WhiteKnight1150

To add to the other reply... You don't have a lot of control over where you go fresh out of the academy. Your graduating class gets a list of places the FAA wants to send people. The list is as many options as number of people graduating, with maybe a couple alternates. Everyone picks in order of class ranking. If you're not willing to move somewhere (read: anywhere) and be there for a few years at least, it might not be for you.

Hijacking top comment, because no question for u/sierrabravo26, but a thanks for posting. I am one who is currently at the academy after having seen the post last year. (And there are a few in my class I know that also saw it.)

Readers, feel free to AMA about the process as well.

I believe they just changed how it works. Used to be you could get the portion for housing paid out to you, and this use it how you saw fit. Now I think they only set that up directly with wherever you're staying. You still get per diem for food. That's my understanding anyway.

Combination of work and schooling can qualify you. No harm in applying and see where it goes.

You mentioned the Navy in another response. What is their run standard? Are you planning on joining up, or you just decided that was a good goal? I'm Air Force, getting up to speed for my PT test next month, always hated running, even though it's just 1.5 mile.