Although you don't need any more than a BA, do Universities really want PhD students with no graduate studie
816690
Aten's answer is good, but I'll add that a 3.4 from a state college is not a very competitive record. Most Ivies would not consider a student with a GPA below 3.5 even if he came from a top school. \nI'm not sure what you mean by suggesting that he is a strong student, because that GPA is not strong and you say he has no graduate credits. \n\nHe is going to have to do something more that show them the color of his skin to convince them to give him one of the highly coveted spots that are so competitive.  What has he got to offer? Some patents? Articles he's written in computer magazines? Talks he's given at computer conventions? Coaching his local high school computer team to a National Championship?
811460
According to the US Census (2005 community survey), 10% of the population had graduate/professional degrees...\n\nAs to the Ph.D.'s you can search the website below, but I imagine it would be in the 2-4% range for Ph.D.'s. \n\nI don't imagine it any higher than that... which is good since we need people to do real work... :-)
780049
If you have a masters degree then you can pursue a doctorate. If you do not want to do that then take some courses that have to do with your field. It will give you an edge on others who have not learned the latest things.
478051
There's no such thing as a "serious" online Ph.D.\n\nAny online Ph.D. degree-offering program you might find wouldn't be worth anything in the real world (employers, academia, etc.).  This is because Ph.D. programs involve mentoring, research, and intellectual community, and these can only be provided when a student has residency in a doctoral program.   Any respectable (and accredited!) doctoral program will have a residency requirement.
514487
not many but it will shorten your time getting the BS degree and now with the way things are going you will need a freeking Masters and by the time you get that you will need a freeking doctorate.  That's what happened to me, lol.  Good luck
1001230
I assume you are referring to Columbia University in NYC.\n\nIn answer to your question, technically, you cannot begin any PhD coursework without both the Bachelor's degree and the Master's degree in your field of study.\n\nHowever, there are many programs that consist of a combination Master's degree and Ph.D.     If you complete the Master's portion of the program successfully, you may continue on to the Ph.D.\n\nIt would be wise to ask the director of graduate studies at EACH program in which you are interested if ALL who successfully complete the Master's program are admitted into the Ph.D. program.   It is much more likely that SOME who complete the Master's degree will be allowed to continue in the Ph.D. program, but this may vary from institution to institution.
813782
It depends on what you go for and where you go, and what you want to do after the PhD.  If you're just going for the degree and don't care what you do afterwords, you might be able to pick it up in 4 years after the Bachelors.  If you want to go into research, and your advisers want you to publish on a couple of different subjects, it might take 4-6.  If you want to teach at a university you'll probably have to pick up a minimum of a year or two of strictly TAing, including developing labs and such, which could take 6-8 years after the bachelors.  Also, the top schools tend to take longer because again, the end goal is not to just "get out" but to become a real expect at developing and solving open ended questions.\n\nFor example, at a top 5 research university in engineering, it took 4-5 years for the BS, 2 for the MS, and 3-5 for the PhD.  But you come out with one of the most prestigious degrees in the world.
936074
In the US, an M.Phil. is not at all equivalent to the Ph.D. \n\nMany programs offer the M.Phil. to students who only complete the coursework for the Ph.D., and do not go on to take language exams, qualifying exams (also known as comprehensive exams), and the dissertation. \n\nIt is theoretically possible to do a Ph.D. with only two years in residence, if:\n- the particular program allows it\n- there are only two years of necessary coursework\n- you pass your language exams early\n- you are allowed to prepare for your qualifying exams abroad, and return only for the exams, which generally only take a few days\n- you remain in contact with your dissertation advisor and committee throughout the process of writing your dissertation\n- you come back to campus to defend your dissertation in person\n\nMy best advice is to contact each program to which you plan to apply, and ask the Director of Graduate Studies if this would be possible under their regulations.
250815
In the absence of hard data, you can make a rough estimate. \nAccording to the UK Grad program around 15,000 PhD students graduated in 2003. http://www.grad.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Resources/What_Do_PhDs_Do_/UK_PhD_degrees_in_context/p!ecdXXji\n\nAssuming this number is constant, which it wont be, let's assume that there are very few PhD graduates over 75.\n\nSo if 15,000 students graduate with PhDs every year, and have done for the last 50 years, then there are 750,000 PhD graduates in the UK.\n\nGiven the population is around 60 million, this means 1.25% of people in the UK have PhDs from British Universities. Given that there won't have been 15,000 PhD students in 1956, this is probably an overestimate.\n\nAlso this estimate doesn't include those students who then go abroad. Around 10% of recent PhD graduates go abroad, according to this survey: http://www.grad.ac.uk/downloads/documents/WDPD/WDPD%20regional.pdf#search='number%20of%20PHD%20graduates%20UK'\n\n\nIt also doesn't include those PhD students who come to the UK with PhDs - as a strong economy I'd expect a net influx of PhD students. Perhaps the National Statistics Office can answer that better: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nscl.asp?ID=6164
847577
Regardless of age, you must have an undergraduate degree before you can attempt graduate work (towards a Masters or a PhD).
400612
A whole bunch do. Schools tend to understand that a lot of PhD candidates are also working, so they offer night curriculum, or a part-time arrangement. Just as often, though, schools leave it up to specific departments as to how PhD candidacy gets handled. So you may just want to look into the department for whatever subject you're interested in, maybe email the director of graduate studies and ask what kind of arrangements have been made in the past. Many departments will be accomodating.
1005256
Looks like your Masters is in a different subject, that the PhD that  you are doing. One reason that can ask you to do a Masters is to cover any deficits, specially if your earlier masters is in a different area.\n\nGetting an additional masters is not a bad thing - if it does not extend your PhD. 2 masters means, in case you dont want to complete your PhD, then you have a wider field to look for a job.\n\nAs for doing a PhD itself, thats your personal choice. If you are looking for jobs, and need the money right away, perhaps a PhD is not all that essential. However, if you want to be in the research area, or want to specialize in a specific area, or are interested in teaching, then PhD is a must. I agree, 33 yrs to come out of school is a bit too late, but hey, if thats what you want, you should go for it. \n\nIn any case, 'pride' should not come in the way, at this time. Pride is momentary, but a career decision is certainly not.\n\nBut I do suggest you talk to the dean of your school clearly. I am not sure, why they have this bait and switch attitude - why are they asking you to take the masters exam. Maybe they have a 'valid' reason, but I suggest you should find that out.
164331
there r no as such free Intl universities in US. but if u wish to pursue doctoral studies, nd meet the uni`s requirements, most of them offer funding, stipends, tution waivers and health insurance coverage. so in a way it becomes free. also, if u have been an exceptional student, u may be covered by full scholarship, either from ur country or from the US.
979104
Yes, I believe you'll need the masters degree or doctorate to qualify.
196719
Oh my... <sigh> First, do you have a bachelor and masters degree?  If not, forget it.  Second, many schools will admit you for free for the PhD; however, you have to teach for them.  You should investigate this with individual schools.
571784
If you're interested in becoming a professor or researcher who advances the field then you will want a PhD. If you're just interested in working in the field and starting a career get your Masters and hit the ground running as fast as you can. A PhD is a long, long haul if you aren't really dedicated to research and teaching.
410492
If you wish to pursue a graduate degree in certain scientific fields, some institutions will offer to pay you your tuition and a small stipend if you do research for them. It's a _very_ small amount of money, so you'll probably need to find a job as well.