Greeting!
My answer is going to require some background for you. I enlisted in November 2013 during my Junior year of high school with the split-training option and started basic combat training in between my Junior and Senior Year (I graduated from high school in 2015). I graduated from Infantry School for my AIT after I graduated from high school. Since then, I have been serving and working continuously while also continuing my education at the University of Minnesota. I am going to graduate from UMN with a B.S. just two months before I start CBT at USMA. The critical part here is that I immediately began taking college classes after high school and maintained a good GPA at the University level. Showing that you can succeed academically at the college level is critical according to the Soldier Admissions Officer. Seeing that you have a decent GPA in college will override your high school stats.
That being said, my high school stats weren't nearly as good as my grades are now at the University of Minnesota. I graduated with ~3.6 GPA. My ACT score was 27. My class rankings were ~25th percentile. I worked more diligently and cared significantly more once I started at the University level. Studying at the University of Minnesota has been far more challenging than high school, but if you can show West Point you can maintain academic success, you'll be golden.
I did not seek a congressional nomination. It's far easier as an enlisted soldier to get your Commander's Endorsement once you get out to your unit and eventually decide to apply to USMA. A Commander's Endorsement will act in lieu of your a congressional nomination -- I wouldn't worry about getting anything beyond this for your Nomination. here:
https://www.usma.edu/admissions/Shared Documents/Commanders_Assessment_USMA_Form_351-12.pdf (it is also available electronically through your Candidate Portal).
Some advice:
1. Stay fit. Stay involved in athletics. Keep yourself in great physical shape.
2. Invest yourself within your Guard unit. Show your leadership that you are reliable. Your commander will seek consultation with all your NCOs before giving you endorsement and rating.
3. Again, keep in school. I've been taking a full-time class load, working part/full-time, and serving continuously in the Guard since high school.
Every Soldier applicant is different. I don't know how others approached this. I'm just letting you know what worked for me.
