Two Failures and What They Taught Me
May 12, 2026
Rejected from the Ivies
Pretty much the biggest reason was my 1450 SAT score. And I probably needed a little more extraordinary extracurriculars.
It's best to apply to Ivies when you have a higher percentile score. Probably a 1500 or more would have tipped the odds in my favour.
Rejected from startup programs and VCs
They are judging you on:
- The depth of your answers. You can make up any answer for each question, but it's easy to tell when you have clearly thought things through versus when you are giving surface level answers.
- Your energy, confidence, and conviction. If you are not confident and almost obsessive about your idea and product, you will have a difficult time capturing the interest.
Do followups on emails, dig for feedback, and keep them posted.
Cover: Photo by MJH Shikder on Unsplash — source