^^ Absolutely NOT true. Colleges pick and choose who they want. Some years, Harvard has passed over the valedictorian and salutatorian at Stuyvesant in favor of other kids ranked #5, #27, #41, #73, #89, #121 etc.
Yes, look at what Harvard says they look for in an applicant. None of it has to do with test scores or grades: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/what-we-look