As an out of stater who had one kid go to A&M, and one kid who didn't gain admission, don't underestimate the difficulty of getting in to Texas A&M these days. You have to be sure to dot every i and cross every t. A great SAT score by itself isn't enough anymore.
As the Commandant and I discussed before the game on Sunday, all of the Senior Military Colleges are good options.
If you want a life changing experience that will set you on a course to success during the rest of your life, I highly recommend the Aggie Band. It's not a guarantee but, you will have the tools you need.
Dignity, Self-discipline and enduring pride are among them.
You'll join a network of former bandsmen and women who have all been through the same process. One of the really cool things about the UCLA game was running into at least 12+ guys from several classes who had been in the Band when I was there. And then on the flight to Austin, on Monday, I met 4 guys who were Aggie Band Class of 2017.
It's not easy but, it is a worthwhile endeavour. Good Luck!