You will hear different theories... some say go early and then re-visit... others tell you to go later once you know more, etc.
I say go whenever you want. I did mine in a logical driving order, and I think I did well and would have been competitive for any of them. IMO, the good students who work hard, show interest, and read a lot will be the same good students "early" in May/Jun or "late" in Nov/Dec. Yeah, you will know a bit more later on, but so will your competing students, and the programs might already have candidate(s) in mind by then. Also, be careful doing long hrs clerkships in Dec/Jan... you will want time to study for interviews. I'd actually take Dec as an off month or private practice with lax hours if it's an option, and give yourself time to read/study. Your first clerkship month or two will be challenging, esp if you are with students from other schools who already have a rotation or two under their belt, but you just have to work hard, read more, and soak up info you are seeing/hearing. Star students can shine regardless of situation/competition/etc.
If you want to do well on your clerkships, it's simple: read before you go out on them. You read Pocket Pods and PI manual during 2nd and 3rd year? Read Chang now. You read all of Chang and most of McGlamry's? Then start reading JFAS or FAI journal and some ortho texts. You read all texts (hah yah right)? Go watch videos, go to a F&A surg conference, and read more journals. Sure, you will learn at each rotation, but don't ever be passive and expect the rotations to teach you stuff, expect them to show you stuff you've already read about... 👍
