I rather doubt you’ll get any valid advice. Try using a crystal ball.
Eh, it’s worth a try because there are some FReepers with experience in this area that I am sorely lacking.
Plus, trying to get a straight answer out of the University is akin to herding cats. A darn waste of time.
My advice is go ahead and apply to graduate school and get accepted and in the meantime keep looking hot and heavy for a job in your chosen field. If you have to fetch coffee and doughnuts for Goldman Sachs then take it. The worst thing to do is be idle. If you can not find a job, then your fallback position is school and you can teach a class and work various intern jobs in your field.
Volunteer in politics and work for candidates too. You would not believe the influential people you can meet. GOP is always on the lookout for bright young men to work in congressional or state offices on either a voluntary or paid basis. I know of a couple of young men who worked on campaigns and WOW they got paid and gained invaluable contacts. Be a poll watcher and help on election day. That looks good on a resume’. I have my daughter stamp the EV’s on voter rolls so she can put that on her resume’.
Anything you can add as experience counts.
You would do better to focus on statistics. There are uses for it in many fields besides economics.