The whole late vs. early thing is a bit of red herring. I think what I actually said was that a surprising number of the best startups only decided to apply at the last minute. But we certainly don't look at applications that come in at the last minute and think "ok, these guys must be good."

It doesn't help to apply late. It doesn't hurt much, either. We do start looking at some of the early applications, and make suggestions about things they could change to improve their prospects. But I doubt by more than 10%. If you're good, it will show, basically.

Updated the post. I'm kinda surprised that is what the comments focused on -- whoops.

It's not necessarily your fault. It's very common for comments to focus on a side point and miss the core of a post. Happens to me all the time.

Yes, in fact, we applied very very early - just a few weeks after the applications were announced.

Here's other resources for advice:

http://mattmaroon.com/?p=247

http://leavingcorporate.com/2008/03/24/how-to-get-accepted-f...

Matt's number 1 tip is the opposite:

"# Apply early. I’m guessing something like 75% of their applications are submitted in the last few days. That’s usually how those sorts of things work. Doing it earlier can only help get you a little more consideration time."

and leaving co:

"Start early. If you haven’t already begun your application, do so now! It’s due on April 2nd, and you probably should have started at least a month in advance. There’s certainly been cases where founders have been accepted with a last minute application, but why risk it? The longer you can think things through and iteratively improve your application, the better chance you’ve got."

We applied at the last minute...the same day they were due, and with only a half an hour or so of work on the app (I applied on a whim...didn't even tell my co-founder until after). I don't know how it effects the odds, but we did get the interview (and I think that's also the point at which I informed my co-founder that I'd applied). I'm guessing it probably doesn't matter. At the end of WFP07, I seem to recall that they waited until the apps were all in before printing them out and looking them over.

I do suggest writing well, however, and taking as long as you need to achieve that goal.

Didn't Matt apply late?

Considering there is no longer an option to start early, the only advice left to give is "do it now!"

true

"The best people apply late"

I am really curious as to where that factoid came from and how you could quantify that.

I could see that the best people put thought into the application process, begin writing early and hold off on actually submitting until close to the deadline.

From http://www.paulgraham.com/notnot.html :

"We have some evidence to support this. Several of the most successful startups we've funded told us later that they only decided to apply at the last moment. Some decided only hours before the deadline."

But copying that would be particularly cargo-cult-ish. The point there is that great people were uncertain, not that uncertain people were great. The thing to copy is the greatness, not the uncertainty. :-)

"Cargo Cult Software Engineering" should be required reading for all nerds:

http://stevemcconnell.com/ieeesoftware/eic10.htm

I applied early, so there are exceptions :)

I would agree this is difficult to quantify. It came from a casual conversation with YC folks.

I could see that the best people put thought into the application process, begin writing early and hold off on actually submitting until close to the deadline.

-- I agree with this I think that preparation is an important thing.