My heart says dentistry, my brain says no. What should I do so confused with my life

[GOINGBALD42]

Dentist makes sense to me and it fits my personality which is an ISTJ, plus the ability to own your own practice and live your life they way you want is appealing. One of the major drawbacks for me is the amount of debt in dentistry. I was running the numbers and it would be a hard life. My chances for a cheap instate public school are slim so realistically most likely one of those expensive private schools. I also would like to live in So cal since thats where my family and friends live. If I want to be a successful dentist I would have to move to out of cali and set up shop somewhere else. In So Cal there is a dentist in every block. When you add in high debt, high tax, lots of saturation, amount of interest, the number of years it would take to break even its a tough road. I know theres military scholarship, but lets just assume that doesn't happen. I like to study things that are tangible and not abstract usually.

Another route even though I am less interested would be being a PA. My brain says go with that since it makes sense financially. Big job market, good future, high employment, low debt, decent income, and I can work in So Cal without struggling for a long time. Plus I can live with my parents rent free and just pay off my debt ASAP. Start saving and investing my money early on without being forced to do something due to debt. I am not that interested in general medicine and the thought of being tied to a physician does not sound great. I don't like being bossed around usually or have someone monitoring over me constantly.

I have experience working as a PT aide and work out a lot. I won't hate my life being a PT, but the amount of money is very little compared to the schooling. Studying for PT would not be as bad either since I was always a big fan of anatomy. Main concern is just money with being a PT. So I am getting older at 26 now and just want to get moving on with my life. I don't want to be in my 30s and not be settled in a career yet.

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[Medin2017]

Dentist makes sense to me and it fits my personality which is an ISTJ, plus the ability to own your own practice and live your life they way you want is appealing. One of the major drawbacks for me is the amount of debt in dentistry. I was running the numbers and it would be a hard life. My chances for a cheap instate public school are slim so realistically most likely one of those expensive private schools. I also would like to live in So cal since thats where my family and friends live. If I want to be a successful dentist I would have to move to out of cali and set up shop somewhere else. In So Cal there is a dentist in every block. When you add in high debt, high tax, lots of saturation, amount of interest, the number of years it would take to break even its a tough road. I know theres military scholarship, but lets just assume that doesn't happen. I like to study things that are tangible and not abstract usually.

Another route even though I am less interested would be being a PA. My brain says go with that since it makes sense financially. Big job market, good future, high employment, low debt, decent income, and I can work in So Cal without struggling for a long time. Plus I can live with my parents rent free and just pay off my debt ASAP. Start saving and investing my money early on without being forced to do something due to debt. I am not that interested in general medicine and the thought of being tied to a physician does not sound great. I don't like being bossed around usually or have someone monitoring over me constantly.

I have experience working as a PT aide and work out a lot. I won't hate my life being a PT, but the amount of money is very little compared to the schooling. Studying for PT would not be as bad either since I was always a big fan of anatomy. Main concern is just money with being a PT. So I am getting older at 26 now and just want to get moving on with my life. I don't want to be in my 30s and not be settled in a career yet.

I would not do general dent if the debt would be >350k. Maying that off with like 150k salary (which would then be taxed first and then go to loans) would be terrible. I wouldn't do PA either since the pay is like an engineer but still have grad school and lower mobility than business or engineers. If I had to take on all of schools debt, I would just go med since it's cheaper and I am not a fan of engineering/business.

 

[GOINGBALD42]

I would not do general dent if the debt would be >350k. Maying that off with like 150k salary (which would then be taxed first and then go to loans) would be terrible. I wouldn't do PA either since the pay is like an engineer but still have grad school and lower mobility than business or engineers. If I had to take on all of schools debt, I would just go med since it's cheaper and I am not a fan of engineering/business.

Yeah it sucks how about PT? At this point I just don't want to hate my life and want a good career. But for general dent you can have your own practice and increase your salary. I would not do med cause I am frankly not that interested in it and don't want to dedicate all my life on it.

 

[Gold_Toof]

Grass is always greener. Would you rather be a PA with less stress/debt but always wishing you were a dentist, or a dentist with a debt monkey on his back? The thought of being a 50 year old assistant to a 25 year old doctor is something I would not enjoy. I would rather try tackle debt through strategic investments knowing I was my own boss and could build my own practice. But it truly is a personal preference, if you don't mind never being your own boss then your road to profitability will be easier and more stress-free as a PA.

