In an era where college admissions have become increasingly competitive, two young men have found themselves at the heart of a growing discourse on the value of traditional metrics in evaluating potential students. The stories of a valedictorian from Massachusetts and an entrepreneurial tech CEO highlight the evolving landscape of higher education and the challenges faced by aspiring students.
One father took to Reddit to express his shock after his son, a high school valedictorian with an IQ exceeding 145, faced rejection from every Ivy League school except for one acceptance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Despite his impressive academic record—scoring 1580 on the SAT, acing 18 Advanced Placement (AP) exams, and completing 11 dual-enrollment courses with top grades—the young man was turned away by prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Yale, and MIT.
In his post, the father lamented, "My son has been rejected from all but 1 school. I'm shocked at how competitive college admissions have become." The student had not only excelled academically but also showcased entrepreneurial spirit by creating an online gaming website that attracted 180,000 users monthly, generating $3,100 in ad revenue. Additionally, he held a paid internship at a local tech company, served as president of his Computer Science club, and contributed research to two papers while working alongside a Boston University professor for three summers.
His father expressed concerns over the growing emphasis on college prestige over merit, stating, "I’m also deeply concerned for my son. From what he tells me, tech is not at all like finance, and that he’ll be able to get interviews at top tech companies despite going to UMass Amherst. But he’s still upset." This sentiment resonates with many parents who have witnessed similar struggles, as another parent commented on Reddit, sharing her own frustrations after her son, also a valedictorian, faced rejection from Ivy League schools.
The conversation shifted when Zach Yadegari, an 18-year-old CEO of the AI company Cal AI, shared an open letter addressed to Harvard, Yale, and Stanford after receiving rejection letters from these elite institutions. Despite boasting a 4.0 GPA, a 34 ACT score, and a startup generating $30 million in annual revenue, Yadegari questioned the admissions process and whether traditional metrics of success are still valued by elite universities.
Yadegari’s letter, which quickly went viral, highlighted his journey as a self-taught coder who began programming at seven, launched his first app at 12, and built a successful AI company during his high school years. He stated, "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?" His achievements sparked a heated discussion about the college admissions process, with many praising his accomplishments while others speculated that his admissions essay, which questioned the necessity of college, may have influenced the decisions.
In his college admissions essay, Yadegari recounted his experiences and achievements, including earning $60,000 a year from his online gaming website by the age of 14. He described how, after moving to California to focus on his startup, his mentors told him he “didn’t need college.” However, he later reflected on how he had initially rejected the idea of higher education. "I realized college is more than a mere rite of passage," he wrote, expressing a desire to learn from peers and professors rather than solely from textbooks.
Despite being accepted into the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Miami, Yadegari’s story raises questions about the admissions process at top universities. His candid sharing of his college essay led to a mix of admiration and criticism. Some commentators noted that his essay came off as overly self-congratulatory and failed to address why he wanted to attend these specific institutions. One critic pointed out, "This reads like a braggadocious cover letter more than a personal statement that showcases who you are as a holistic individual outside of your accomplishments."
Others defended Yadegari’s approach, arguing that his honesty should be commended. Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian remarked, "That’s nuts. I hope everyone dunking on the essay saves some energy to dunk on the requirements that led to it." Yadegari himself responded to the backlash, stating, "It was interesting to see many different perspectives, but ultimately, I’ll never know exactly why I was turned down." He added that his motivation for attending college was simply to have a social life.
The increasing competitiveness of college admissions has left many students and parents feeling disillusioned. As both Yadegari and the Massachusetts valedictorian demonstrate, exceptional academic and entrepreneurial achievements do not necessarily guarantee acceptance into top-tier universities. The emphasis on brand prestige over individual merit is prompting a reevaluation of what it means to succeed in the current educational landscape.
In this climate, students are not only competing against their peers but also against a system that often prioritizes institutional reputation over personal accomplishment. The conversations sparked by these young men’s experiences reflect a broader societal concern about the accessibility and inclusivity of higher education. As the narrative unfolds, it remains to be seen how institutions will adapt to meet the needs of a new generation of students who are redefining success.
