I think they point of afternoon action is that it can partially replace networking, just as being a white man use to. Not everyone needs to do all that, some have connections made from birth, some have the private tutoring for all the exams so studying takes half as long and they have more time to do those extra curriculars that look good. Affirmative action replaces some of the connections left over from being related to a white man who was born to wealth who could afford good schooling.
Lots of really awesome people with comparable gpa and extra cuticular apply to the same top schools. This just made it so that instead of primarily accepting those related to someone else who was previously privileged, others could experience a top school too, all else considered.