Not really, but the strength of their surgical residencies as a whole definitely would. I'm not set on ortho.
I'm on the regular waitlist, which makes this even more moot to be honest. I have support from a few alumni that offered to write letters though, so I'm trying to see how to play that. I might call their office to see what the the historical numbers for the regular wl are. There are a few every year but...
At that point though, I'd probably be abroad and have to figure out housing stuff for Jeff way in advance. If I hear from umass in May then I can actually consider it, but I'd like to have some sort of idea where I'm going before I leave the country.
Like you thought for pitt, I think Einstein is a lost cause but I have some support so I'm thinking about whether I should call in the favor. One of my attending friends went there and her dad was on the faculty, so I feel like her word has some weight.
I can also ask some of the faculty at the program I work at for a letter of support. They've all offered to do it and one of them trained at Einstein. But if I get in and the money isn't right, I'd feel awful for not going if they wrote the letter.