No Ivy tag needed: Rejected by Harvard, MIT, Yale, and Stanford, this teen built a multi-million dollar company

Zach Yadegari, an 18-year-old entrepreneur with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a thriving AI startup, was rejected by several top US universities, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Stanford. His company, Cal AI, generates $30 million in annual revenue. After sharing his rejections on X, his story sparked widespread debate online.

Yadegari's early interest in technology
Yadegari began coding at the age of seven and created his first app by 12. At 16, he sold an online gaming business, paving the way for his latest venture, Cal AI. The company, founded during his junior year of high school, uses artificial intelligence to scan food images and track calorie intake. The app quickly became a leader in its niche, generating millions in revenue.


Speculation over college admissions essay
Many were surprised by Yadegari’s rejection despite his strong credentials. Some online discussions suggested that his college admissions essay may have influenced the decision. In his essay, he initially questioned the necessity of college education, which some believed may not have been received well by admissions committees. An X user commented, "if this is how you represented yourself to MIT, I can understand why it would want to reject you."

However, Yadegari’s perspective on higher education evolved during a visit to Kyoto’s Ryoan-ji rock garden. In his essay, he described how the experience changed his view, making him see college as an opportunity for learning rather than an obstacle.

Accepted into Georgia Tech and University of Miami
Despite rejections from Ivy League schools, Yadegari secured admission to the Georgia Institute of Technology, a top engineering school in the US. He was also accepted into the University of Miami, ensuring strong academic opportunities for his future.