[mlyang]

I find it interesting how YC is trying to increase its classes sizes significantly and YC partners are traveling all around encouraging everyone to apply (which would seemingly reduce the standard for getting in, unless qualified applicants are significantly increasing every year) in light of pg's point about gaming the system. Getting into an incubator, for many applicants, is effectively like "playing house" at starting a company or gaming the system, when really what those people should be focusing on is just building/growing their product, rather than figuring how to get into an incubator before they have a validated product. Especially given the predictors on a YC app that might increase an applicant's chance of getting in (prestigious school, work experience, etc.), seems like there are still lots of opportunities for "gaming the system" in YC.

[argonaut]

> > which would seemingly reduce the standard for getting in This statement is fairly unfounded

This is basically just speculation (and rather uncharitable speculation at that). And, plausibly, if the YC partners manage to increase the pool of applicants faster than they increase class sizes (which is plausible because the class sizes have not expanded tremendously), it would only raise the bar

> unless qualified applicants are significantly increasing every year

This is probably what is happening.

[bhaumik]

>>which would seemingly reduce the standard for getting in, unless qualified applicants are significantly increasing every year

An ulterior motive behind Sam Altman's startup class? Incredible engagement already with 400+ University viewing groups*

*https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1P5xh1t0SOUlVmFkLKPk0...