time to over prepare!

Hi there!

I think your plan makes sense overall, here are few more thoughts

1) Start by learning some basic frameworks for case studies (Tip: do not focus on learning the framework by heart, but look to understand how it works and in what situation it applies)

2) Go over some existing recording of case studies and case interviews to get familiar with it

3) Practice, practice, practice! Do not wait until you're fully confident, but jump into it as early as you can. You can practice with friends, coach, peers, etc. (Tip: make sure to get actionable feedback after every practice. Having a coach can be very helpful for this)

4) Work on your resume and your fit, especially as you come from an atypical background, you should be able to articulate clearly why you wish to move into consulting

These are few thoughts, but happy to discuss it further during an intro call. I'm also based in Dubai, so we can also discuss this face-to-face!

Good luck,

Oussama

Hi there!
Sounds like a good plan. I would do some minor adjustments:

First, familiarize yourself with the interview. Truly understand what are the steps on a case interview and what you are being assessed on a FIT interview. Plenty of resources and videos out there.

Secondly, I'd hire a coach sooner than later. This might sound conflicted since I am a coach, but I am talking about timeframe here, not quantity. Hiring a coach at the beginning will help you assess your strenghts and flaws quickly, so you will improve much faster

Finally, yes, practice a lot. For you specially, coming from a MD undergrad, practicing will develop your business acumen and give you good understanding of cases.

1-2hrs a day for 4-5 months is surely enough. Good luck and don't forget to have fun! Cases are fun to solve, truly
!
Let me know if I can help, Cheers!

Hey, that's a fantastic plan. You're already thinking about this the right way.

My main advice would be to simply flip the order of your prep. Don't wait until you feel confident to find an interview partner. It's actually much smarter to find an experienced partner or a coach right away.

The reason is simple: a good partner can give you thoughtful and actionable feedback from day one, which helps you build the right habits from the start. Trust me, it's way more efficient than trying to unlearn bad habits later.

You've got a fantastic amount of time to get ready, and this small change will make it even more effective.

Hi there,

Great to see your structured approach. With 4–5 months and daily prep time, you’re in a strong position. A few tweaks to make your plan even more effective:

1. Foundations first: Spend the first 1 week on consulting math and core business concepts (profitability, growth, market sizing). This will make case practice much smoother. Can recommend a book to read which will ease you into case cracking in no time
2. Get a coach early: Don’t wait until the end – consider a few sessions with a coach early on. They’ll help you nail the basics, set good habits, and give you a roadmap. You can then continue practising on your own with those practices in mind
3. Case practice: RocketBlocks is good for drills, but don’t rely only on self-study. From early on, mix in live practice with partners (PrepLounge peers, friends, or study groups). Doing cases aloud is very different from reading
4. Progression: Begin with simpler market sizing and profitability cases, then move to more complex strategy and growth ones. Focus on structured thinking rather than memorizing frameworks
5. Fit/PEI: Don’t underestimate this – especially for Dubai, personal impact and motivation for the region matter a lot. Start crafting strong, structured stories early and refine them continuously

Happy to help you prep / advice you further - feel free to reach out! 

Best,
Evelina

hey!

Your plan sounds solid, and the timeline is realistic from my point of view. Starting with learning the basics (case structure, math drills, exhibit reading) before jumping into full live cases is smart. RocketBlocks or Victor Cheng’s materials can help you build the foundation. After that, practicing live with partners is crucial, since casing is as much about communication as analysis. Adding a coach once you have the basics down will give you targeted feedback and speed up your improvement.

With 4–5 months and consistent daily practice, you’ll be well prepared for MBB Dubai. Just make sure you mix in PEI/personal fit prep early on too, since it’s equally important.

best,
Alessa :)

It's great that you're approaching this process in a structured way and with some sort of plan. 

For those candidates that are planning on working with a coach, I encourage them to do so from the start. That doesn't mean that you'll do more sessions, but that you'll space them more in between.

The advantage to this is that a coach will be able to identify with you what exactly you should be focusing on. Meaning that each hour you invest in the prep is more targeted at improving your overall skills, that you might achieve if you're self-guided. 

If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to reach out. 

Best,
Cristian