Newdoc2002 said:
This smacks of ingnorance. This is a very dangerous precendent and "rant" you speak and it shows you have little knowledge of economics or medicine in the real world. Please don't see it as an attack, but you are living in a dream world.
There are not "endless opportunities" for repayment and scholarships. They are less and less available. NHSC doesn't forgive your 250 loan just because it made you happy.
You don't have to live like a pauper and have a quarter million dollar debt to be a good family doc. And you shouldn't judge suburban doctors. They don't just Rx Viagra in the suburbs to their 50 year old yuppie patients. They serve just like the rest of the specialty. (by the way, I practice in a rural small town with a extremely high percentage of self-pay, medicare and medicaid patients).
While economics shouldn't totally sway a specialty choice you are ignorant if you think people can just ignore their debt. Climb down off your moral high horse and live in the now.
cool...
yea yea, 150k salary - 250k debt... so what do you do with your 8 grand a month, assuming averages??
oh, and per month a 250k debt ~ 1500.. correct, however
per month a 150k debt ~ 900.
so i guess the real question is if school250k is worth giving up 6.5% more of your monthy pay to you than school150k?
a small town?? hmm i guess you would have around 5k a month left over from "normal people" living expenses, unless you have decided you need to live like "the doctor you are and live it up" ?
ok, so now that the "you have more than enough money" story is out of the bag, lets focus on getting that money?
150k?? is that all?? i guess you are the statistical average in the middle between male and female FPs? Males >$ because on ave they work more, on ave female <$ because take TIME OFF to raise kids. .... 150k?? i guess you are working for an HMO or something?? work for yourself make more?? yes.
250k debt?? you dont talk to many ppl eh? you are wrong, there ARE a number of opportunities to get this out of your hair.
1)live poor in school? maybe, wont help much though.
2)join military? possible. you basically sign your life over to them however. to some that is ok. to others, it is NEEDED hehehe... become a captain...
3)national program? possible. but again you are basically signing your life over to them. told where to work, etc. but more freedom than military.
4)state wide? yes, there are programs in nearly every state attracting FPs to work in their communities. cool but what incentive? on ave about 20k PER YEAR off of your loans. eh, not much. but, start it when you are in school, most of your tuition is gone. there are normally other incentives too like helping you get located WHERE YOU want to go, networking, etc.
5)community wide? yes, often towns or hospitals will work deals with prospective doctors for coming back, offerings vary widely so ASK AROUND.
6)scholarships?? every school has them, some more than others. ASK
personally, im free riding on a combo of options 4 and 6, and fulfilling my dream of being an FP... debt free.
good luck... hope im not too ignorant for you.
🙄