startz

You do not need to publish papers for a PhD application, at least not if you are applying to schools in the United States.

Here is a little sad data that will not surprise anyone. Admissions to econ PhD programs were down 12 percent from last year.https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/pandp.116.720

Students at American schools are more likely to do a pre-doc and not a master's, while students elsewhere are more likely to do a master's and not a pre-doc. You might want to take a look at placements from your current program to help decide whether a pre-doc is really worthwhile for you.

Do you have roughly equivalent research experience already? Do you have letter writers who can write as well for you as a pre-doc supervisor? If not, the value of a pre-doc probably outweighs concerns about age.

As things have largely wound down, I'd like to call attention to the great support folks here have given each other. For those starting graduate programs in the Fall, remember about this. Graduate study, especially the first year, can be awfully stressful. Classmates helping out one another is the best remedy!

To a large extent you are right: Applicants may start to pay less attention to the “rule.” There are a few things to think about though. 1. My impression is that higher ranked schools admit fewer people from their wait list. So realistically, this doesn’t come up a whole lot. 2. Schools often require a nonrefundable deposit. Probably not important because the deposits aren’t very large and aren’t due at the deadline. But there’s actually an economics lesson in this. Policymakers often act as if the presence of a rule settles things. In fact, people often act as if norms and customs matter. For example, the “rule” used to be that to switch schools you had to ask for a release from the first school. In practice, releases were always given so nothing really prevented anyone from switching. The current version is really just a weaker norm. It will probably continue to be largely observed.

Departments look at their yield and decide whether to go to their wait list. (1) If you are a waitlist that you prefer to your best current offer, accept the offer you have by the deadline. (2) If you are on the waitlist for a place you would definitely go to, tell them. Even if you have already told them, tell 'em again. (No fibbing though--people have long memories.) (3) A fairly small number of offers do go out after April 15, usually quite soon after April 15, as departments find they didn't get as many acceptances as they wanted by the deadline or that someone who has accepted has then withdrawn their acceptance. (3) If you get a preferred offer after April 15 and you have already accepted another offer you need to inform the department where you had accepted that you are withdrawing. Do so VERY politely. But it is okay to do.

According to the Graduate School Council it is end of day April 15, https://cgsnet.org/april-15-resolution-faq. But read carefully what your acceptance letter says and do remember about time zones.

A quick reminder: When you are SURE you are not going to attend a program where you have been accepted, please let the program know. The program will appreciate it because it helps them plan. Folks here will benefit because it can help waitlists to move more quickly.

This advice is consistent with standard practice. And accepting and then declining an offer may get people a little annoyed, although mostly not. However, unfortunately last year one program withdrew offers that had not been accepted. Very embarrassing and not likely to be repeated, but not impossible.

The traditional practice has been that you only accept an offer when you mean to go. The traditional practice has broken down somewhat. So what you say is okay.

It is okay to accept another offer. The rules have changed on this in the last few years. Just decline the first offer VERY politely.

If you're really interested in the school, ask about attending. Doing that will signal your serious interest.

It is definitely useful to contact the school and tell them you are still interested. Schools worry about yield, especially as April 15 approaches. If you can say anything about your likelihood of accepting that is also useful, but only if you can say something both positive and truthful.

The following link may help...some...https://cgsnet.org/resources/for-current-prospective-graduate-students/april-15-resolution