<p>What probably matters is who writes your letters of recommendation, and how they are connected in the field. So a med school with a strong derm or plastics program, where you have rotated and done considerable research, should be actively promoting you as a candidate to your mentor’s connections. Phone calls happen. Discussions happen. You may be invited to national meetings to present, or snag great away rotations. Who your mentors are matters a lot. The actual name of the med school matters much less. This is why many derm applicants spend a year doing research with a mentor, and it strengthens their application in numerous ways. </p>