Great Question: Should I really only do 1 rotation?

The ACGME and EM parent organizations have come out with a very strong message that students should focus on home rotations only and NOT pursue the usually recommended strategy of a home rotation and one or more away rotations.  For those without a home EM residency to rotate at the  recommendation circulating is to do a single away rotation.  This is very different advice from a "normal" year. 

This has led to a lot of appropriately concerned students wondering: 

"Should I really only do 1 EM rotation?"

The official answer, and the one for most students, is "Yes! One rotation is fine."

Programs are NOT going to be expecting more than one rotation and one Group EM SLOE from a Residency Program Leadership team. 

However, application advice is never one-size-fits-all.  Depending on your individual circumstances it may be very reasonable to do two rotations.  Some examples where doing a second rotation will not be held against you by Residency Program Directors:

1. The second rotation is a community EM month, not at a residency program
2. Your school is affiliated with more than one EM residency (multiple "home" options) AND your local advisors recommend rotating at more than one of them
3. Your school has no home EM program (a so called "orphan school")***

***This third one is controversial.  Most programs will not be upset with an applicant from an orphan school who does 2 rotations, but some may be annoyed.  My opinion is that the benefits of a second rotation in your schedule make this worthwhile. Surge in cases in many regions may lead to cancellation of rotations.  Early rotations may have clinical limitations that don't let you have a full experience.  Second rotation performance is often better, especially for students who did not have as much EM infrastructure at their school.  

Another question:

"So... can I do 3 or 4 rotations?"

Answer:  No.