Zach Yadegari, an 18-year-old high school student, has made headlines for his remarkable achievements. He developed a photo calorie app called Cal AI, which brings in $30 million in annual revenue. However, despite his success, Yadegari faced rejection from 15 out of the 18 colleges he applied to.
Cal AI automatically allows users to take pictures of their food to log the meal’s calories and macronutrients. The app has been a massive success, with over five million downloads and a 4.8-star rating on various app stores. Yadegari maintained a 4.0 GPA and scored 34 on the ACT, and included his app in his college applications.
Many were surprised by his high rejection rate, considering his academic and entrepreneurial achievements. Users on social media platform X speculated that his personal statement might have contributed to the rejections.
Cal AI success amid college rejections
Some believe that his essay hinted to admissions officers that he might not commit to completing college. Georgia Tech, the University of Texas, and the University of Miami accepted Yadegari. He remains uncertain about the exact reasons for the rejections but is optimistic about his future plans.
“Ultimately, I’ll never know exactly why I was turned down,” Yadegari said. “My motivation [for] going to college is just to have a social life.”
The rise in college application rates over the past decades has made admissions increasingly competitive, especially to top-tier schools. The Ivy-Plus schools received over triple the number of applications in 2022 compared to twenty years ago.
Yadegari’s story serves as a reminder that success can take many forms, with or without the validation of traditional academic institutions. It also raises questions about the value colleges place on different achievements and the current state of higher education in nurturing entrepreneurial talent.
Photo by Shantanu Kumar on Pexels