 

[GOINGBALD42]

Grass is always greener. Would you rather be a PA with less stress/debt but always wishing you were a dentist, or a dentist with a debt monkey on his back? The thought of being a 50 year old assistant to a 25 year old doctor is something I would not enjoy. I would rather try tackle debt through strategic investments knowing I was my own boss and could build my own practice. But it truly is a personal preference, if you don't mind never being your own boss then your road to profitability will be easier and more stress-free as a PA.

great points. I think what scares me was talking to this one dentist friend who is 45 years old, still has 240k worth of student loan debt and works in oen of those dental mills. Said he wanted to quit dental and just work in a cubicle. Scares the crap out of me when I heard his story.

 

[Medin2017]

great points. I think what scares me was talking to this one dentist friend who is 45 years old, still has 240k worth of student loan debt and works in oen of those dental mills. Said he wanted to quit dental and just work in a cubicle. Scares the crap out of me when I heard his story.

that dude needs to make an AMA on SDN lol

 

[Incis0r]

Dentist makes sense to me and it fits my personality which is an ISTJ, plus the ability to own your own practice and live your life they way you want is appealing. One of the major drawbacks for me is the amount of debt in dentistry. I was running the numbers and it would be a hard life. My chances for a cheap instate public school are slim so realistically most likely one of those expensive private schools. I also would like to live in So cal since thats where my family and friends live. If I want to be a successful dentist I would have to move to out of cali and set up shop somewhere else. In So Cal there is a dentist in every block. When you add in high debt, high tax, lots of saturation, amount of interest, the number of years it would take to break even its a tough road. I know theres military scholarship, but lets just assume that doesn't happen. I like to study things that are tangible and not abstract usually.

Another route even though I am less interested would be being a PA. My brain says go with that since it makes sense financially. Big job market, good future, high employment, low debt, decent income, and I can work in So Cal without struggling for a long time. Plus I can live with my parents rent free and just pay off my debt ASAP. Start saving and investing my money early on without being forced to do something due to debt. I am not that interested in general medicine and the thought of being tied to a physician does not sound great. I don't like being bossed around usually or have someone monitoring over me constantly.

I have experience working as a PT aide and work out a lot. I won't hate my life being a PT, but the amount of money is very little compared to the schooling. Studying for PT would not be as bad either since I was always a big fan of anatomy. Main concern is just money with being a PT. So I am getting older at 26 now and just want to get moving on with my life. I don't want to be in my 30s and not be settled in a career yet.

You're doing an awesome thing by conducting your research, but just be sure you've got the right info about PA.

@Cello did some research on the field and found increasing saturation there as well. Here's the link to his post: Next Time They Say It's No Longer Worth It...

 

[GOINGBALD42]

You're doing an awesome thing by conducting your research, but just be sure you've got the right info about PA.

@Cello did some research on the field and found increasing saturation there as well. Here's the link to his post: Next Time They Say It's No Longer Worth It...

great thread. Why didn't he make a list about dentistry? I was waiting on that one the most.

 

[BoomerSooner-ang]

Listen I'll say something that isn't said very often on this site.

In the long run, the 350 won't really be that bad. Of all the dentist i know or have met, i only know one who made less than 350 annually, and she made 300k. I know the numbers look high and they make you freak out, but if you WANT to make money in dentistry, you can make more than enough to be happy, even with that high debt tag.

Obviously not everyone makes that much money, but i would argue that not everyone necessarily wants to do what's necessary to earn it either.

 

[GOINGBALD42]

Listen I'll say something that isn't said very often on this site.

In the long run, the 350 won't really be that bad. Of all the dentist i know or have met, i only know one who made less than 350 annually, and she made 300k. I know the numbers look high and they make you freak out, but if you WANT to make money in dentistry, you can make more than enough to be happy, even with that high debt tag.

Obviously not everyone makes that much money, but i would argue that not everyone necessarily wants to do what's necessary to earn it either.

350 is reasonable. How about for those who are going north of 450k? Then you add in interests and all of that.

 

[Incis0r]

great thread. Why didn't he make a list about dentistry? I was waiting on that one the most.

Haha, go to SDN, pre-dental category. There's your list

 

[BoomerSooner-ang]

350 is reasonable. How about for those who are going north of 450k? Then you add in interests and all of that.

