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Why even the most exceptional high school students get rejected—and what every parent must know about the college essay.
During this year’s U.S. college admissions season, one story made waves in parent communities across the country.
An 18-year-old high school student from New York—Zach Yadegari—had the perfect résumé:
And yet, he was rejected by 15 out of 18 colleges, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, and other elite institutions.
Zach’s credentials would be the envy of any applicant. He began coding at age 7, released his first app at 12, sold a tech company for six figures at 16, and launched Cal AI, a calorie recognition app that reached over 5 million downloads and $2 million in monthly revenue—all before graduating high school.
Despite these achievements, only Georgia Tech, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Miami offered him admission. While all are prestigious institutions, they were not on his original target list.
Zach himself was stunned. In an interview, he admitted, “I didn’t expect to get into every top school—but I thought I’d get into at least two.” He expressed frustration that U.S. colleges seemed to undervalue young entrepreneurs, stating that “founding companies and creating jobs should count as much as volunteering or student leadership.”
But what really cost him wasn’t his accomplishments—it was his essay.
After receiving his rejection letters, Zach posted his entire personal statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Instead of sympathy, he received widespread criticism.
According to Liza Libes, a college admissions consultant in New York, the core issue was clear: his essay focused entirely on bragging about achievements, lacking any real introspection, personality, or emotional depth.
His opening lines listed:
“I started coding at 7. By 10, I was teaching others at $30/hour. At 12, I released my first app. At 14, I launched a gaming platform that earned $60K/year. At 16, I sold my company for six figures…”
The entire essay read like a timeline of achievements—impressive, but impersonal. It lacked a central story, character growth, or insight into his values and identity. Admissions officers were left with a long list of what he had done, but no understanding of who he really was.
Even worse, the tone of the essay came off as arrogant. He wrote about how mentors and investors told him he didn’t need college, which suggested to readers that he saw higher education as a fallback plan. That raised serious doubts about his commitment and sincerity.
Online feedback was harsh:
“This isn’t a personal statement. It’s a résumé with attitude.”
“No wonder he got rejected—he didn’t show any depth.”
Despite his extraordinary accomplishments, his writing failed to reflect maturity, purpose, or emotional intelligence—qualities that top universities look for in future leaders.
Zach’s story proves that no amount of awards or success can substitute for a well-written college essay. Ivy League admissions aren’t just about numbers. They look for students who can reflect deeply, communicate authentically, and share personal growth through storytelling.
In a sea of perfect GPAs and stellar test scores, what sets students apart is the essay—the one part of the application that can’t be quantified.
Zach didn’t fail because he wasn’t “good enough.” He failed because many other applicants were equally qualified, and his essay didn’t persuade readers to choose him over others.
The college essay is the only section of the application that reveals the person behind the scores.
Admissions officers use it to assess:
A flat, generic, or arrogant essay can instantly diminish an otherwise outstanding application.
In contrast, a well-written, heartfelt essay makes an applicant memorable, likable, and desirable—even if their résumé isn’t perfect.
Top admissions advisors agree that strong essays share four core traits:
The goal? Make admissions officers remember you, like you, and want you on their campus.
In our years of experience, we’ve found two major issues in essays written by high school students:
Result:
“The reader remembers everything you did—but doesn’t remember you.”
To help students overcome these challenges, A+ Program created a focused summer training course:
For rising 10th and 11th graders
Program Highlights:
2025 Sessions:
– July 1–18
– July 28–August 13
Register online:
https://www.aplusprogram.com/summer-college-admission-bootcamp/
Zach’s experience teaches a painful truth:
Even the brightest students can lose their spot to those who simply tell their stories better.
Investing in storytelling and writing skills is more than preparing for college—it’s preparing for life.
If you want your child to:
Then this summer is your opportunity.
Harvard University, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, Brown, UPenn, Cornell, Dartmouth, University of Chicago, NYU, BU, BC, Northeastern, Tufts, Brandeis, Wellesley, Babson, UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, USC, and many more.
