Ask Stacy Blackman

I am not at all concerned that you have been at the same job for four years, particularly because you have been promoted. That demonstrates commitment, focus and career progression. I am also not concerned that it is a non-profit organization. This can be a differentiating factor for you and an important part of your story. A non-profit is as legitimate a form of business as banking, and many programs actually have a dedicated not for profit specialty or degree. The only thing that may be a concern is the fact that your role has been strictly editorial.

My gutt is that editorial is a fairly solitary job and does not allow many opportunities for leadership or teamwork. One of your challenges will be to show that you have done more than write for four years - you have successfully interacted with many different types of people, you have managed projects or groups of people, you have taken initiative, you have creatively addressed problems - you have made things happen for your organization. This will be what is of interest to an admissions committee, not the fact that you are a strong writer.

You may also need to prove your quant skills. If your background is purely liberal arts and writing, you will need to demonstrate that you can handle the highly quantitative curriculum at a top business school. You should consider enrolling in a calculus or accounting course, depending on your undergraduate record. Your GMAT score will also play a role in proving your quant abilities.

Finally, the burden is on you to show why you need the MBA degree. What are your career goals and how will business school help you get there? This will be a very important part of your story. If you can effectively address all of these areas, any top school will take you seriously as a candidate. The key will be proving that you are a leader, not just a writer.