How do people with low test scores get into top schools ?

<p>I've seen on MIT admission statistics that there have been people that have gotten accepted with a 25-27.. How in the world did these people get accepted?</p>

<p>Amazing hooks, sports, or the rest of their application was pure gold.</p>

<p>I’m not sure if it applies to this particular college, but the HEOP program allows for low grades, low income.</p>

<p>-Under-represented minorities (Black, Native American, Hispanic)/Athletes for diversity and recognition. For whatever reason, some people consider diversity in a school when applying.</p>

<p>-Well-connected. It’s not coincidence that top politicians’ children go to top schools. Also, the more people you know and the more favors you can call, the cooler stuff you can do to pad your resume. I know a guy with a unique resume because he has hunted in exotic parts of the world and holds world records for some species. That’s not something a middle-class asian is going to get, period.</p>

<p>-Other cool stuff like intel, doing research with professors, owning businesses, doing independent coding on for money, etc. I am almost sure that those 25-27 have at least pretty good math and science scores, which is what MIT really cares about. Even if they’re like 32 and 31, othe qualifications can outweight those.</p>

<p>-Combinations of the above.</p>

<p>A $10 million check from Daddy donated to the school.</p>

<p>It’s perhaps a little more common at schools like Bates or Bowdoin than at MIT… these two are still top LACs, though.</p>