Any social policy applicants out there? Just curious.

[TypeA]

This forum has proven incredibly useful—daunting at times, but useful—but I've noticed that nearly everyone posting is interested in IR. I've learned loads of things about HKS/SIPA/etc, and while it's all fascinating to me (I have a masochistic love for the application process ) it's not particularly relevant to the kind of MPP I'm hoping to pursue. I'll be applying for social policy programs, with the intention of pursuing a career in health/healthcare policy. Michigan's Ford School is my holy grail of grad programs (in-state tuition, among its many other merits).

Also, across the board it seems like most forum members tend to be extremely qualified/competitive applicants for their respective fields. Out of curiosity, does admission into IR programs tend to be more competitive than other realms of policy, or is it pure happenstance that most people on this particular board are interested in IR?

Edited August 31, 2011 by TypeA