My parents nor did any parent step in to help me on this application or the approval processes. Furthermore, the approvals didn't get "rammed through". It took me quite a bit to actually acquire their entitlements and app review approval. I dislike when people assume just because I live in "Silicon Valley" I automatically have everything handed to me. If you would like to learn more about how the processes that I took to achieve this feel free to ask!
Proximity to some of the country's best high schools, universities, and the people who work there, as well as some of the most unique industries in the country, could have played a role. In other places, if not most, people don't even know these things exist. Everyone has the internet, sure, and anyone from anywhere can learn about anything, but it's hard to compete with people who encountered useful/the right information early in life.
