An 18-year-old entrepreneur is sparking a big conversation after sharing that he got rejected by multiple Ivy League schools. Zach Yadegari, who runs a $30 million startup, said he was turned down by schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Yale. These rejections came despite him having a stellar record.

Yadegari made a post on X (formerly Twitter) speaking about the rejections. His tweets quickly went viral and amassed over 10 million views.

As per the reports, Yadegari, the Chief Executive Officer of the nutrition tracking application called Cal AI, shared rejection letters alongside details of his qualifications. Yadegari said that he has a 4.0 GPA, a 34 ACT score and a company generating significant revenue.

As per an India Today report, he further stated that although he was rejected by Ivy League institutions, he was accepted in colleges like Georgia Tech, the University of Texas, and the University of Miami.

Mixed Reactions to Rejections

The news baffled many social media users with some wondering that such an accomplished applicant could be turned away. But not all social media users were as kind. Some users speculated that his perceived entitlement of the quality of his college essay may have caused him to be rejected by the institutions.

A user on X had remarked that any institution would be lucky to have him. They added that the admissions officer reading his application was likely jealous.

Meanwhile, other users questioned why he wanted to pursue university at all; they asked why Zach wanted to go to university when he had achieved more than many professionals. Responding to them, Zach said that his motivation behind going to college is just to have a social life.

In contrast, a user stated that his personal statement indicates he is more likely to drop out and thus they gave his spot to another student.

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College Essay Under Scrutiny

To address the criticism, Yadegari posted his personal statement wherein he detailed his entrepreneurial journey. In his statement, he said that he taught himself coding at age seven, charged $30 per hour for lessons by age ten, and created a gaming website which earned $60,000 annually at 14. He further stated that he exited a six-figure business by 16. He added that by forgoing traditional education, he moved to San Francisco and built Cal AI, the reports added.

Many social media users pointed out that his essay was underwhelming. A user bluntly said that Zach’s essay was worse than those that rich parents pay to have written for their children. Another user said that his statement tells a compelling story, but he starts it with a strong critique of college and does not fully address what made him change his mind. The user said that Zach could better articulate his thoughts and how they align with his long-term goals. Admissions officers look beyond academic ability, the netizen added.

A Debate on College Admissions

Yadegari’s situation has sparked fresh discussions around college admissions standards, prompting us to consider whether traditional universities focus more on academic achievements and business acumen or if they appreciate a wider range of attributes, such as personal growth and leadership skills, the reports added.

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FAQs

1 . Why was Zach Yadegari rejected despite his impressive achievements?
Whereas Yadegari boasts a glowing academic transcript and a profitable company, admission to college weighs much more than accomplishments and marks.

2. What's the public saying about Yadegari’s rejections?
People have reacted in different ways on social media. Some thought it was outrageous to reject such a talented guy, while others criticized him for seeming entitled and felt his personal statement didn’t make a strong case for his admission.