this already given your last sentence, but I thought I would reiterate it anyways. The best advice I received is that there is no "right" or "wrong" choice. I could have gone to any of the schools I was accepted to and none of them would have necessarily been the "wrong" place for me. It's weird because part of growing up is understanding you now can choose your own adventure, and there is so much emphasis on finding the "right fit" with colleges. College is the first big choice most of us have been able to make, and it is hard to understand and accept that there isn't just one path that is better than all the others, just different. I know it is frustrating and hard to accept, but at the end of the day choosing to apply for USAFA or accept the spot at the other school are both good choices. You have to look inside yourself and decide which path you want. What helped me decide was some advice I got on here: think about yourself in 5 years, 10 years, and 30 years from now. What path would you regret not taking? After a lot of reflection, I knew that if I chose any path other than USAFA I would probably regret it.

Also, you can also apply to some more colleges along with reapplying to USAFA so you wouldn't have to take off another year before starting college. I know a lot of people accept offers to a backup college in case something unexpected happens right before I-Day or even during BCT. As long as you inform the backup college of this it's fine. You will definitely lose your nonrefundable deposit, but it is a nice safety net against outlier circumstances. You would just tell them at the end of basic that you aren't going.

You are in for a stressful and anxious time up until you decide, I wish you luck. The good thing is whatever decision you make you will feel so much better after you make it. (For some background this is a really cool podcast about how we make decisions and how it relates to our happiness https://www.npr.org/transcripts/755850405). Everyone out there will have an opinion, but at the end of the day you need to listen to yourself. I know it can be hard, especially when everyone around you seems to be pressuring you one way, but at the end of the day it's your life and you are the only one who will be living your decision.

Such a great post!!

 

[justdoit19]

Thanks for the response! Yes, I think the what-could-have-been aspect may be at play. I will say though that I haven’t actually been attending my “current” college
yet, so that’s a slightly different thought process I think.

If I want to serve in the USAF is honestly probably the big question here, but it’s weird, although I feel attracted to the academy and USAF in general, I feel that if I don’t attend the academy the chances that I end up serving are fairly low.

In short, I’m having a very hard time figuring out what I want. I keep thinking about this in a very detached way, almost like I’m advising someone other than me. I think part of me is waiting for someone to just tell me what to do

Sometimes, we have to “simply” make a choice, commit to it, jump in with both feet’ and not look back. Only forward.

IDK what the answer is. But whatever you decide, let us know! I remember you from last cycle!! I would encourage you to think about beyond the academy….most of your posts on this thread talk about the school and sports aspect. Not a bad thing, but looking beyond that is very important, and may help you decide.

And content with what you have/where you are, is not a bad thing

 

[Usnavy2019]

Here is my $0.02:

I would say that your answer lies with your desire to serve in the Air Force or Space Force. While USAFA is a great place to be, it is only four years of your life. You then owe a minimum of five years to the Department of the Air Force and the United States upon graduation. That isn't something to take lightly. Just know that while going to medical school is possible, it is very much the exception and not the rule. You have a very high chance of doing something other than being a doctor coming out of USAFA. This is not to discourage, but just to manage expectations. However, if you still want to go to medical school and serve in the USAF, then look at the Health Professions Scholarship Program. It pays for medical school and then you will serve as an Air Force doctor. You can become a flight surgeon and then you can scratch that fighter itch. You won't be a pilot, but you'll get some back seat rides and you'll be around flyers. There are many ways to join the Air Force and none of them are better than the other.

 

[BubbaCool12]

Last year I was accepted to USAFA and would have attended, but unfortunately I tore my ACL and was medically disqualified. I ended up enrolling at a different school and taking a gap year. If you feel you need more info, I think I discuss my situation a bit more in some of my old posts.

Last spring I was absolutely crushed that I couldn’t attend USAFA and I was 95% planning on reapplying. But now I’m not so sure. First off, in order to reapply to USAFA, I’ll have to unenroll from my current school (I knew this when I enrolled btw). So essentially I’ll be losing the bird in hand to chase the one in the bush. The school I’m currently enrolled at is great. It’s a T50 in my home city with a D1 team for my sport (the team isn’t as good as USAFA’s, but I don’t want to get too into the weeds in this post so I digress). If I went to my current school I would honestly probably be pretty happy there.

