I think schools break their “policies” all the time; from offering more than one studio choice, to grades, to low test scores, giving scholarship monies to some and not others. It all depends on the audition and how badly they want a kid. Those who are given these special compensations are usually more talented than the average kid (or at least that university thinks they are). And the university wants to entice them to choose their school. I think theatre is like athletics. My colleague’s son is at Cornell. Has no business being there. Did not have the grades or test scores to be at an Ivy league school but they wanted him to play football. So he’s in.