Here is the way I am going to direct my kids in the event they want to do this. If you are in your late teens without a degree, it is what I would recommend for you as well.

1. Join ROTC at a school they want to go to.
2. Have the military pay for their schooling.
3. They pay the military back by serving in their MOS (Pilot) for predetermined years.
4. Fly their asses off in the military and if they decide not to make a career of it, then bail and sell it to the airlines....lol.
5. I would like to see them make a career of it (atleast 20 years) and then sell it to the airlines.

I joined up and flew helicopters for the Army for 12 years and then put in for the fixed wing transition and flew C-12's the last 8 years and am now hoping to get on with Southwest. It was a longer, harder way to do it, but for me, it was perfect and I wouldn't change a thing if I had to do it over again.

Good luck to you in whatever way you decide to go.