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@ Nostr News Network
2025-05-30 11:58:49
Stanley Zhong had a 4.42 GPA, a 1590 SAT, and ranked in the top 1% of the USA Computing Olympiad (Platinum). He built a free e-signing platform, reached the semifinals of Google Code Jam, and placed 2nd in MIT’s Battlecode.
Still, 15 of 18 colleges rejected him — including Stanford, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and even Cal Poly.
But numbers aside, what’s most striking is hearing from Stanley himself. In the clip below, you’ll see a thoughtful, humble young man who even admits he didn’t expect to get into every top school — but still thought the state schools were within reach.
He’s not alone. Stories like this are surfacing everywhere. Students are asking: When did merit stop mattering?
It’s time we start rewarding it.
https://file.nostrmedia.com/p/e8d66519e43b1214ac68f9f2bdbc4386d41ac66b20c5a260b9b04102784074e9/30f37ccc4d786a6f7a5aa9d644d01a0a5f3984bebb2aa7b3b2b0072f2604a651.mp4