Straight-A Student, 34 ACT, Viral App… and 15 Rejection Letters

Teen with $30 Million Startup and 4.0 GPA Rejected by 15 Top Colleges

Viral Essay Sparks Debate Over What It Really Takes to Get In

A Perfect Resume… and a Wave of Rejections

Zach Yadegari seemed like the perfect applicant.

• A 4.0 GPA

• A 34 ACT score

• A startup worth $30 million
  He even created an app, Cal AI, that uses artificial intelligence to calculate the calorie content in food using just a photo. It earned over $1 million in just 30 days.

With all these accomplishments, Yadegari applied to 18 colleges, confident that at least a few top schools would admit him.

But when the results came in?
15 rejection letters—including from Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Yale, and Princeton.

Viral Essay Reveals His Disappointment and Hope

Yadegari shared his college admissions essay online, and it quickly went viral—over 27 million views across platforms.

In the essay, he reflected on:

• His journey as a young tech entrepreneur

• His concerns about capitalism

• His desire to learn from people, not just technology

One standout line from his essay:

“In the rejection of the collegiate path, I had unwittingly bound myself to another framework of expectations: the archetypal dropout founder.”

It struck a chord with many online. Some called it “deep and refreshing.” Others thought it came off as too self-assured or even “condescending.”

What He Built: Cal AI, the $30M Startup

Zach’s company, Cal AI, became a major success story even before he graduated high school.

• The app helps people track their nutrition using photos of their meals

• It generated $1M+ in revenue in just one month

• It attracted tens of thousands of users and was featured in major tech publications

According to Zach, he also hired people and created jobs—something he felt should be viewed just as highly as extracurriculars or volunteer work.

“Building a company and creating jobs should count for something, just like volunteering or doing school clubs,” he said.

Where He Got In—and Where He’s Going

Despite the setbacks, Yadegari was accepted into:

• Georgia Tech

• University of Texas

• University of Miami

While they weren’t Ivy League, these schools are still highly respected—especially for engineering and technology.

Online, many commenters supported Zach, reminding him that college admissions don’t define success. One user wrote:

“You’ve done more than most professionals—why even go to college?”

Others were more critical. Some said his essay made it sound like he didn’t really want to be in college, while others felt his tone was too confident.

The Bigger Question: What Do Colleges Really Want?

Zach’s story is reigniting the debate around college admissions:

• Are elite universities placing too much weight on traditional paths—like test scores and clubs?

• Are they undervaluing young entrepreneurs, innovators, or students who take big risks?

• Do college essays need to show humility, even if the student has already achieved more than most adults?

Some admissions experts say schools may be looking for signs that applicants will succeed in a college environment—which includes:

• Working in teams

• Following through on multi-year commitments

• Showing growth and emotional maturity

Others argue that students like Zach, who are already creating real-world impact, should be the exact kind of candidates top schools embrace.

What Zach Learned—and What’s Next

Despite the rejections, Zach remains hopeful.

“I want to learn from humans—professors and students—not just from computers or textbooks.”

His story shows that even in a world obsessed with prestige, real learning and growth matter more than just getting into the most elite schools.

Whether he chooses Georgia Tech, UT, or Miami, Zach Yadegari is already on a path of innovation—and this is likely just the beginning.

• Zach Yadegari had a perfect GPA, strong ACT, and a multimillion-dollar startup—but still got rejected by 15 of 18 colleges he applied to.

• His viral college essay shared deep reflections on capitalism and education, drawing both praise and criticism.

• The story has reopened debate on how elite colleges evaluate candidates, especially young entrepreneurs.

• Yadegari was accepted into top-tier public schools and is choosing to focus on learning and growth, not just status.