However. Ever since I visited USAFA last fall, I’ve felt this desperate need to go there. To be honest I don’t even really get why I feel this way. I just do. I have always had great respect for the military, and always kind of daydreamed about flying fighter jets, but I’d never before actually planned to join the military. I’ve never before wanted to go to college in Colorado. And when I first started looking at schools, one of my main requirements was access to good food. Which I think Mitch’s is…not. And yet, despite all this, every time I think about USAFA I want to go there so badly. I just have some strange attraction to it.

When I applied to USAFA, I didn’t just have this feeling. I also had logical reasons. It’s free, and I want to be independent from my parents. I’m interested in med school, and the USAF would cover it if I got that spot. I’m also interested in maybe (against my parents wishes lol) becoming a fighter pilot , and this would be the best place to find out if that’s what I should pursue. I like the low student to teacher ratio. The people there seem happy and motivated — what I want to be. And, perhaps most importantly for me, I was being recruited by a very good D1 team.

Well, now that I’m thinking it over, those reasons aren’t really good enough to choose to give up the college I’m already enrolled at (for reasons I won’t get into). And re: D1 sports, the USAFA coach actually left the team, and while the program could (would, I think) still recruit me, the whole situation is a lot more messy. The program is a little bit of an unknown now because idk who my coach would be.

And of course, reapplying to USAFA but would be a ton of work. Nominations, getting back in shape, taking the CFA, writing essays, medical stuff, you know the drill. I’m not afraid to put in the work (already did it all once) but well 1) there’s a small concern that I literally won’t be able to pass the CFA in time because I’m still finishing up my knee recovery 2) the whole process is so long that I basically need to decide *tomorrow* whether or not to apply and 3) the application process alone is worth it….but is it worth it in combination with the sacrifice of giving up my current college?

So now, to get to the heart of the matter: logically, I don’t think there’s a good enough reason to give up my current school to apply to USAFA. But I still, at a deep level, really really want to go to USAFA. Any advice on how to make a decision?

If you got through this whole post, thank you. I know there is truly no one right answer, but it feels good to even just type up my thoughts.

Becoming a doctor in the Air Force is difficult but a great way to start your career even if you don't end up serving after the 5-year obligation. Sometimes in life, you should follow your gut feeling and go for it; no amount of suffering from hard work can ever trump the regret of not having taken an opportunity. Here's my recommended course of action:
1) Begin the USAFA application process now so you have a gateway to your path to the academy, if you end up not wanting to go there you can withdraw the application or decline the appointment if it comes to it.
2) While you have the application and your decision process ongoing, talk to as many service members as you can; while of course Air Force officers and most of all USAFA grads would be most helpful, military service is universal across the branches so exposure to any service member is valuable when figuring out your desire to serve. The order of preference would be USAFA grad, air force officer, officer, and other service members (in decreasing order of how relevant they would be to your life after the academy if you do end up going).

 

[coolfredw]

Right now, I'm currently on my third application to USAFA. I've gotten better and better each year with my application, so this will be my first year where I am fully qualified. Every year, I get that burning desire to reapply, even though I know the challenge ahead. If you've already got an appointment, that means they want you. Now its just about how much you want it!

 

[StPaulDad]

Reading through the posts I'm hearing an attraction to the school, not the service, and that it may not be as strong as it was before because it's now competing with your current school. You're already having small doubts about your path but still feel a pull towards the very cool SA. My thought is this: if you think this is "what could have been" just wait till you hear what it sounds like in the back of your mind when you're 40. You still have feelings for USAFA so you're going to have to work through them to see how deep they are.

So here's what you do: keep your options open and see how things emerge over the course of the year. That means getting a nom, getting your app in, and getting ready for the CFA. You're a high performing athlete, so you were going to get back in shape and continue in your sport anyway. You've already got essays written that got you a nom last year that just need a tune up and a dash of "Boy did I learn a lot about myself this year." And the app is just a matter of grinding out the many parts over a month or two.

Once you get it all in you'll see if you get another nom, if the new coach is someone you can work with, if the team still wants you at all, if you still want them, if the current school year turns into something you like too much to leave, if you fall in love, if you get hurt again, etc etc etc. Circumstances might answer it for you, but if it all turns out great then you can have this same discussion in the spring with an actual bird in each hand.

