When I applied in emergency medicine (EM), I had only two other classmates submitting applications to the field. EM wasn't a very popular specialty, although that would change as the show ER became hotter. Although enthusiasm for the field has generally increased over my career, medical students' interest in EM has waxed and waned.
Recently an eight-organization consortium of EM groups analyzed the field's workforce, demonstrating an oversupply of emergency physicians likely to appear over the next decade. There are a number of reasons proposed, including the proliferation of EM residencies and inappropriate use of physician extenders. Take a look at this piece in ACEP Now for detailed information, especially if you see EM in your future.
