A talented young individual from Long Island is heading to Florida.
Zach Yadegari, an 18-year-old tech prodigy, boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA and a solid 34 ACT score. On April 30, he announced his commitment to the University of Miami after facing rejection from 15 out of 18 schools, including all Ivy League institutions.
“Update: I’ve officially committed to UMiami,” Yadegari shared with his followers on X.
This young innovator from Roslyn, New York, has made over $30 million even before stepping foot on a college campus, thanks to his startup that developed Cal AI, an app designed to count calories through food photos.
Launched in 2024, this program offers a convenient way for users to keep track of their daily nutrition intake.
Despite his stellar academic record and business acumen, Yadegari experienced a rocky admissions process.
In March, he revealed that he received rejection letters from prestigious institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and Duke, among others, including all eight Ivy League schools.
With regards to the admissions landscape, Yadegari suggested that the criteria set by universities often fail to accommodate those with entrepreneurial talents.
“I think university admissions are trying to put students into this very narrow mold. This can make it tough for students who are outside of traditional education to really shine,” he told a media outlet.
Yadegari expressed his desire to attend university, noting he had missed many social opportunities in recent years.
“I’m 18. I want to spend time with others my age. Diving straight into the business world isn’t what I want just yet,” he remarked.
Ultimately, only the University of Miami, Georgia Tech, and the University of Texas accepted his applications.
“I didn’t think I’d be accepted by all these schools, but I had hoped at least for some of the top ones,” he mentioned in an early April post. “I don’t think the achievements of an entrepreneur are fully recognized in the admissions process.”
A coding enthusiast since age 7, Yadegari launched his first app on the Apple App Store when he was just 12. He admitted that the reality of his rejections hit him hardest when he received the letter from Stanford.
“I had held out hope for Stanford, but opening that rejection letter brought back all the past rejections I had experienced,” he noted.
Despite the emotional toll this took on him, Yadegari reflected on how his journey compared to other successful entrepreneurs who thrived without college degrees.
In a personal essay, he mentioned, “When I chose not to attend college, I found myself subject to a new set of expectations—the typical dropout founder. Rather than learning from a teacher, I’m expected to seek guidance from venture capitalists and mentors, while still heading in a direction that feels somewhat imposed.”
“I’ve come to realize that universities offer more than just a certificate; they serve as vital connections that can enhance the work I’ve been doing. In this new chapter, I aspire to learn from both professors and peers, not solely from machines and textbooks,” he concluded.
