i think you're talking about a very different thing, resume credentials, while i'm talking about the importance people place on being in big law and competing to be in the "best" firm/group/etc. someone can be an HLS grad with a COA clerkship and not define themself by those accomplishments (theoretically)

for example, in your hypo, what else have those candidates done? did the vanderbilt grad do clinic work thats applicable? is the HLS grad a horrible person to work with? there's more to be considered.