Yeah, i think its worth it personally, but that is me. the income potential to education length for dentist is the best in the country. There is NO other field where it is so easy to reach a high income. People will say finance, or business, yeah yeah, the average person who majors in that will not be making a ton of money. Even the average MBA graduate will not be making that much unless they come from a great program. Anyone who gets into dentistry has a high income potential, it then just comes down to personality. Even with 450k i think dentistry is a sweet gig.

The reason we have such a negative view on it is because debt has increased while overall payment has not, this is true, but it's still a great gig despite that, it just might take a little bit longer before everything is peachy for you. If we don't compare the current state of dentistry to how it used to be, it's still awesome, but thats just my opinion.

 

[Medin2017]

Listen I'll say something that isn't said very often on this site.

In the long run, the 350 won't really be that bad. Of all the dentist i know or have met, i only know one who made less than 350 annually, and she made 300k. I know the numbers look high and they make you freak out, but if you WANT to make money in dentistry, you can make more than enough to be happy, even with that high debt tag.

Obviously not everyone makes that much money, but i would argue that not everyone necessarily wants to do what's necessary to earn it either.

And he knew a dentist stuck in corporate at the age of 45. Plus it's harder than in the past to become successful with increased saturation. Why not just use the ADA guide's median at 180 for OWNERS (which means probably 20k+ less for nonowners)? Or even go on dentaltown for a reality check where plenty of actual dentists say they wouldn't do dentistry again with this debt and how all the predents think they're gonna be the top quarter earners.

 

[stoopidmonkeycatdog]

And he knew a dentist stuck in corporate at the age of 45. Plus it's harder than in the past to become successful with increased saturation. Why not just use the ADA guide's median at 180 for OWNERS (which means probably 20k+ less for nonowners)? Or even go on dentaltown for a reality check where plenty of actual dentists say they wouldn't do dentistry again with this debt and how all the predents think they're gonna be the top quarter earners.

If your worst case scenario is to earn 180 that's a sign your career path isn't too bad lol

 

[Medin2017]

If your worst case scenario is to earn 180 that's a sign your career path isn't too bad lol

I mean owners are gonna be in a better position than nonowners. Being a median of a group that's doing better than the bunches of associates out there is respectable. Not to mention the income of owners has declined in recent years (dunno if trend will continue). But yes anything like 150+ isn't bad. Just might not be worth 4 years + debt though.

 

[Cello]

Hygiene has a great ROI.

 

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Physician assistant vs dentist

This is a similar thread someone else started with a lot of responses

 

[Pedodel]

Dentist makes sense to me and it fits my personality which is an ISTJ, plus the ability to own your own practice and live your life they way you want is appealing. One of the major drawbacks for me is the amount of debt in dentistry. I was running the numbers and it would be a hard life. My chances for a cheap instate public school are slim so realistically most likely one of those expensive private schools. I also would like to live in So cal since thats where my family and friends live. If I want to be a successful dentist I would have to move to out of cali and set up shop somewhere else. In So Cal there is a dentist in every block. When you add in high debt, high tax, lots of saturation, amount of interest, the number of years it would take to break even its a tough road. I know theres military scholarship, but lets just assume that doesn't happen. I like to study things that are tangible and not abstract usually.

Another route even though I am less interested would be being a PA. My brain says go with that since it makes sense financially. Big job market, good future, high employment, low debt, decent income, and I can work in So Cal without struggling for a long time. Plus I can live with my parents rent free and just pay off my debt ASAP. Start saving and investing my money early on without being forced to do something due to debt. I am not that interested in general medicine and the thought of being tied to a physician does not sound great. I don't like being bossed around usually or have someone monitoring over me constantly.

I have experience working as a PT aide and work out a lot. I won't hate my life being a PT, but the amount of money is very little compared to the schooling. Studying for PT would not be as bad either since I was always a big fan of anatomy. Main concern is just money with being a PT. So I am getting older at 26 now and just want to get moving on with my life. I don't want to be in my 30s and not be settled in a career yet.

California is probably the worst state in the country to practice dentistry. Most area's are wayyyyy over saturated. Dentists in California are getting killed,,,,
I love dentistry and make a great living,,,, but never in my worst nightmares would I dare to work in California. I would never tell anyone to avoid dentistry as a profession, with exception of those bent on practicing in California.
Best of luck.

