Business‑school leaders and admissions experts are warning applicants about recurring application errors while offering research‑backed strategies to support student success and avoid burnout. Admissions directors list seven common mistakes—story inconsistency, over‑polishing essays, weak recommendations—while pedagogical research from ESSCA and others prescribes five practical, evidence‑informed routines to sustain learning under high workload. The combined coverage gives deans and program directors immediate levers: refine application guidance, strengthen onboarding, and integrate micro‑learning and wellbeing supports into curricula.