How competitive is string theory compared to other fields?

[Enne]

I'm Indian and I've heard stuff that it is difficult to get into a good PhD program in the US/UK for string theory because the competition is more fierce than other fields. Furthermore,the likelihood for getting academic positions is even tougher(added to the fact that I'm from a different country) - and so was advised by some profs to go for other areas like condensed matter physics. I have a suspicion that may not be fully true.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I am guessing from your other post that you are a 1st or 2nd year undergrad, perhaps younger. That means you'll be looking for a faculty position 15 or more years from now. I can guess what the market will look like then, but it won't be a very good guess. Nobody can make a good guess that far out.

What I can say is that over the last few years, there are between 100-150 condensed matter hires per year at US PhD granting institutions. Typically, there are 0,1 or 2 string hires. (Since 2009, there have been three)

 

[Enne]

@Vanadium: Thanks for the reply - what specific granting institution are you talking about? 2-3 hires seems low enough :P

 

[Vanadium 50]

All of them.