Zach Yadegari, 18-year-old millionaire CEO of AI company, sends open letter to Harvard, Yale and Stanford after failing to get admission

Zach Yadegari, the 18-year-old CEO of AI startup Cal AI, has sparked widespread debate after sharing an open letter addressed to Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. Despite boasting a 4.0 GPA, a 34 ACT score, and running a startup generating $30 million annually, Yadegari was rejected by all three elite universities.

In his letter, Yadegari expressed disappointment over the admissions process, questioning whether traditional metrics of success are still valued by elite universities. He highlighted his journey as a self-taught coder who began programming at the age of seven, launched his first app at 12, and built a thriving AI company during his high school years. Yadegari emphasized that his entrepreneurial achievements and academic excellence reflect his dedication and potential.

The young CEO also addressed the broader implications of his rejection, stating, "If someone like me, who has demonstrated both academic and professional success, cannot gain admission, what does this say about the accessibility and inclusivity of higher education?"

Yadegari disclosed the list of universities that rejected him and shared his college admissions essay on X. In his essay, he admitted that he initially viewed higher education as unnecessary. He recounted starting his coding journey at the age of 7, launching his first app by 12, and successfully exiting an online gaming business by the time he was 16.



Yadegari's posts quickly went viral, garnering millions of views and sparking a heated discussion about the college admissions process. While many praised his accomplishments and criticized the universities for overlooking a candidate of his caliber, others speculated that his admissions essay, which initially questioned the necessity of college, may have influenced the decisions.
Despite several rejections, Yadegari has been accepted into the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Miami, both highly regarded institutions.