The skeleton, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other components of joints make up the musculoskeletal system. The skeleton provides strength, stability, and a frame for muscles to work against in producing movement. Bones also serve as shields to protect delicate internal organs.
Stanford University, which has a nonbinding early-action process, accepted 10.2% of its early applicants, or 743 students, according to the Stanford Daily. That's a 0.6% decrease from last year's early-admission rate. MIT accepted 625 of its 6519 early-decision applicants for a 9.6% acceptance rate.
In 2012, fewer than 25 percent of accepted applicants posted ACT scores lower than 31. That means that 75 percent of Stanford freshmen scored in the 97th percentile or better on the exam. It's possible to get in with a lower score, but it's very unlikely.