It's because it's risky and also requires actually being exceptional at something. So people choose the arduous brute force method because they know they can d

It's because it's risky and also requires actually being exceptional at something. So people choose the arduous brute force method because they know they can do it and it has a lower bound in terms of outcome. In any case, this isn't unique to college admissions. The same story plays out in terms of career and all facets of life.