This is not completely true. Almost every state offers free tuition and books to its enlisted members at in state schools. This is on top of the post 911 GI Bill benefits and is ANG/NG only and not a reserve program A motivated individual can get a college degree in 4 years after basic.

If you do not get a ROTC scholarship out of high school, you can enroll in AFROTC and be in the ANG. It used to be that you couldn't be a contracted cadet (POC, which is post field training, or scholarship) and be in the ANG.

If that is still the case, and without a scholarship, I'd enlist in the ANG and try to get as close to the airplanes as possible (Maintenance, load master, or life support) because you'd be working with and for the people who award pilot slots. I'd also enroll in AFROTC. After you attended field training at the end of your sophomore year, then make your decision. By then you should have a good idea about culture of the Active Duty compared to the ANG, and an idea about which road offers the greatest chance for a pilot slot. Lots of variables there to consider. How big is the ROTC det? How many slots do they typically get per year?

This path was doable a few years ago, things may have changed. But getting a ROTC scholarship, signing a POC contract, or even getting an appointment to a service academy were seen as trading one commitment you may have had for enlisting in the ANG for another commitment.

Don't burn bridges, knock on as many doors as you can, and good luck. With the pilot shortage affecting both active and reserve components and getting worse in the next few years, there should be ample opportunities for a slot somewhere for someone who meets the qualifications, works hard, and stays focused on the goal.