This is such an oversimplification. Kids with great preparation, perhaps those from excellent prep schools, may do better freshman year because they have been working with college expectations (including lots of writing) for some time. But smart kids with less prep will figure it out, especially if they take advantage of the resources available, and by the beginning of sophomore year, everyone should be more or less at the same place.
I can think of kids who were capable but far from outstanding students who got into very competitive schools (by virtue of children of major donor status, for example) who did quite well in college by choosing a major that played to their strengths and avoiding classes that did not (and which were the ones that made them less than stellar high school students.) In this way, many students can do well, many will have profs who can write good recs, etc.
I can also think of kids who found their intended major too challenging and who shifted their path accordingly. Especially kids who thought that something like electrical engineering was what interested them. It may not have been the challenge of the school as much as not having been exposed to material at that level period and just not having a mind for it.
But this isn’t high school. There will not be a class rank or val on graduation day. Latin or departmental honors, maybe. And yes, many students will find themselves a mere part of the galaxy rather than the brightest star. No harm in that. And there will likely be a few students who remain brilliant stand-outs. The world needs all of them, so don’t get hung up on hierarchy.