the scheduling of electives is more intricate than I though initially. There are many things to consider including whether to use that year for chillin or to take electives that may be more time consuming but will allow me to gain more valuable experience. I have heard advice from both sides. Some students and residents say that the only thing that can prepare you for residency is residency and others say that taking harder electives like ICU will make you a more prepared resident.
Another thing to consider is whether to do the electives at the same hospital or use that time to travel around and learn different hospital systems and operations. As of right now I plan to have electives scheduled in Bakersfield, LA, Chicago, and New York just to have a varied experience and also take the opportunity to live in the major cities for a month or two and see how the culture and experience changes.
Overall, the idea of finished cores and going into fourth where I am able to pick which rotations I want to do is exciting and I hope i make the right decisions.
