Business‑school admissions officers warn that avoidable application errors are costing qualified candidates seats in top MBA classes. Former admissions directors detail seven recurring mistakes — inconsistent narratives, over‑polished essays, weak recommenders and other pitfalls — that undermine credibility and reduce admit chances in a competitive applicant pool. Those admissions dynamics play out against a fresh set of 2025 business‑school rankings, which provide comparative metrics applicants use to decide where to apply. Rankings and admissions guidance together are pushing candidates to present tighter narratives, coordinated materials and more intentional signaling to programs and employers.