Isn't it extraordinary really that of all the professions, there are no laid down school or college qualifications required? Ok, the military have limits and most of the late lamented sponsorships had requirements. But as a general rule, you could leave school with enough E's to make any druggie happy and still start training as a pilot.
To be fair, it would be difficult for the educationally deficient to pass all the exams not to mention the flying itself. But in theory it's quite possible, certainly it wouldn't exclude anyone. The only things you need these days is the determination and the money.
So it is often the case that a wannabee comes on here worried that their B in Physics will exclude them. Well it won't. I often get the same queston myself from parents of kids or indeed the kids themselves. I lie to the kids and tell the parents the truth. So they lie to the kids.
I don't know if the way people become pilots is unique but it certainly is unusual.