Teen CEO's Viral College Rejections Highlight Debate Over Admissions and Achievement

Zach Yadegari, 18, founder of Cal AI, reflects on his future after rejections from 15 top universities despite significant entrepreneurial and academic success.

Zach Yadegari, an 18-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Cal AI, was rejected by 15 prestigious universities, including Ivy League schools, despite a 4.0 GPA and a 34 ACT score.
His nutrition app, Cal AI, generates $30 million in annual recurring revenue and has been downloaded over one million times, showcasing his entrepreneurial success.
Yadegari's college admissions essay emphasized his achievements and his shift from initially dismissing higher education to valuing its potential for personal growth and community engagement.
Social media reactions to his rejection have been polarized, with some criticizing his essay as overly self-focused and others defending his authenticity and accomplishments.
He has been accepted to Georgia Tech, the University of Miami, and the University of Texas and is currently considering his next steps while engaging with the broader conversation about college admissions criteria.