#Uglymom, “That’s the real reason the scores are so high.”
Your logic seems upside down or maybe mine is… MIT offers a wide range of courses. But at its roots, its focus is science and technology. And it is because it places such value in STEthat they require GIRS so all students are exposed to the most fundamental sciences regardless of their major. That’s why the GIRs. They are not just milestones to get by but classes that lay foundation and sometimes interconnection to other areas in STEM; essential for MIT students to be competent in tech and science (method, theory, results). The school isn’t looking for scores that suggest students will get ok grades so they can pass required GIRs like some sort of low bar game. Everything in an application provides some information; together paints a picture. Students who do less well on activities/tasks associated with STEM does not bode well but not just because of scores but also the picture that is painted. But as you mentioned, perhaps (and I’d bet a lot on this) she/he has provided very incomplete information. As noted by #Uglymom, exceptional abilities in other areas can paint a prettier picture.