1) Limited professional and careerexperience  

Business schools admit MBA candidates who have proven to be able toclimb the career ladder during their professional work experience. Everyone has to start somewherebut if you cannot demonstrate that you have progressed over the duration ofyour career beyond an entry-level job, then applying to business school isprobably premature. If your job is holding you back then maybe it is time youseek a new opportunity. General trends show individuals should be ableto grow or increase responsibility every two or three years in depending on theorganization. If you are not growing then you may need to reconsider as it willnot reflect well on your resume.

工作经验是申请MBA非常重要的一个考量标准。如果在工作经历中没有升职的体现，可能会削弱你的竞争力。

2) GMAT score is below a school’saverage range

Most schools publish their average GMAT score range on their website. If your GMAT falls below thisrange then the rest of your application will have to be exceptional to overcomeconcerns about your verbal and/or quantitative abilities.

学校基本都会公布录取的GMAT平均分数线，如果低于平均分那会比较危险。

3) Undergraduate degree from a school with a questionableacademic reputation

Even if you have a high GPA, your chance of being accepted into an MBAschool goes down significantly if you went to what is affectionately known inthe United States as a “party school” or if your degree is from a program thatvery few people have heard of and/or has a questionable academic reputation. Berealistic when applying to a business school.

4) Weak reference or recommendationletters

Some business schools accept less than 20% of those who apply. Your reference letters arecritical in the admissions process and must provide a strong case of why youshould be admitted into the program. They should demonstrate how you stand outfrom the applicant pool or your chances of acceptance fall significantly.If you don’t feel that you have supervisors or managers who will be willing to write exceptional reference letters on your behalf then you need to postponeapplying since these are critical in the application and admissions process.You can also speak with your supervisors/managers and tell them about yourfuture plans and discuss what areas you need to improve in order to receive anexceptional letter. This can be brought up during your annual or 6 monthreview.

对于TOP 的项目，竞争非常激烈，所以推荐信也会是决定成败的项目之一。

5) Limited evidence of leadershipexperience

Admissions committees understand that you are early in your career and donot expect you will be running a division of your own company or leading alarge team within an organization. Nevertheless, they do expect that you have influenced others and made apositive impact on a smaller scale as a leader both at work and/or externallyin the community. Business schools rarely accept candidates who can’tdemonstrate leadership abilities.
对于工作经历不够的申请者，积极证明自己的leadership 很重要，这可以是社团或是其他什么活动中体现出来的领导力品质。