Zach Yadegari, the teenage co-founder of Cal AI, is facing a barrage of comments after sharing his experience of being rejected by 15 out of 18 top colleges he applied to. Despite achieving a 4.0 GPA and a strong ACT score of 34, he believes that the crux of his issue lay within his application essay, a sentiment echoed by many commenters on social media. Cal AI, the viral AI calorie-tracking app he co-founded, reportedly generates millions in revenue and is tracking towards an annual recurring revenue of $30 million.
Although the revenue claim is not independently verified, the app has over a million downloads and numerous positive reviews. This is not Yadegari’s first entrepreneurial success; he previously sold a web gaming company for $100,000. Initially, Yadegari did not plan to attend college, envisioning himself as a classic tech entrepreneur who would drop out.
However, his time at a hacker house in San Francisco shifted his perspective. He recognized that forgoing college would mean missing out on significant experiences of young adulthood. His application essay reflected this journey; it detailed his experiences as a self-taught coder and explored the influence of venture capitalists and mentors who had encouraged his non-traditional path.
In a moment of self-reflection, he wrote about how his rejection of the collegiate path had inadvertently placed him within another framework of expectations—that of the archetypical dropout founder. He concluded that college could enrich his life, allowing him to learn from others and contribute to a larger community. Despite his strong credentials, Yadegari faced rejections from prestigious institutions such as Stanford, MIT, and Harvard.
His viral tweet detailing the rejections sparked diverse reactions, with some criticizing the perception of arrogance in his essay, while others lamented the college admissions process. Insights emerged suggesting that colleges favor candidates who exhibit genuine enthusiasm for education. Reflecting on the response to his post, Yadegari expressed a mix of confusion and fascination with the reactions.
As he contemplates his future, he recognizes that success isn’t solely defined by business achievements. He feels that relationships and community play a vital role in a fulfilling life, beyond mere financial success.