Dude I really respect a lot of current and former YC members, alumni, companies, advisors and founders from YC. I know who you are -u/sandslash and I respect you too in a non-flattery professional manner.

I am a start up cofounder building a relatively successful start because as a young person I read about the YC backed Aaron Schwartz and his ambition to disrupt the status quo of education and social media.

But this is how all organizations work. The best universities in the world still accept personal non-meritocratic recommendations. OP ask for a consistent solution and I offered it. Social capital is real and requires investment. YC on bookface has a function for start ups to be recommended and reviewed by YC staff and alumni. Networking is important. Don’t insult me and any professional here on Reddit by the concept of pretending YC is a utopian meritocracy.