re: Graduates of Service Academies or military colleges

As someone that's helped some students with their applications to service academies, can second all of the suggestion of getting in touch with your US Senators/US Reps as soon as possible. Depending on your area, interviews for those recommendations can be tough to come by.

I have one graduating from The Citadel this year, had two graduate from Air Force Academy, and one from the Naval Academy.