[Best Route to UPT]

Enlisting in the Guard helped me in eventually achieving a UPT slot, ROTC worked out for brabus. As everyone here can attest to, any route you take luck and timing always plays a part. Good luck in the path that you feel is best for you!

[Best Route to UPT]

With taking school off it really depends on timing. I've know people who only had to take a semester off of school, some a full year. If you're young it's definitely worth it. You can certainly enlist after you receive your Bachelor's. Also, yes at anytime during your enlistment you can apply to boards. Even AD OTS. The Guard/Reserves is a family. They like to take care of their own. *If you're a good dude

[Best Route to UPT]

If you want to go the ANG/Reserves, enlist with a Guard unit in your area, or a unit you would like to fly for one day!  Most units have great educational benefits with tuition assistance that you could use to help you achieve your bachelor's degree without incurring debt.  Then apply to every Guard unit that has a UPT board.  Most units will give automatic interviews to unit members that have all of the boxes checked. Like Kilo said get a private pilots license, or as many flight hours as possible.  I recommend enlisting because as most people can attest here it is very hard to get hired off the street, not impossible though.  This is the route that I took, and I got hired my first interview.

Best of Luck!