I wonder if the high school guidance counselors have anything to do with it? Sometime a HS counselor may send info about a gifted student to a particular school or schools, and that may get the recruiting action/mail started. Perhaps OM/other schools are more proactive than MSU by canvassing high schools and requesting info on the highest achievers, I don't know. But having gone through the process with 2 kids within the last 8/9 years, I do know that if ACT scores are sent to MSU, the student will get plenty of info/attention. And I can say that your son's ACT of 33 should pretty much be a full ride at MSU.