The MBA application process at top 30 . business schools can be a complex and arduous exercise. Today, business schools re- ceive more applications than ever before for the same number of available seats, and the applicant demographic is shifting younger as applicants try to outmaneuver one another for an advantage in the process. In this dynamic landscape, applicants are urged to avoid common mistakes that irk admissions officers and jeopar- dize their chances of admission.