Replies

Lots of folks (US nationals) got math and physics PhDs in the late 80s/early 90s and discovered that the academic job market was horrible. This came after the universities whined about an impending shortage of scientists and engineers, said to be caused by the low numbers of Americans who study science. The universities got what they were really after: increased funding for research, including graduate programs. This greatly increased the number of graduate students. For example, in mathematics, the number of PhDs awarded went from less than 800 in 1986 to more than 1200 per year in the early 1990s. Half of those PhDs were awarded to foreign nationals, who helped glut the job market. If Americans aren't entering scientific careers after that, it's no wonder.