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Ask YC: What is considered high level of ability ?

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Re: Ask YC: What is considered high level of ability ?

#21
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

SAT scores correlate highly with academic performance. This should come as no surprise, since their whole purpose was to democratize college admissions by allowing those students who would do best at college to be accepted, regardless of their religion or social connections. The fact that SAT scores correlate poorly with workplace success is a red herring -- SAT scores were never supposed to predict workplace success…

"SAT scores correlate highly with academic performance." Incorrect.

SAT scores are actually pretty decently correlated with freshman year grades. Colleges wouldn't use it if it weren't predictive, and so the College Board has put a lot of work into ensuring the test means something. Then again, freshman year grades don't really mean much in the grand scheme of life, but they do mean something, definitely.

Re: Ask YC: What is considered high level of ability ?

#22
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"SAT scores correlate highly with academic performance." Incorrect.

SAT scores are actually pretty decently correlated with freshman year grades. Colleges wouldn't use it if it weren't predictive, and so the College Board has put a lot of work into ensuring the test means something. Then again, freshman year grades don't really mean much in the grand scheme of life, but they do mean something, definitely.

[deleted]

Re: Ask YC: What is considered high level of ability ?

#23

I considered putting down my IQ, but decided that would be a bit tacky so I just listed some of the areas of technology that interest me or that I feel I'm good in. IQ and SAT stats do not strongly correlate with performance anyway.

I put down my SATs - the 7th grade CTY ones, not the official high school ones. I figure that many applicants have perfect or near-perfect SATs, so I wouldn't stand out so much on that basis. I debated taking them off as tacky, but I figure that I've already posted a lot about my experiences on this board, while the test scores and such is new information.

Ultimately, I think experience matters more, but there's a whole other section on the app for "What have you built?" and another one for "What tools will you use?"

Re: Ask YC: What is considered high level of ability ?

#28
post #11

I think this is a useful metric for evaluating a startup team, but I do think the metric is subjective! I am sure a lot of us (not so fortunate ones) realize our best abilities while working on something we really love. So the best bet would be to describe your abilities relative to the problem you are trying to solve. How are your abilities helping your startup make significant forward progress?

>I am sure a lot of us (not so fortunate ones) realize our best abilities while working on something we really love.

Why is that unfortunate?

Re: Ask YC: What is considered high level of ability ?

#29
post #25

I can code, design, play guitar, dance Salsa, surf, speak Spanish, English and a little Portuguese. :P

Do you also enjoy candlelit dinners and moonlight walks on the beach? If so, we might be a perfect match!

hehehe, sorry, I'm not looking for a serious relationship right now ;)

Re: Ask YC: What is considered high level of ability ?

#30
post #11

I think this is a useful metric for evaluating a startup team, but I do think the metric is subjective! I am sure a lot of us (not so fortunate ones) realize our best abilities while working on something we really love. So the best bet would be to describe your abilities relative to the problem you are trying to solve. How are your abilities helping your startup make significant forward progress?

>I am sure a lot of us (not so fortunate ones) realize our best abilities while working on something we really love. Why is that unfortunate?

i meant to say, earlier we find something we love the better, so that we could start realizing our abilities sooner.. :-)
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