For those of you thinking about getting a PhD, do so only under at least one of the following circumstances:

a) You will graduate and make lots of money (unlikely if you're going to be an academic).
b) You are full funded by the University (ask, and get it in writing!!).
c) You are independently wealthy.
d) You want your first act as doctor/professor to be filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
e) You're crazy.

Don't believe me? Play around with this site:

http://www.finaid.org/calculators/loanpayments.phtml

If unfunded, figure you will spend about $25,000 a year total costs (tuition, housing, books, etc.) for an in-state University and upwards of $50,000 a year for a place like Columbia University. VIVA AMERIKA - where we don't give a shit about the education or the health of the nation!