do connections matter for top programs? i dont even think harvard matched a lot of their own reseach fellows< I interviewed at >5 T10s and matched at a T10 with no connections but not sure if that is common.
its not a backdoor deal, matching at your home program is a connection, having your mentor or PD or LOR writer that trained with someone or at a place. Perhaps the chair at a program trained at your home dept or grew up in your hometown or the program is in your hometown. This is incredibly common stuff that people may not realize immediately or may choose to ignore thinking they did it all themselves but helps a ton when everyone is so qualified already and picking from the stack is difficult<those connections are fair IMO. What I meant was backdoor deals—like secretive "ok i'll guarantee your student a spot if you guarantee mine etc", like borderline illegal
the nepotism is mostly just the name endorsing your application. They aren't actively pulling strings and getting weird favors. The program leadership reading the LOR see the name, and think: "I've known this individual for 20 years. I know their standard. If they endorse this applicant like this, the applicant must be special" x3 <<"25% of all derm positions are generally spoken for before interviews even start" --- evidence?
depends if you letter writers are known as well, it is not uncommon but I think up to 25% of all derm positions are generally spoken for before interviews even start which is i think maybe even an underestimate with the number of people that match home programs<lol does anyone know for sure that these backdoor deals happen or just speculation??< they happen. i just don't know if it is 25%