询问申请时ms与phd的区别

统计学。
当初被录取如果是ms，那就意味这一年到两年学完。
如果是phd就是一年后过candidate exam， 然后继续。

我这样理解对吗？
问题是，读ms的有资格考candidate exam吗？ 如果有的话，那就意味着有机会转成博。那么申请时博士和硕士的区别又在哪里呢？

大家给点建议吧。我觉得可能是学校不同的缘故。困惑中。现在学校给我说过来的新生不管当初申硕还是博。一起上课。一年以后，自己决定到底考不考那个exam。不都说博士比较难申么。但这样的话不就没区别了。有经验的前辈们给点建议吧。

1# ddcobra

This depends on the policies of different schools and departments.
Basically if you are admitted as an MS student, and during your study you show great interests and potentials in areas that are those professors' "cups of tea," then you are very likely to stay in the department and be admitted into the PHD program after two years, provided that you pass your qualify exam with a high score.
If you are enrolled as a PHD, it is never guaranteed that you can stay five years in the department. You have to let the professors know you are a potential researcher, so that professors may consider "hiring you" and be your "boss."

I know that Columbia hardly select their PHD students from the MS pool. Other schools prefer to have students from other universities (get MS degree there) and pursue PHD in their own schools.