Tech Prodigy Rejected by 16 Colleges Sues US Universities for Alleged Racial Bias

Nineteen-year-old Stanley Zhong, a promising young software engineer with an outstanding academic record, has filed lawsuits against multiple US universities after being denied admission to 16 of the 18 institutions he applied to. Zhong, who had already secured a high-level engineering job at Google, believes that his rejections were the result of racial discrimination against Asian-American applicants in the admissions process.

Zhong, who graduated high school with an exceptional 3.97 GPA (4.42 weighted) and an impressive 1590 SAT score, ranked among the top 2,000 students out of over two million test-takers annually. His early talent was recognized when he received an offer for a PhD-level position at Google at just 13 years old, a job he officially accepted in October 2023 as a full-time software engineer.

However, despite these credentials, Zhong’s applications were turned down by some of the most prestigious universities in the country. The only institutions that admitted him were the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Maryland—a stark contrast to the 16 rejections he received from elite schools.

Colleges That Rejected Zhong

Among the universities that declined Zhong’s applications were:

• Ivy League and Top-Tier Tech Institutions: Stanford, MIT, Caltech, and Carnegie Mellon
• Public Universities: UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis
• Other Leading Institutions: Cornell, Georgia Tech, the University of Illinois, the University of Michigan, the University of Washington, and the University of Wisconsin

Legal Battle Against Alleged Discrimination

Dismayed by the rejection letters, Zhong and his father, Nan Zhong, have initiated legal action against multiple universities, alleging that the admissions process unfairly disadvantages high-achieving Asian-American applicants. Their lawsuit, filed without legal representation after multiple law firms declined to take on their case, specifically targets the University of California system and the University of Washington, with plans to expand litigation to other institutions.

Frustration Over the Admissions Process

Speaking about their experience, Zhong’s father expressed his disappointment and anger.

“I did hear that Asians seem to be facing a higher bar when it comes to college admissions, but I thought maybe it’s an urban legend. But then when the rejections rolled in one after another, I was dumbfounded,” he stated.

He further criticized the system, calling it “un-American” and stating that universities were “damaging young students” by placing obstacles in their paths.

AI-Generated Lawsuit Accuses Universities of Bias

The 300-page lawsuit, drafted with the help of AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, argues that Stanley’s case exemplifies racial discrimination in higher education. It specifically highlights his rejection from multiple University of California campuses despite his outstanding qualifications.

“Stanley’s admissions results stand in stark contrast to his receipt of a full-time job offer from Google for a position requiring a PhD degree or equivalent practical experience. His experience is emblematic of a broader pattern of racial discrimination against highly qualified Asian-American applicants at UC,” the lawsuit states.

The legal action seeks compensatory and punitive damages, along with any further relief deemed appropriate by the court.

Putting College Plans on Hold

For now, Stanley Zhong has chosen to postpone his college education while focusing on his work at Google. However, he has not ruled out pursuing higher studies in the future.

The legal case has also drawn significant attention on social media, with strong opinions from both supporters and critics. Amid the controversy, Zhong has decided to step away from media attention, choosing not to engage with the online backlash.

A Broader Debate on College Admissions

Zhong’s lawsuit comes amid a larger national debate on affirmative action and racial preferences in college admissions. Following a landmark US Supreme Court ruling in 2023 that struck down race-based admissions policies, there has been growing scrutiny over whether universities still indirectly practice racial balancing under the guise of holistic admissions.

Several studies and lawsuits have claimed that Asian-American students face disproportionately higher standards in the admissions process, with test scores and GPAs not being weighed equally across different racial groups.

This legal battle is expected to reignite discussions on fairness in college admissions, particularly in highly competitive universities where thousands of equally qualified students compete for limited spots.

Looking Ahead

As the case unfolds, higher education institutions may face increased scrutiny over their admissions processes. If Zhong’s lawsuit gains traction, it could set a precedent for future challenges against universities accused of discriminating against certain racial groups in their selection criteria.

For now, Stanley Zhong continues his work as a full-time engineer at Google, while the legal system determines the validity of his claims against the universities that rejected him.