MANY TOP BUSINESS schools around the world have seen growth in the number of MBA candidates from the Gulf region over the past five to 10 years.

This is perhaps not surprising — typically there is a correlation between economic development and the pursuit of business management education. And in fact business schools are increasingly jostling for candidates from the GCC, not only to locations in the US and Europe, but also to new local campuses, such as London Business School’s Dubai presence, INSEAD’s Abu Dhabi campus, and HEC Paris in Qatar.

Why do business schools want more candidates from the Gulf? For MBA programmes, crafting a diverse class is often critical to the value proposition they offer. Business schools want to bring together a group of students with a vast array of experiences and backgrounds, and candidates from the Gulf are typically under represented versus other nationalities.

Given the increasing global interest in business in this region, students from the Americas, Europe and Asia value having classmates from the Middle East: it gives them an opportunity to learn about the region, and gain some insights into how to do business in this complex cultural environment. Corporate recruiters visiting MBA candidates also are increasingly seeking candidates for the Gulf region and business schools are always eager to fulfill key recruiters’ needs. Business schools also want to increase their alumni bases and networks in the Middle East, in order to build the prestige of their brand and future pipeline of outstanding candidates as the region’s markets grow.

So the good news is that if you are a candidate applying from the Gulf, it could be said that you already have an advantage versus candidates from some countries that may be overrepresented in the applicant pool.

If you are thinking about applying to business school, here are some suggested steps, based on our collective experience at Fortuna Admissions as former Directors and Associate Directors of MBA Admissions at schools that include INSEAD, Wharton, Harvard Business School, NYU Stern, London Business School, UC Berkeley, IE and Kellogg.

Step One: Research

There is a wealth of business school options out there. Full time programmes, part time programmes, Executive programmes, distance learning programs, specialized programs. There are now good schools on every continent. The choices can be overwhelming.

One good starting point is to talk to others who have done an MBA. You may be able to find some MBA alumni through your personal or professional networks. But if not, try contacting schools — they should be able to put you in touch with some local alumni who you could invite for coffee.

Find out why they did an MBA, what they got out of it, and how it has impacted their career. Ask them about how they chose their school, and if they applied to other programmes. Hearing personal stories about MBA experiences can be invaluable in giving you a sense for what others have gained, and some elements may begin to resonate with you.

Try to attend some events hosted by business schools. Many top schools offer information sessions for prospective candidates in a number of cities in the Gulf region each year. You can also go to MBA fairs, which give you the opportunity to meet with several schools and hear from them directly what they have to offer, and how a given programme is different.

Whilst a lot can be learned online, you are still more likely to gain some unique insights and a stronger sense for what options genuinely attract you when you have the chance to talk to people from the school community face to face.

Then of course, dive into the vast amount of information that is on the internet, starting with the school websites themselves, and MBA community websites. Take a look at the MBA rankings. But don’t take them at face value, but rather examine their methodologies and see how the rankings are calculated (and if the criteria used are criteria that are equally important for you).

All this research should enable you to come up with a short list of schools that interest you.

Step Two: Reflect

Now that you know more about what business school has to offer, take some time to think deeply about your short and long-term goals, and your vision of what you want to get out of an MBA programme. You will have to answer some quite searching questions in your business school applications and interviews — schools want to get a sense for what makes you tick, and what you dream of achieving in the future.

So it is important to dedicate some time to taking a step back, and asking yourself some thought provoking questions: what are you strengths and weaknesses? What work do you really enjoy, or dislike doing? In what sort of work environment do you thrive? At the end of the day, when you have grey hair and look back over your career, what do you want to remember? What professional achievements will make you proud? Answering these questions will help you to get a clearer view of how your future could unfold, and how the MBA can help you get there.

Step Three: Plan

It is time to begin developing a plan of action and a timeline for applying to business school. There are several steps to anticipate: taking the GMAT, the TOEFL (for non native English speakers), preparing essays and mobilising recommenders. Most schools have 3 rounds of application deadlines per intake, and in most cases, you are better off applying in rounds one or two, if possible.

So identify your target application deadlines, and then work backwards: you should begin work on your application ideally about 3 months before the deadline, and you should take the tests before that, if possible. Most candidates need a good 2-3 months to prepare well for the GMAT. Some candidates go into the test without doing much preparation, assuming that because they have a quantitative background and good English language skills, they will do well in the test. We know a handful of people who have walked into a GMAT test without doing any prep and have achieved high scores; we suggest you don’t assume you’ll have their luck or brilliance!

Preparation is key in enabling you to become familiar with the types of questions asked, and the typical traps that the GMAT sets to catch you out. Many candidates find that a test prep course helps to boost their score, not least because taking a course gives some structure to your preparation, and may force you to study in a more disciplined fashion than you might feel inclined to do if working entirely alone.

Build plenty of buffer time into your planning. MBA candidates, by their very nature, are generally very busy individuals, juggling intense careers with hectic personal lives. It is not at all easy to find time for all the slog that goes into applying for business school. It takes a huge amount of self-discipline to sit down to study for the GMAT or draft application essays after a long and exhausting day at work.

It is a good idea to build in one or two months extra into your timeline, in case a work project squeezes everything else of your schedule, or in case you need to retake the GMAT (and many candidates do).

Step Four: Develop a standout application

Top business schools are extremely competitive — and increasingly so, as the global talent pool expands. While you may have excellent credentials, don’t assume that having the raw material is enough to convince the admissions committee. Your application is your sales platform: you have to use it to showcase your talents and achievements.

Think carefully about the skills and strengths you want to emphasise, and how these create an overall picture of what is unique about you. Also think about what may be the weaker aspects of your application: for example, a less than stellar GPA or frequent job changes. Don’t try to sweep these under the carpet; from our roles as former MBA Admissions Directors we have seen far too many applicants gloss over issues, when they would have done much better to address and explain them honestly and directly.

Get some advice — from people who know you well and can give you feedback on your strengths and talents, and from people who are familiar with the business school application process, and can give you objective feedback on your draft application and how it might be viewed by a school.

Step Five: Cross your fingers…But also have a plan B

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket by only applying to one programme: it is a better idea to apply to at least one “stretch” school and at least one “back-up” school. With business school, as with your career, it is generally wise to keep your options open — so that ultimately you have the luxury of having choices to make.

Caroline Diarte Edwards is a former INSEAD Director of MBA Admissions. She is now co-Director at Fortuna Admissions, an MBA coaching dream team of former business school professionals from top-tier institutions, including Wharton, INSEAD, Harvard Business School, London Business School, Northwestern Kellogg, NYU Stern, IE Business School and UC Berkeley Haas.