I'd say this, if your heart is set on Emory, or someplace else that you don't make, and you visit and aren't into the places you do get in, there's something to be said for taking a year or two to really get some quality experience and beef up the resume.
I'll say this. I didn't put enough work into my law school applications and adding to the resume in the year before I applied. As a result, I missed out on my dream school, but was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the place I ended up. It worked out for the best, and before applying for MPH, I learned my lesson and really focused on some good extras onto my resume: journal publication, better grades than undergrad when I wasn't quite serious enough, and more school specific essays on the applications themselves. We'll see if it gets me into my dream school here, but I've certainly had good luck so far in the process.
Bonus that any income from another year working will reduce student loans and help you out in the long run.
All that I guess adds up to nothing. If you NEED to be at Emory/wherever else, I guess I'd say take a year, but give your other schools a look before making that decision. You never know who'll surprise you.
Best of luck.