 

[Del0]

D2 right now and OP sounds like every person I know from Cali. "I won't be able to make much money, it's super saturated, paying debt will take forever, its harder to find full time work etc" and then if I mention to just maybe not move back to SoCal they look at me like I have three heads.
All I'm saying is the problem you're worrying so much about could be a lot less stressful if you just considered not moving back to SoCal. There are other parts of the country that are amazing too.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[GOINGBALD42]

D2 right now and OP sounds like every person I know from Cali. "I won't be able to make much money, it's super saturated, paying debt will take forever, its harder to find full time work etc" and then if I mention to just maybe not move back to SoCal they look at me like I have three heads.
All I'm saying is the problem you're worrying so much about could be a lot less stressful if you just considered not moving back to SoCal. There are other parts of the country that are amazing too.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

true haha. California is a great place to live especially where I am from which is San Diego. I have lived in other places before in the US and its a HUGE lifestyle difference. So by choosing dental I would have to move somewhere else, far away from family, friends, difference in lifestyle, food, different hobbies etc... Its basically to purely chase money. Also my parents have a house that they would most likely give to me. I figure just get a stable job, make decent money and then free up time to do other things. Not be in so much debt that you are forced to work. But thats my logical side thinking and my brain says what would I rather study and practice which is dentistry.

 

[aggietxdent]

You could specialize. Sure, the GP population in Cali is huge and I'm sure the percentage of specialists is still high in Cali, but specializing would definitely help you live a better life in those super saturated areas because you can actually use the GPs to gain referrals

 

[allantois]

true haha. California is a great place to live especially where I am from which is San Diego. I have lived in other places before in the US and its a HUGE lifestyle difference. So by choosing dental I would have to move somewhere else, far away from family, friends, difference in lifestyle, food, different hobbies etc... Its basically to purely chase money. Also my parents have a house that they would most likely give to me. I figure just get a stable job, make decent money and then free up time to do other things. Not be in so much debt that you are forced to work. But thats my logical side thinking and my brain says what would I rather study and practice which is dentistry.

I can totally relate to what you are saying. I could only see myself living in 2 or 3 places in the country. There's a dentist on every corner where I am plus a dental school in the area. I decided that location is most important for my happiness than anything else, plus I can see myself doing many things, not just dentistry. So yeah I decided to do PA instead, it's not as specialized as dentistry and there seems to be more jobs around in places I'm looking to live.

 

[GOINGBALD42]

I can totally relate to what you are saying. I could only see myself living in 2 or 3 places in the country. There's a dentist on every corner where I am plus a dental school in the area. I decided that location is most important for my happiness than anything else, plus I can see myself doing many things, not just dentistry. So yeah I decided to do PA instead, it's not as specialized as dentistry and there seems to be more jobs around in places I'm looking to live.

yeah I feel the same way. Although I have gripes about being a PA such as lack of respect, always being under someone, less autonomy. But logically it makes sense to me to go PA route, but I have much more interest in dental. I would be less passionate about being a PA probably, where I just see it as go to work and go home type of deal. Something where I am on the A side and handling the business aspects of my own practice would make me excited and more involved. I mean all I really want is a decent job making 80k plus and live my life. Eat the food I want, go train jiu jitsu, enjoy the beaches, etc... My cousin who is a dentist where I live is struggling a lot to pay down her practice and debt. Last thing I heard was that she had to borrow money from parents to keep up with payment. Her practice on yelp is getting bad reviews too since it seems like she is money hungry. Plus the path to financial indepednence to PA would be a lot quicker. I can graduate sooner, live with my parents, start saving money and invest in other avenues. However not very interested in medicine only specific fields like ortho or derm. Stuff like urgent care, general medicine, I have no interest in.

With dental I would be down the hole by 400-500k in debt live somewhere else and make more money, but live far away from friends and family. Being 400-500k in debt, add in interest, taxed income, family, rent, equipment, its a lot to think about. I heard of this one dentist who went to dental school is 45 years old still has 220k in debt still, works in one of those dental mills, and is tired of the profession. He literally says he wants to quit and just work in a cubicle not dealing with patients.

 

[GOINGBALD42]

I can totally relate to what you are saying. I could only see myself living in 2 or 3 places in the country. There's a dentist on every corner where I am plus a dental school in the area. I decided that location is most important for my happiness than anything else, plus I can see myself doing many things, not just dentistry. So yeah I decided to do PA instead, it's not as specialized as dentistry and there seems to be more jobs around in places I'm looking to live.

private message me since I can't for you. I want to ask you something.

