<p>Let's say I graduate in 2012, and apply to Columbia B-school that year, get rejected. Apply in 2013, get rejected. Apply in 2014, get rejected yet again. Do my chances for admission decrease with every yearly application; in other words, do they count multiple applications against me?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t think so, if they are rejecting you for the year after you graduate, they are basically telling you to go get work experience (which you should do anyway). So after you go get some experience and apply again, you’re fine.</p>
<p>First, I wouldn’t apply right after graduation, especially to a school like Columbia.
Having said that, if you feel your application is really strong and you get rejected, you would wonder how you can improve it in one year. Business Schools are looking for people who fit into their whole style, so unless you had a crappy GMAT (which you can improve with time), I don’t see how you can become a better candidate (fit) from one year to the following.</p>
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<p>Not directly as such. However, as WeareCylons alluded to, B-schools are interested in why you would be a better candidate now if you had already been rejected before, i.e. how have you become better in the past year. Hence, if you can’t point to some significant accomplishments and/or personal growth in the past year, then that could be a problem.</p>
<p>Having said that, it should be noted that certain schools (notably HBS) have a lifetime maximum to the number of times you can apply.</p>