Does a school's default rate affect your decision?

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drmoon

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I stumbled across this site not too long ago and it made me wonder. <a href="http://www.defaulteddocs.dhhs.gov" target="_blank">www.defaulteddocs.dhhs.gov</a>

Would a school's default rate affect your decision on whether or not to apply? Also, does anyone have any theories as to why some schools have significantly higher rates than others??
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by drmoon:
•I stumbled across this site not too long ago and it made me wonder. <a href="http://www.defaulteddocs.dhhs.gov" target="_blank">www.defaulteddocs.dhhs.gov</a>

Would a school's default rate affect your decision on whether or not to apply? Also, does anyone have any theories as to why some schools have significantly higher rates than others??•••••Gee, now isn't it interesting that no one replied to you. Why don't YOU tell us what you already know, Mr. Clever. We saw you post in the Meharry forum approx 4 hours b/f you posted this.

I do have a theory . . . the same schools that you are trying to smear produce doctors that practice in communities where the patients are less able to pay. Less pay = higher default.

Do you have any theories, my friend? Something else you want to discuss? Looking for support or someone else who shares your bright ideas you have "stumbled" onto?
 
You are seriously jumping to conclusions.

I know what you're getting at and my intentions were pure and clean. If you'll notice on the website, there are other schools (in other disciplines) who have relatively high default rates. When I looked at the site, Meharry stuck out and that's the only reason I mentioned it. Frankly, I think your theory sounds totally accurate and plausible.

I'm looking at the big picture and was just curious to hear opinions.
 
No, I think there are infinitely better ways to judge schools.
 
On a different note, have you seen what some of these people owe? There are some people in default of close to $400,000. And that's for optometry school where there is no residency needed. Can you imagine borrowing almost $100,000 per year just on HEAL loans (they might have had other loans as well -- who knows).
 
I've looked a little deeper into those defaults and it seems that most of the really large ones are very old (15 years or more) so those large amounts could just be built up interest and penalties over the last 15 years.
 
this seems like a silly way to pick a med school. grad's finances depend on individuals, and probably don't have a lot to do w/ the school itself. If you go in to FP (or even worse, podiatry), you are obviously going to have a harder time paying off loans than someone in derm, and therefore more likely to default. This goes for people at all schools, just probably more of a concern at the more expensice schools.
 
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