 

[Cranjis McBasketball]

yeah I feel the same way. Although I have gripes about being a PA such as lack of respect, always being under someone, less autonomy. But logically it makes sense to me to go PA route, but I have much more interest in dental. I would be less passionate about being a PA probably, where I just see it as go to work and go home type of deal. Something where I am on the A side and handling the business aspects of my own practice would make me excited and more involved. I mean all I really want is a decent job making 80k plus and live my life. Eat the food I want, go train jiu jitsu, enjoy the beaches, etc... My cousin who is a dentist where I live is struggling a lot to pay down her practice and debt. Last thing I heard was that she had to borrow money from parents to keep up with payment. Her practice on yelp is getting bad reviews too since it seems like she is money hungry. Plus the path to financial indepednence to PA would be a lot quicker. I can graduate sooner, live with my parents, start saving money and invest in other avenues. However not very interested in medicine only specific fields like ortho or derm. Stuff like urgent care, general medicine, I have no interest in.

With dental I would be down the hole by 400-500k in debt live somewhere else and make more money, but live far away from friends and family. Being 400-500k in debt, add in interest, taxed income, family, rent, equipment, its a lot to think about. I heard of this one dentist who went to dental school is 45 years old still has 220k in debt still, works in one of those dental mills, and is tired of the profession. He literally says he wants to quit and just work in a cubicle not dealing with patients.

There are always opportunities for entrepreneurial pursuits. I know a PA that started a company where he hired newly graduated doctors and then created contracts with hospitals where the docs would live within a certain mile radius and if they ever needed one of the doctors they would be there asap. He obviously isnt a PA in this position but being a PA paved the way for this company idea. So no matter what you pursue, there will be opportunities to start a business or create a company. I cant remember if the docs were gas, or rads, or whatever but its taken off and hes very siccessfil and has autonomy and dictates his schedule.

 

[GOINGBALD42]

If I do dental more than likely I would move out of cali. Don't want to experience the same troubles like my cousin who is struggling paying down her debt right now. Having to borrow money from your parents just to keep up with the debt sounds horrible. Not a position I want to put me or my parents in.

 

[Medin2017]

There are always opportunities for entrepreneurial pursuits. I know a PA that started a company where he hired newly graduated doctors and then created contracts with hospitals where the docs would live within a certain mile radius and if they ever needed one of the doctors they would be there asap. He obviously isnt a PA in this position but being a PA paved the way for this company idea. So no matter what you pursue, there will be opportunities to start a business or create a company. I cant remember if the docs were gas, or rads, or whatever but its taken off and hes very siccessfil and has autonomy and dictates his schedule.

to be fair that's a lot less likely than in dental

 

[Faefly]

Follow your heart and everything will sort itself in the end.

Life betrays the ones who forgo their dreams

(I am one of these ones, but you get the point!)

 

[ToxicFrog]

Haha, go to SDN, pre-dental category. There's your list

lol this

 

[periopocket]

If your second guessing your decision at all, I would do something else....plenty of ways to make good money these days


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Chipotlegonewild]

And he knew a dentist stuck in corporate at the age of 45. Plus it's harder than in the past to become successful with increased saturation. Why not just use the ADA guide's median at 180 for OWNERS (which means probably 20k+ less for nonowners)? Or even go on dentaltown for a reality check where plenty of actual dentists say they wouldn't do dentistry again with this debt and how all the predents think they're gonna be the top quarter earners.

The ADA guide is based on block census data and those income numbers are based on W2s. Those numbers don't take into account income that is generated from the business.

What I mean by that is. Take a practice producing $1M at 60% overhead. If the Dr takes 30% of production that leaves his W2 income of $300k BUT that still leaves 10% (100-(60+30)=10) of business income which gives a total income of $400k.


My point is that those ADA numbers are low for a practice owner.

 

[pikaboo]

There is a bubble created by the economy of the United States which involves private dentistry schools. Credit owners and lenders will always give you the money you ask for granted you stay schooling the states and they will charge you prime rate. They don't win a whole lot from you but in a market where its attention seeking they need your attention to be the customer of their banking system for the future. The loan itself is not the bad thing. It's the fact that you are essentially trapped in the economic bubble and unfortunately it's just not worth it nowadays for general dentistry. Maybe if you aim at other sub-specialities inside dentistry where the income and the lifestyle out ways the risk of being trapped in the bubble then it becomes worth it in my opinion. Honestly if you just want to be a GP go outside of the states where its a whole lot cheaper they use the same textbooks you just have to put more time as to cop for the lack of similar teachers and mentors as the ones in the states and then just do your boards and 2 years and you are good to go, much MUCH MUCH less debt overall.

