Is it just me or does it seem like getting into and launching a company through YC seem a little like american idol? Can't say that I like the way its going.
It seems inevitable. Start a competition. Its prestige and monetary value attracts a large, rapidly growing pool of interested contestants. The organizers, with limited time and resources, have to decide between hundreds, or even thousands, of great applicants. Many applicants are so highly qualified as to be practically indistinguishable (at least on the basis of the requested materials).
College admissions work the same way. So does getting a tenure-track position with a PhD in physics. Or a PhD in philosophy, for that matter. You can probably filter out the obvious bozos with a high degree of accuracy, but it still leaves a huge number of smart, capable people to choose from. Result: crapshoot.
Hats off to YC if it can figure out a way to solve this problem — and please, share the solution with university hiring committees and admissions offices!
College admissions work the same way. So does getting a tenure-track position with a PhD in physics. Or a PhD in philosophy, for that matter. You can probably filter out the obvious bozos with a high degree of accuracy, but it still leaves a huge number of smart, capable people to choose from. Result: crapshoot.
Hats off to YC if it can figure out a way to solve this problem — and please, share the solution with university hiring committees and admissions offices!