Policies say “equal opportunity.” Real life is decided in the room. This documentary-style report traces three doors—an interview panel, a practicum gate, and a leadership slate—to show how access rises or falls on design, timing, and records. Chapter One defines the promise and the gap. Chapter Two maps the mechanisms that open or close doors, from job-post wish lists and unanchored interviews to lab hours, advising loads, and nomination channels. Chapter Three delivers a practical playbook: write jobs to the work, align access with time, open the slate, and prove it with simple dashboards. No speculation, no gotchas—just clean steps that any team can adopt and check. If you care about fairness that people can see, this is your field guide.