 

[bananafish]

Thanks to everyone who responded to this post and all of my others. Obviously I won’t have made a final decision until I show up to basic next June, but I’ve pretty much decided to apply to USAFA and pursue recruitment. As I’ve heard many times, there is no wrong answer, it’s just about what I want. And well, I want to go to USAFA and serve my country. Even if my reasons aren’t good enough or don’t make sense, it doesn’t matter. I want to do it. And there’s no justifying want—it’s just something that is.

And now to contradict what I just said and justify away: While USAFA doesn’t provide the same career flexibility as a civilian college, it is guaranteed to provide me with unique skills and a job of some kind. And while I will always be interested in medicine, I don’t think I need to be a doctor to be happy. Honestly I think I would be super happy as a pilot. And I could always apply to med school later in life. Maybe try to be a physician pilot which sounds like an awesome job

I think I could attend any one of the schools on my list and succeed and be happy. But USAFA is the one path that despite its cons/difficulties, I keep jumping to defend jt and justify it to myself. But there’s no need to justify when I can just see what path I want and take it!

Still going to apply to plenty of backup schools, as others suggested. No guarantee that I’ll end up at USAFA. But Im honestly so glad, and so relieved, to just accept that I just have to stop thinking and do what I want—for this decision and life in general

 

[Falcon74]

Last year I was accepted to USAFA and would have attended, but unfortunately I tore my ACL and was medically disqualified. I ended up enrolling at a different school and taking a gap year. If you feel you need more info, I think I discuss my situation a bit more in some of my old posts.

Last spring I was absolutely crushed that I couldn’t attend USAFA and I was 95% planning on reapplying. But now I’m not so sure. First off, in order to reapply to USAFA, I’ll have to unenroll from my current school (I knew this when I enrolled btw). So essentially I’ll be losing the bird in hand to chase the one in the bush. The school I’m currently enrolled at is great. It’s a T50 in my home city with a D1 team for my sport (the team isn’t as good as USAFA’s, but I don’t want to get too into the weeds in this post so I digress). If I went to my current school I would honestly probably be pretty happy there.

However. Ever since I visited USAFA last fall, I’ve felt this desperate need to go there. To be honest I don’t even really get why I feel this way. I just do. I have always had great respect for the military, and always kind of daydreamed about flying fighter jets, but I’d never before actually planned to join the military. I’ve never before wanted to go to college in Colorado. And when I first started looking at schools, one of my main requirements was access to good food. Which I think Mitch’s is…not. And yet, despite all this, every time I think about USAFA I want to go there so badly. I just have some strange attraction to it.

When I applied to USAFA, I didn’t just have this feeling. I also had logical reasons. It’s free, and I want to be independent from my parents. I’m interested in med school, and the USAF would cover it if I got that spot. I’m also interested in maybe (against my parents wishes lol) becoming a fighter pilot , and this would be the best place to find out if that’s what I should pursue. I like the low student to teacher ratio. The people there seem happy and motivated — what I want to be. And, perhaps most importantly for me, I was being recruited by a very good D1 team.

Well, now that I’m thinking it over, those reasons aren’t really good enough to choose to give up the college I’m already enrolled at (for reasons I won’t get into). And re: D1 sports, the USAFA coach actually left the team, and while the program could (would, I think) still recruit me, the whole situation is a lot more messy. The program is a little bit of an unknown now because idk who my coach would be.

And of course, reapplying to USAFA but would be a ton of work. Nominations, getting back in shape, taking the CFA, writing essays, medical stuff, you know the drill. I’m not afraid to put in the work (already did it all once) but well 1) there’s a small concern that I literally won’t be able to pass the CFA in time because I’m still finishing up my knee recovery 2) the whole process is so long that I basically need to decide *tomorrow* whether or not to apply and 3) the application process alone is worth it….but is it worth it in combination with the sacrifice of giving up my current college?

So now, to get to the heart of the matter: logically, I don’t think there’s a good enough reason to give up my current school to apply to USAFA. But I still, at a deep level, really really want to go to USAFA. Any advice on how to make a decision?

If you got through this whole post, thank you. I know there is truly no one right answer, but it feels good to even just type up my thoughts.

I fail to understand why you would have to disenroll from your current school to apply to USAFA. If selected by USAFA, you would simply be transferring to USAFA. You would probably finish the current year at your present university and then travel to USAFA. When the current university asks you to commit financially to a second year, you would have to make a tough decision if you haven't yet received a response from USAFA. Additionally, it is my understanding that those who can't attend due to an injury are normally given expedited handling wrt their application in a subsequent application. Did I miss something?