Schools and their habits are just a reflection of the culture amidst them. American schools love risk takers and people with vision. When GPA is low, but the attitude is enterprising, you are likely to be heard and often rewarded. The test metrics are important, and might be decisive, but if have done something unique and useful with your skills, you are not written off. In a way, as they ostensibly say, their admissions strategy accounts beyond what you have done on the crucial exam day. The German system is little cold, and denial and acceptance hinge on your documented test performance. You have done amazing things in computers, or in electronics, or automobiles, beyond the prescription of what your teachers advice and curriculum defines, it yet might not have much value, if your scores are not above their acceptable references. While the American system would be a boon to eccentrics and mavericks, and those who playfully game the system, the German system would be the best hope for the applicants who have predictable academic performance, and great test taking ability. Is this not the way the two countries largely function. One embracing uncertainty and kissing risks, and celebrating Jobs, the other producing predictable and consistent engineering where nonconformists are thought to only mischievously increase the margin of error in all that the firms do. It will not be wrong to say culture drives decisions, at least the ones that decide graduate entry.