does emory interview rotators during rotation?

yes, they interview you during your rotation. you do not return for an interview in december.

5 spots at emory are usually given out as follows: 1 spot to emory student, 2 spots to rotators, 2 spots to non-rotators.

btw, this is a great program. one of the top 3 in the southeast, in my opinion (along with vanderbilt (i'm biased) and the campbell clinic).

Another quick question. I see that last year emory interviewed on 12/4 and 12/5 and then 12/11 and 12/12. Does the interview span both days (both 12/4 and 12/5) or are they separate days?

2 day interviews. friday is a long tour and dinner at the chair's home. saturday is the interview.

i've unfortunately heard that they actually care about your surgical skills on the rotation, at least the residency director

not really fair since we as medical students may not have that much actual experience/practice....

I can tell you for certainty that Emory does NOT care about your surgical skills unless you're doing things like cutting the skin instead of suture, picking up instruments or laps that fall on the floor, or an inability to understand the statements "more varus" or "more valgus" when pulling traction.
They are training you to be a surgeon, not expecting you to be one.

There also are no expectations about how the class is divided. Some years have more rotators at the top than non-rotators and vice versa. Some years have better Emory students than non and vice versa.