[Brian in VA]

I recently learned that the gov't is helping out in one big way: 10 years of regular payments and the same 10 yrs in a "service profession" (with no interruptions or it starts over) and the loans will be forgiven. Nurses, social work, etc. Certainly worth looking up.

For me there was no choice. Got scholarships and some small loans for undergrad, but all loans for med school. Can't pay those, no other options. $500k seems absurdly high unless you go private (Harvard undergrad w/out help) and private out-of-state med school. Again comes down to choices. Then again, that's how you become a world leading academic researcher vs me in private practice.

I think though it's worth noting that the universities continue to ratchet up costs to students at an unbelievable rate. It has become an absurd money making industry. Look at the enormous foundations the schools have. Many could choose not to charge students at all at this point (Harvard, Texas, Penn St etc.)