With a LD, you can apply for extra time to take the USMLEs; just look at Sophie Currier (on 2nd thought...don't). While the fact that you had extra time will be noted, if it means a significant difference in your Step 2 score, it would be worth considering, FWIW.
Dude, get ready to snicker to yourself when those classmates don't match and try and make up some story about how they "didn't want to go there anyway." Connections are great, don't get me wrong. But no one, especially in a competitive field like Derm is a shoe-in. You'd be suprised at what PDs say to each other when they wont' tell the applicant the same. I've seen LORs from PDs whom, when called, had horrific things to say about the appilcant that they didn't want to say on paper. Get connections if you can, but don't assume that without them that you aren't going to match.
Let us know in March which of those blow-hard, overly confident classmates of yours didn't match and we'll all laugh together.
Otherwise, do research, rock Step 2 if you can, schmooze faculty and if you would hate yourself if you didn't match into Derm at least give it a shot, with another specialty as back-up. If your Step 1 is "slightly below average" its probably still within the SEM and yuor application otherwise average, you don't have to necessarily settle for crappy residency programs. Your classmates and you have you stressed out without reason, IMHO.
