That being said, I'm already thinking down the line to residencies and it seems to be important to get in a rotation during the M3 year in whatever specialty you're thinking of doing. I was looking at NSU's website for clerkship info, and it appears that there are zero electives during the M3 year. Does that put me at a large disadvantage if I want to apply for, say, EM yet I don't get a chance to even do an EM rotation until my M4 year?
(For other applicants who don't know, here's the M3 list from the handbook: 12 wks IM, 8 wk Surgery, 8 wk Peds, 4 wk Psych, 4 wk OB/GYN, 4 wk Geriactrics, 8 wk Family med)
I keep reading about how you have to get in a grade or two for whatever you're applying for before your M4 year, or at least at the very beginning so that your letters and whatnot will be ready for apps. Every other school I've been seriously considering allows for at least one elective during the M3 year. What do current students think about the lack of early electives, especially those who aren't interested in IM/Ped/Obgyn?