I agree with this comment. I grew up in a rural area of the midwest. There were no AP courses, let alone robotics or opportunities for international volunteer work. I worked through high school to help keep the pantry stocked above levels that required some figurin'. I didn't apply for scholarships, didn't think about where I was going or what I was going to do, I was worried about other things. My high standardized test scores got me noticed by schools and names that meant something to me. I might not have ended up at MIT, but standardized tests gave me perspective that it wasn't just that I was "good at school" compared to my rural peers, but that truly I did have a shot at these places.