conversation: User (SweetPeaMigee): "I have a TON of student loans.  I have 28 separate federal loans totaling almost $500K.  I'm in my last year of residency, so I'm not making a lot of money right now, but I know I will be next year once I'm practicing on my own. \n\nI recently started tackling my loans using a hybrid snowball method, starting with almost the lowest balance. My individual loans range from 2,000 to 60,000 with interest ranging from 1.25% to 8.25%.  At first I tried paying on the 60K because it has the highest interest at 8.25%, but I had no momentum. It felt like an impossible mountain to climb. So I started working on the 3K loan which is at 6.55%, and I paid it off! It felt SO GOOD to pay off that loan and see the $0.00 balance. This really motivated me and I'm on my way to paying down the next 4K loan. I'm obsessed with seeing the next $0.00 balance.  I can totally see why the snowball method is recommended by some people even though logically it would make more sense to pay on the 60K loan with 8.25% interest, but this other way feels better and I think I'll end up paying these loans off faster because I'm actually excited about it!! \n\nI'm practically obsessed with paying off these loans, now. I'm working an extra job moonlighting, and I'm putting all my extra earnings into these student loans.  \n\nIf I can keep up this momentum, I think I'll be able to pay off this ungodly sum of money within the next 4 years. \n\nI just wanted to give the snowball method some praise because it really is working for me. "
  Self: "Glad it's working out for you. But Good Lord, not even a medical degree is worth half a million dollars!"
  User (SweetPeaMigee): "Well, it's worth it overall when I'm making 350-500K a year. Plus, it is my dream to be a doctor so to me that is priceless. :)"
  Self: "Sure, and I see plenty of doctors with $100K or even $200K of loans, but $500K is the highest one I've seen yet."
  Mogugly (Mogugly): "There's been some 800k+ on PF before. The guy said he'd be over a Mil after finishing residency. "
  