There is another downside to the YC credential, which is the paltry funding in return for a huge chunk of a startup's equity. Is the program worth such a substantial cost? YC uses its reputation and an almost cult-like glorification of the startup to create a factory farm for newly minted college grads to toil away in, each in their own niche. All of these startups come from the same school, and so they work the same way, using the same ideas, shared among them--so when the majority of these startups fail, the many graduates leave with the same monoculture of thought, which lessens the value of their experience.
I believe the pool's antecedents and ideas are much more diverse than that. I recommend the recent book 'The Launch Pad' (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1591845297) as a good introduction to YC.
Personally, if I were in a peer group any of whose members managed to succeed, I'd be much more motivated to give it another try even if my own effort had failed, compared to having made the effort alone.
edit: But I agree with you in another way. Hurting for the lack of such a credential is a self-confidence issue. If you managed to hunker down and make something on your own, you're already ahead of the unwashed masses. Surely making a case for that is not so difficult in comparison (to the effort itself).
(YC) create a factory farm for newly minted college grads to toil away in, each in their own niche. All of these startups come from the same school, and so they work the same way, using the same ideas, shared among them--so when the majority of these startups fail, the many graduates leave with the same monoculture of thought, which lessens the value of their experience
That seems like a profoundly naive opinion. If you have the chance to meet any random sampling of yc founders you'll find that they come from extremely diverse backgrounds and leave yc with just as diverse experiences
