I just met a guy who is stationed in California flying F/A 18's and he wrote back with this information I thought it would be appropriate to throw up here, pretty interesting to read.
I've had literally lived the dream for ten years and I'm glad to hear another -----------may do it too.
A lot has changed since I went through, but there will always be some universal truths, which I'll try to share.
OCS: make sure you are in shape before you get there, it'll make your life much easier. You will see a lot of people breaking rules and doing questionable shit...don't even think about it...do you really want to compromise your dreams by banging another candidate or sneaking out? Help those who are less capable than you(this is a central theme that will carry through your career). You may have the nicest locker, sharpest uniform, tightest rack, and cleanest rifle, but if your roommates' suck, then so do you! It isn't fair when you have to carry someone else's load, but suck it up...someone will notice and you will be rewarded.
Flight School: Your flight experience will put you well ahead of your peers and will likely get you the coveted jet slot so long as you don't fuck it up by slacking off. That edge will begin to dissipate in advanced training when you start flying tactical formation, bombing, and dogfighting...so work hard.
At some point, you will hear this term: "Live by the gouge, die by the gouge". Gouge is advice, notes, cheatsheets, or passed-down information. The idiom means to use it carefully. You never know the reliability of the source, so if you depend on it, it could fuck you.
Be a team player and don't hoard the gouge! Share every bit of information you have with your peers (competitors). That may seem counter-productive, but you'll be an outcast if you're found holding out...let your abilities speak for themselves.
Don't try to "game" the system. Know the standards and exceed them...you'll get what you want. Lots of guys will do things to try to beat the system (e.g. going "med-down" to avoid the hard instructor or delay their selection date). There are really no shortcuts...just be awesome and don't worry about.
Carrier qualifications: No matter how bad you think it may be going, DO NOT GIVE UP! The landing signals officers have many tools to get you qualified, and despite how they may treat you, they WANT you to qualify...unless you're a douche.
After you get your wings and you report to the FRS, remember that you haven't made it yet...shit's just getting started! Your instructors will be fleet guys with close ties to many squadrons. Any douchebaggery on your part will spread to the fleet and you'll be an outcast before your career even really starts. I've seen it happen, it's ugly. Fitting in is actually pretty easy if you do these things: help your classmates, be humble, be aggressive, be accountable (no excuses), and be social (if you don't drink, then be the happy DD, if you drink, always have a buddy that will save your ass in case you get so shitfaced that you're getting into trouble).
If you don't get jets, it's not the end of the world. Every platform can lead to great flying and a successful career...attitude is everything.
One last thing. Pay off your student loans as aggressively as you can and start saving for retirement immediately! I can't stress this enough. You're going to be broke as an ensign but you absolutley must put 10% away for retirement and make more than the minimum payment on your loans. If you don't, you'll be kicking your own ass! Take my word for it.
Whew, that's a lot. Let me know if you ever have any questions and I'll do what I can to either answer them or point you in the right direction.
Good luck and Godspeed
