Zach Yadegari, a high school student and co-founder of the popular AI calorie-tracking app Cal AI, has recently come under scrutiny on social media after sharing his experiences with college admissions. Despite achieving an exemplary 4.0 GPA and scoring a 34 on his ACT, Yadegari faced rejection from 15 out of the 18 prestigious universities to which he applied.

Academic Credentials and Application Struggles

Yadegari firmly believes that his essay played a pivotal role in the admissions outcomes. He provided insight into his writing process on X, formerly Twitter, explaining how his narrative emphasized his prior decision to avoid college. His essay illustrated his journey as a self-taught coder who found significant success without a formal education.

Entrepreneurial Ventures: Cal AI

Co-founding Cal AI marked Yadegari’s second entrepreneurial milestone. His previous venture, a web gaming company, was sold for $100,000. Cal AI has gained substantial traction, reportedly generating millions in revenue, and has been downloaded over a million times—a testament to its popularity and positive reception among users.

Reevaluating Academic Aspirations

Initially harboring aspirations of becoming a classic college-dropout entrepreneur, Yadegari changed his perspective after spending time developing his app in a hacker house in San Francisco. He recognized that attending college could enrich his personal and academic life far beyond just obtaining a degree.

In his application essay, he expressed a desire to learn from traditional academics and form meaningful connections, stating, “Through college, I will contribute to and grow within that larger whole, empowering me to leave an even greater lasting, positive impact on the world.”

The Response to His Rejections

Despite his credentials, Yadegari was turned down by esteemed institutions including Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Columbia, and more, with acceptances only from Georgia Tech, the University of Texas, and the University of Miami. His tweet detailing these rejections has garnered significant attention, reaching over 22 million views and sparking robust discussion.

The reactions have varied, with some commenters criticizing his essay for portraying an arrogant perspective. Others pointed out that colleges often seek candidates who display a genuine eagerness for education, suggesting that Yadegari’s essay failed to convey this enthusiasm.

Insights and Future Directions

In response to the viral conversation elicited by his post, Yadegari remarked on the multitude of opinions shared. He acknowledged that while the rejections were disappointing, they prompted introspection about his values and the true measures of success. “I realized that life was not just about financial success,” he shared, “it is about relationships and being a part of a larger community.”