It's called an "appointment", a necessary but not sufficient part of the nomination process to a service academy.
You fell for the Politico-mind-trick, along with other gullible so-called conservatives.
Appointments are usually from a Congressional District where interviews are held by a Congressman. I grew up with the local West Point recruiter for Hampton and Newport News VA as a neighbor. Col. Farnsworth was an Academy grad. Carson admits he got into college on AA. AA is not West point types grades. Yes Carson did well after he got it. He is lying about WP.