If high performing low income students are in a generally low performing school environment, it is likely that they hear little or no chatter about highly selective colleges from (probably non-college-graduate) parents, peers (most of whom are probably going to the community college if they go to college at all), and counselors (who are busy keeping students from dropping out and dealing with other issues like unintended pregnancies). So they may not hear about taking PSAT, SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests during 11th grade, may not realize that recommendations are needed, may look at CSS Profile (and its fee) with suspicion or decide that it is not worth chasing a flaky non-custodial parent, etc… In senior year, a student who has not already started the college application express train previously may find it difficult to get everything ready and done by the ED deadline.