 

[super frank]

Stopped reading before the first comma.

 

[Combine33]

If you automatically limit yourself to one place and one lifestyle, no career is going to fit your unrealistic vision. Go where opportunity and the money take you. You haven't started dental school yet, but you'll be surprised how much your opinions will change.

 

[LFA20]

Dentist makes sense to me and it fits my personality which is an ISTJ, plus the ability to own your own practice and live your life they way you want is appealing. One of the major drawbacks for me is the amount of debt in dentistry. I was running the numbers and it would be a hard life. My chances for a cheap instate public school are slim so realistically most likely one of those expensive private schools. I also would like to live in So cal since thats where my family and friends live. If I want to be a successful dentist I would have to move to out of cali and set up shop somewhere else. In So Cal there is a dentist in every block. When you add in high debt, high tax, lots of saturation, amount of interest, the number of years it would take to break even its a tough road. I know theres military scholarship, but lets just assume that doesn't happen. I like to study things that are tangible and not abstract usually.

Another route even though I am less interested would be being a PA. My brain says go with that since it makes sense financially. Big job market, good future, high employment, low debt, decent income, and I can work in So Cal without struggling for a long time. Plus I can live with my parents rent free and just pay off my debt ASAP. Start saving and investing my money early on without being forced to do something due to debt. I am not that interested in general medicine and the thought of being tied to a physician does not sound great. I don't like being bossed around usually or have someone monitoring over me constantly.

I have experience working as a PT aide and work out a lot. I won't hate my life being a PT, but the amount of money is very little compared to the schooling. Studying for PT would not be as bad either since I was always a big fan of anatomy. Main concern is just money with being a PT. So I am getting older at 26 now and just want to get moving on with my life. I don't want to be in my 30s and not be settled in a career yet.

go to PA school

 

[keep2camel]

Lets not forget IBR/PAYE. Probably the most cost effective way of paying back your loans.

Just my 2 cents

 

[vm26]

yeah I feel the same way. Although I have gripes about being a PA such as lack of respect, always being under someone, less autonomy. But logically it makes sense to me to go PA route, but I have much more interest in dental. I would be less passionate about being a PA probably, where I just see it as go to work and go home type of deal. Something where I am on the A side and handling the business aspects of my own practice would make me excited and more involved. I mean all I really want is a decent job making 80k plus and live my life. Eat the food I want, go train jiu jitsu, enjoy the beaches, etc... My cousin who is a dentist where I live is struggling a lot to pay down her practice and debt. Last thing I heard was that she had to borrow money from parents to keep up with payment. Her practice on yelp is getting bad reviews too since it seems like she is money hungry. Plus the path to financial indepednence to PA would be a lot quicker. I can graduate sooner, live with my parents, start saving money and invest in other avenues. However not very interested in medicine only specific fields like ortho or derm. Stuff like urgent care, general medicine, I have no interest in.

With dental I would be down the hole by 400-500k in debt live somewhere else and make more money, but live far away from friends and family. Being 400-500k in debt, add in interest, taxed income, family, rent, equipment, its a lot to think about. I heard of this one dentist who went to dental school is 45 years old still has 220k in debt still, works in one of those dental mills, and is tired of the profession. He literally says he wants to quit and just work in a cubicle not dealing with patients.

Respect is over-rated, so is running your own practice (receptionist/hygienist calls off, guess who has to deal with this?)...Your life is in San Diego, unless being a dentist is your calling/passion where you are more than willing to relocate, go get the degree that will allow you the 80-150K income in a reasonable amount of time with reasonable debt (PA, NP, CRNA)...Medicine was a 2nd career for me (after being a PT). I graduated into a horrendous job market and could not fathom that I had to relocate into cr*p locations for cr*p jobs but that's what it was. Things have significantly improved (also improved my marketability with more training) and I am now a partner in a great practice in an excellent location (Northern CA) but I still can't move back "home" unless I am willing to work significantly harder for significantly less money with higher cost of living...

 

[Chipotlegonewild]

Lets not forget IBR/PAYE. Probably the most cost effective way of paying back your loans.

Just my 2 cents

These will not be around in there current form. I would highly advise putting your life in these government programs.

 

[738177]

What does your bank account say?