Zach Yadegari, the 17-year-old co-founder of the viral AI calorie app Cal AI, has taken to social media platform X to share his surprising college rejection story, sparking a heated debate on the college admissions process. Despite boasting a 4.0 GPA and a 34 score on his ACT, Yadegari was rejected by 15 out of 18 top colleges he applied to, including Stanford, MIT, and Harvard.

Yadegari believes his essay may have been the culprit behind the rejections. He posted the entire essay on X, which revealed his initial reluctance to attend college, citing his success as a self-taught coder and the encouragement of VCs and mentors. However, he later had an epiphany, realizing that he wanted to learn from humans, not just books and YouTube, and that college would help him "elevate the work I have always done" and make a greater positive impact on the world.

The essay's tone, which some deemed "arrogant," may have contributed to the rejections. Many commenters on X blasted the essay, while others criticized the college acceptance system, arguing that it prioritizes candidates who seem thirsty for education and are likely to graduate. Yadegari's essay, in contrast, read like he had barely convinced himself to attend college.

Yadegari's story has resonated with many, including Y Combinator's Garry Tan, who shared his own experience of being widely rejected and waitlisted on his college apps due to his essays being influenced by Ayn Rand's Objectivism philosophy. Tan eventually attended Stanford.

Despite the rejections, Yadegari remains optimistic, telling TechCrunch that he's still figuring out his next steps. He's fascinated by the response his X post received, saying, "It was interesting to see many different perspectives, but ultimately, I'll never know exactly why I was turned down. At the end of the day, when I wrote my essay, I hoped admissions offices would perceive me as authentic because that's all I ever want to be."

Yadegari's experience has also led him to reevaluate his priorities. Having achieved significant business success at a young age, he's come to realize that life is not just about financial success, but also about relationships and being part of a larger community. This newfound perspective may influence his future decisions, as he navigates the next chapter of his life.

The debate sparked by Yadegari's story raises important questions about the college admissions process and what qualities colleges value in applicants. As the tech industry continues to evolve, it's clear that traditional metrics, such as GPA and test scores, are no longer the only measures of success. Yadegari's experience serves as a reminder that authenticity, self-awareness, and a willingness to learn are essential qualities for achieving true success.