Teen App Millionaire Rejected: College Isn’t Everything

Unlock a fresh perspective on business, where insightful strategy meets an unexpected spark of genius
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An 18-year-old just built an app. A calorie-counting app. It’s called Cal AI. And it’s making $30 million a year! Pretty impressive, right?
But here’s the kicker. This teen, Zach Yadegari, got rejected from 15 top colleges. Including Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton. Ouch.
The Stats Don’t Lie
Zach isn’t slacking. He had a 4. 0 GPA. And a 34 on the ACT. That puts him in the top 5% of test takers. His app has 5 million downloads. And tons of positive reviews.
What Happened?
Zach shared his college essay online. It talked about his journey. From coding as a kid to building his app. And hiring his first employee.
He even wrote about how he changed his mind about college. He realized it wasn’t just a “right of passage. ” But a way to “elevate the work” he’s already doing.
The Internet Weighs In
Some people think his essay hurt him. One X user said it made him seem like a dropout risk. Harsh, right?
College applications are way up. Top schools are getting flooded. It’s tougher than ever to get in.
Why College Anyway?
Zach isn’t sure why he got rejected. But he’s figuring things out.
Someone asked him why he even wanted to go to college. His answer? To have a social life.
Is College Overrated?
This story raises a question. Is college the only path to success? Zach’s already built a multi-million dollar business. Maybe he doesn’t need a degree.
What do you think? Is college essential? Or can you thrive without it?