Extra rotation time

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I would like to do my residency in peds. In this case, which is better for third year: an extra month of a pediatric sub-specialty rotation, or an extra month of research?

If you are sure that you are going into pediatrics, you don't need to do rotations in things that you will do in residency. A better choice would be to do things that make you a better physician/resident. How about a rotation in the pediatric section of radiology so that you are better able to read and understand your radiological studies? How about a rotation in anesthesia so that you learn how to perform conscious sedation? One of the more popular rotations at my medical school for people who are going into peds is clinical pharmacology so check and see if your school has an elective such as this.

If you have a passionate interest in research, then do a research elective but you are not going to get much exposure or research experience during a third-fourth year elective rotation. You simply won't have enough time to do anything that is particularly meaningful unless you started a project the summer between your first and second year.
 
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