Although you don't need any more than a BA, do Universities really want PhD students with no graduate studie

Question

My husband graduated from a state college 3 years ago. He had a double major in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems with a 3.4 in both. He has had his own business and is a very strong student. He has no graduate studies, but would like to go straight into a PhD program at an Ivy League University. Do you think that being a black male might help differentiate him from the other students? We have looked at many different colleges and there is a serious lack of black people in advanced degree programs...do you think that will help or hurt?

During the last years he has been teaching in high school, leading diversity conventions and clubs in the schools, had his own business...In no means do I mean he would get in solely by the color of his skin...I said do you think it would him differentiate him...add some diversity in a totally white environment...

Answer 1

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.
I'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.

He 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?

Answer 2

Universities want students with excellent academic backgrounds, however many universities will give preference to students who hold internal graduate degrees since most of the doctorate admission decisions are made by a committee comprised of professors who belong to that specific department. In most cases, these professors already know a prospective doctoral student or two who they would like to work with on specific research projects. And this is how open seats are filled - for the most part. If you want to increase your husband's chances of getting accepted, then tell him to contact the professors who specialize in his area of interest and set up appointments with them. This way he can ask for information about the doctorate program and at the same time get to know the professors who are the decision makers in this process.

Answer 3

wow, Harvard huh! and extra helpful yet a BA!! You did no longer even ought to take a technology classification. in basic terms had to place in writing some papers and there replaced into your degree. Harvard has lost all its status. while you're a celeb or have a sturdy letter or reccomendation you're in. Harvard is not extra a extra helpful college than Vandy. How some distance can this incredibly get you? besides deep into debt. thank you to circulate H-guy! we are pleased with you.

Answer 4

Well, it definitely won't hurt, but it won't help him get away with not taking required courses. He'd have to look into the specific program, but the grad schools (admittably in the sciences) that I looked at didn't require any previous grad work to go for the Ph.D.