You can also do what I did. But if you ask me, I wouldn't do it again! I went to a "normal" college for two years while repeatedly trying to get accepted at the USAF Academy. My Congressman was an ass, so I finally got a nomination on the third try. Your school is paid for, and they have gobs of pilot training slots every year (except maybe 94-96 from recent memory). I only finished in maybe the top 70%, but still got to go fly. Fantastic education and certain job security in both civil & mil job sectors if it turns out you lose your Class 1 physical. That diploma is worth a lot to most employers.

All of this being said, I would do the Guard/Reserves if I did it all over again, but that was some magic secret that nobody in my "generation" seemed to know about at the time. I'm in the ANG now, and you can't beat it.