BusinessWeek recently reported, quite plainly in fact, that business school is getting crowded. Enrollment at top business schools, including Harvard, Wharton, and INSEAD--three schools topping the MBA wish list for a lot of Dubai b-school hopefuls--is at record highs. Many schools have confirmed that the entering 2009 students are part of their largest classes ever.

For more details, read the entire BusinessWeek article.

So what does that mean for you? In a word, competition. The financial crisis has convinced many wannabe MBAs that business school is a good place to wait until the storm is over. More top business school applicants now have higher GMAT scores, higher grade point averages, and more interesting work experiences than ever before, increasing the competition to get into business school. With more students in business programs, there may be greater competition for resources and faculty attention.

If you want to stay competitive for business school application, you will need to do two things:

1. Step up your GMAT preparation to increase your score. If you are preparing alone, consider forming a study group with likeminded friends or seeking the services of the Dubai Tutor to complement your preparation.

2. Look beyond the Financial Times and US News top 10 business schools. Schools that are not in the top 10 have actually lost students to other programs, leaving them very interested in new applicants. Programs in the middle of rankings lists also have lost students to regional programs (state schools), which means they are worth considering.

In the future, it is likely that competition for top business schools will also increase, regardless of whether student enrollment numbers do. It's not Harvard if everyone can get in, right?