As somebody who hasn't really lived in the "real world," how does student debt affect life later on? How has student debt impacted you? Has it impacted your specialty choice?
Frankly, the idea of debt, to me, is somewhat nebulous. If somebody told me that I owed them $50, that amount would actually mean something to me, and I'd pay up. On the other hand, being six digits in debt ... is unfathomable to the extent that it doesn't even feel real. I apologize if I sound painfully naive here, but I'd really appreciate your input on this. We don't exactly hear about doctors defaulting on their loans or starving in the streets, but ... there must be some reason why everybody keeps telling me to pick the cheaper school over the, say, higher-ranked school.
My situation: I have a substantial scholarship at a top-20 school and admission to a top 10 school (where I probably won't get all that great aid and cost of living will be higher). Fit and location-wise, both seem fine by me. If it matters, I'm not all that interested in a competitive or high-paying specialty (I think...), but I would like an academic/research-y career. I have some relatively minor debt from undergrad, too.
Frankly, the idea of debt, to me, is somewhat nebulous. If somebody told me that I owed them $50, that amount would actually mean something to me, and I'd pay up. On the other hand, being six digits in debt ... is unfathomable to the extent that it doesn't even feel real. I apologize if I sound painfully naive here, but I'd really appreciate your input on this. We don't exactly hear about doctors defaulting on their loans or starving in the streets, but ... there must be some reason why everybody keeps telling me to pick the cheaper school over the, say, higher-ranked school.
My situation: I have a substantial scholarship at a top-20 school and admission to a top 10 school (where I probably won't get all that great aid and cost of living will be higher). Fit and location-wise, both seem fine by me. If it matters, I'm not all that interested in a competitive or high-paying specialty (I think...), but I would like an academic/research-y career. I have some relatively minor debt from undergrad, too.