I finalized my application in early November. One tip I have is to start an application to West Point because if you submit a competitive SAT score and complete the first couple questionnaires then you can start the DoDMERB process a lot earlier than if you solely apply to USAFA. Because of that, I had my medical exams in September and was deemed "medically qualified" by the time I finished my USAFA application.
Also, I personally think that my essays featured some of the best writing I've done in my life. When I wrote my essays, I made an effort to read them from the perspective of an admissions officer who has to read hundreds (even thousands) of essays, and thought about how I could make them sound as interesting as possible. For the resume part of the USAFA application, there was a 3000 character limit, so I went into a lot of detail explaining my activities, leadership, and awards rather than just listing them out.