Paying/Dealing With Huge Debt, Help!

[UMDDS]

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I honestly liked the flexibility vs med for the most part, but with all the doom and gloom it's a lot less clear which choice was better.

I dunno, honestly I’m still happy with my choice as long as I’m not at a private school or OOS. It depends on your mindset though. I want to own multiple practices someday and run them well and be an excellent clinical dentist. I believe that’s more than possible if you’re willing to take advice from people who have done it and soak information up like a sponge and work really hard. Even without a scholarship, that mindset and direction pushes up your income in any profession. But for people who just want to graduate, walk into their job and stay there, it will be tougher bc they’ll float around the income average. Medicine I feel is the better option though if you like that work and don’t want to deal with being your own boss

This is all my opinion btw. I realize others may feel different about this and that’s fine!

 

[AT89]

Both of those stories sound really inspirational. I doubt his success can be recreated without someone helping pay for living though... why did you say to pay off undergrad debt first though?

I am not talking from experience here, at all. So take what I say with a grain of salt. I say to pay the undergraduate first because in my case those are the smallest individual loans I own, like $2000, or $3500 etc. I mean it was just a thought.

 

[noretsu]

I know the goal of the game is to go to the cheapest school that can, but my state does not have a state dental school, so I'm forced to go to somewhere private. Right now, all the schools I've visited have been nothing but expensive. Yeah some schools offer scholarships, but those aren't guaranteed. Yes I know I want to do dentistry, but I cant help but wonder what to do when the cheapest school I could possibly get into would be a little over $400,000 not including interest. Anyone out there have any wise words?

400k is crushing you will be living like a student for years post graduation.

 

[ayed22]

400k is crushing you will be living like a student for years post graduation.

I am aware of that, so that is why I made a post asking for advice. Looking at about 320K right now.

 

[wengerout]

400k is crushing you will be living like a student for years post graduation.

I am aware of that, so that is why I made a post asking for advice. Looking at about 320K right now.

You know people say "You will be living like a student" and I question this statement just a bit. I'm living like a student right now and i'd say life is pretty good. I think that until you have a family/kids, one can "live like a student" and still have a pretty good life.

 

[Incis0r]

You know people say "You will be living like a student" and I question this statement just a bit. I'm living like a student right now and i'd say life is pretty good. I think that until you have a family/kids, one can "live like a student" and still have a pretty good life.

Agreed. I love student life.