The Rejection of a High School Dropout Turned Entrepreneur
A Tale of Rejection and Self-Discovery
Zach Yadegari, a high school teen and co-founder of the viral AI calorie-tracking app Cal AI, recently opened up about his rejection from 15 top colleges, including Stanford, MIT, and Harvard. Despite his impressive academic record, including a 4.0 GPA and a 34 score on his ACT, Yadegari was rejected from the majority of the colleges he applied to.
The Problem with the Essay
Yadegari attributes his rejection to his essay, which he posted on X. He wrote about how he never planned on attending college, documenting his experience as a self-taught coder and how VCs and mentors reinforced the idea that he didn’t need college. However, he had an epiphany and realized that he wanted to learn from humans, not just books and YouTube. His essay concluded with a statement expressing his desire to contribute to and grow within a larger community, empowering him to leave a lasting, positive impact on the world.
The Viral Reaction
Yadegari’s tweet about his rejections went viral, with over 22 million views, more than 2,700 retweets, and upwards of 3,600 comments. Many of the comments blasted the essay as "arrogant," while others criticized the college acceptance system. Some pointed out that colleges are looking for candidates who seem thirsty for education and will likely graduate, and Yadegari’s essay did not convey that.
The Insiders’ Perspective
Y Combinator’s Garry Tan weighed in on X, sharing his own experience of being widely rejected and waitlisted on his college apps. Tan, who did get into and attend Stanford, shared that he rewrote his essays after reading Ayn Rand’s "The Fountainhead" and was influenced by the Objectivism philosophy.
The Aftermath
Yadegari tells TechCrunch that he’s still figuring out his next steps, but was fascinated by the response his X post received. He’s come to realize that business success isn’t the greatest achievement of his 17-year-old life. Having obtained some of that success, "I realized that life was not just about financial success," he said, "it is about relationships, and about being a part of a larger community."
Next Steps
Yadegari is still considering his options, but is open to attending college and exploring new opportunities. He’s come to realize that there’s more to life than just financial success and is eager to learn from humans and contribute to a larger community.
Conclusion
Zach Yadegari’s story serves as a reminder that success is not solely defined by financial achievement. His experience highlights the importance of self-discovery and growth, and the value of being part of a larger community. As he navigates the next steps in his journey, Yadegari is learning that there’s more to life than just business success.
FAQs
Q: What is Cal AI, and how successful is it?
A: Cal AI is a viral AI calorie-tracking app that generates millions in revenue, with a $30 million annual recurring revenue track. While the revenue claim cannot be verified, the app has been downloaded over 1 million times and has tens of thousands of positive reviews.
Q: What was Zach Yadegari’s academic record?
A: Yadegari had a 4.0 GPA and a 34 score on his ACT.
Q: Why was Yadegari rejected from 15 top colleges?
A: Yadegari attributes his rejection to his essay, which expressed his hesitation about attending college and his desire to learn from humans, not just books and YouTube.
Q: What was the reaction to Yadegari’s X post?
A: The post went viral, with over 22 million views, more than 2,700 retweets, and upwards of 3,600 comments. Many comments blasted the essay as "arrogant," while others criticized the college acceptance system.
