mikefrommass wrote:
1- is my work background too non-traditional for B-school generally?
No, your WE is sweet. I'd fight other people to have you on my learning team.
mikefrommass wrote:
2- If not, are there certain schools that this would be a non-starter at, or schools to which it would be appealing?
Your skill set probably appeals to every business school in the country, but perhaps a hair less at techy schools like Sloan or Haas. Don't sell campaign managing as parallel to business. Do sell your skills as transferable. Strategy, building support for ideas, coalition building, marketing, budget control, etc. Don't run from your background thinking it's a disadvantage, it's actually your greatest advantage and you should sell the **** out of it.
mikefrommass wrote:
3- I definitely plan to aim as high as I can. Assuming I can hit 750, what schools should I be looking at?
I think Wharton is your ceiling. School list may change up depending on your target industry, but I think Wharton, Kellogg, Booth is a good start.
mikefrommass wrote:
4- Finally, given that I've got a year or maybe a little more to punch up my profile before applying, what should I look into doing to improve my chances, keeping in mind that I'll be knee deep in campaign life for most of my waking hours?
The biggest thing you can do is put together a great goals narrative. Your background will register on the richter scale for reader interest, but you lost me with your career goals.... just flat and unformed. If you can get that same spark on the goals side, then I think you'll shine up as a superstar.
The next biggest thing you can do is research the schools. What about a school in particular excites you? Schools like to read some love in the essays, so that'll certainly help.