Teen with 4.0 GPA who built the viral Cal AI app was rejected by 15 top universities

Tech Crunch - Apr 3rd, 2025

Zach Yadegari, a high school student and co-founder of the successful AI app Cal AI, recently found himself at the center of a viral discussion on X after revealing that he was rejected by 15 out of 18 top colleges he applied to. Despite having a stellar 4.0 GPA and an impressive 34 ACT score, Yadegari believes his college essay may have been a factor in the rejections. In his essay, he candidly expressed his initial reluctance to pursue college, focusing instead on his path as a self-taught coder and entrepreneur. The essay, which he shared publicly, outlined his journey to realizing the importance of college for personal growth and community engagement. He was eventually accepted by Georgia Tech, the University of Texas, and the University of Miami.

Yadegari's experience and subsequent viral tweet, which garnered over 22 million views, prompted widespread debate on the college admissions process. While some commenters criticized his essay as arrogant, others questioned the fairness and criteria of college admissions. Influential figures like Y Combinator's Garry Tan joined the conversation, sharing their own experiences and insights. Yadegari's story highlights the complexities of the college admissions process for high-achieving individuals and raises questions about the value of traditional education paths versus entrepreneurial pursuits. It also underscores the importance of authenticity and self-awareness in personal narratives, as Yadegari reflects on his journey to understanding that true success encompasses more than just financial achievements, but also relationships and community involvement.

Entrepreneurship College Admissions Tech Crunch Zach Yadegari Cal Ai Viral Tweet Education System Garry Tan

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RATING

6.4

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides a compelling narrative about Zach Yadegari's experiences with college admissions, highlighting the tension between academic achievements and entrepreneurial success. It effectively captures public interest and engages readers with a timely topic. However, the story would benefit from more authoritative sources and expert analysis to enhance its credibility and impact. While it presents multiple perspectives, additional input from educational experts could provide a more balanced view. Overall, the article is well-written and accessible, offering valuable insights into the ongoing debate about the value of higher education in today's society.

Accuracy

The story presents a largely accurate depiction of Zach Yadegari's situation, but certain claims require further verification. For instance, Yadegari's academic achievements, such as his 4.0 GPA and 34 ACT score, are stated but not independently verified. Similarly, the claim about Cal AI's revenue of $30 million in annual recurring revenue is mentioned without supporting evidence, though the app's download figures and positive reviews are consistent with the narrative. The story accurately reports on the college admissions rejections and acceptances based on Yadegari's public statements, but it relies heavily on his own accounts, which introduces a level of uncertainty regarding the veracity of these claims.

Balance

The story provides a balanced view of Yadegari's experience by presenting both his perspective and the reactions of others on social media. It highlights criticisms of his essay and the college admissions process, offering multiple viewpoints on why he may have been rejected. However, the article could benefit from more input from independent experts in college admissions or education to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the situation. The absence of such perspectives may lead to a slight imbalance in the overall narrative.

Clarity

The article is well-written, with a clear structure and logical flow that makes it easy to follow. The language is straightforward, and the tone is neutral, which aids in comprehension. The story effectively conveys the main points and provides enough context for readers to understand the significance of Yadegari's experiences. However, the inclusion of more detailed explanations or background information on the college admissions process could further enhance clarity for readers unfamiliar with the topic.

Source quality

The story relies heavily on Yadegari's own statements and social media posts, which raises questions about the reliability of the information. While TechCrunch is mentioned as a source for some claims, such as the app's downloads, the article does not provide additional authoritative sources to corroborate key details, such as the financial success of Cal AI or the specifics of Yadegari's academic record. This reliance on limited sources impacts the overall credibility of the article.

Transparency

The article is relatively transparent in presenting Yadegari's own perspective and the public's reaction to his story. However, it lacks transparency in terms of how certain claims, particularly about the financial success of Cal AI, were verified or assessed. The article does not clearly disclose the methodology behind verifying Yadegari's statements or the potential biases that may affect the reporting. Greater clarity in these areas would enhance the transparency of the piece.