Besides just saying "amen" to the comments above, I will just add that even if you have lots of publications it doesn't assure you a spot. I have a dozen academic publications (three in "mid-tier" journals, one in a "top tier" journal, and the rest in student, local, or specialized journals), over a dozen conference papers (including a half-dozen at major conferences), and my admissions season has been, to say the least, a disaster.
EDIT: Sorry, reading over this a few minutes later I realize that it came across as far more bitter than it should. It's been a stressful week.