I never said that it was a rule, I stated that the most predictive model shows that using both standardized tests and GPA come the closest. Nothing is 100% accurate. Grades are not indicative of intelligence any more than standardized tests are, and neither are truly indicative of work ethic. There are many, many schools that do not require the tests. Some base the requirement on a threshold of high school GPA, or high school core class GPA. And while I don’t know of any, I am also certain that some have decided to forgo any standardized testing based on a variety of reasons. But I believe I saw an article stating that there is only one university that rejects all test scores outright (someplace in Mass.). That indicates that, while not necessary, the schools are still placing some weight on the idea of SAT/ACT.
There is no perfect way to determine whether or not a student will be successful at an institution of higher learning. The simple reality is that circumstances play an immense role in success at this level. BFA students, by and large, tend to be good students who have strong GPA’s and a high matriculation and retention rate. That stands to reason. Like those students who are true student athletes, a theatre student has had to balance so much after school work, that they understand the needs of university life better than the general student population.
Finally, we have taken chances on students in the past that have been borderline in terms of GPA and test scores. Some have been wonderful as students. Some have not. We have also had excellent high school students leave us due to academic difficulties after they began college and realized the freedom it offered. Remember that studies do not take into account the outliers. They speak in terms of trends and statistical norms. Most universities will, if asked, look at the outliers and allow an appeal to academic acceptance. It is their way of acknowledging that no model is 100% accurate.