conversation: User (ErohalDJ786): "Hi there, \n\nI'm a dental student, about 20 months away from graduating with my degree. I live and go to a very expensive university (4 year doctoral program). After accounting for interest, housing, and tuition, I'll most likely be around $500,000 in debt. I'm single, and can definitely live with my sibling or even my parents for a while, after graduating to help pay off my loans. But being in the northeast and all, what is the most efficient way of paying off my loans, the earliest? \n\nI'm not sure about my interest rate but I know that I was told my interest alone on 500K would be 40,000 dollars, which is heartbreaking to comprehend. I feel like I'm in a never ending hole, and I'm digging myself deeper and deeper literally everyday. But I really don't have a choice, I need this education, and I honestly love this profession. \n\nReddit, what the hell can I do right now, and right after graduating to pay this off ASAP?\n\n I'm open to all criticism and opinions. \n\nThanks! \n\nEdit: I didn't expect this to blow up as much as it did. I'm really grateful to everyone who replied, most of them have been really constructive, and helpful. For those who asked, I'm 24 years old. "
  Self: "&gt; I'm not sure about my interest rate but I know that I was told my interest alone on 500K would be 40,000 dollars, \n\n     40000 / 500000 * 100 = 8 percent \n\n&gt; Reddit, what the hell can I do right now, and right after graduating to pay this off ASAP?\n\nStart applying at sofi to refinance at a lower rate.\n\nhttp://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Dentist/Salary/add53175/Entry-Level says entry level salary for a dentist is $120K.\n\nBluntly, you are screwed if you cannot get the interest rate lowered. With taxes on $120K, you will be hard pressed to come up with $40K interest."
  OralOperator (OralOperator): "As a dentist that just graduated in May, I can tell you that the starting salary of a dentist is anywhere from 80k/year to over 300k/year. It really depends on location, business acumen, and how willing to take a risk you are. \n\nMost dental graduates these days start as an associate and do make the standard 120k the first year. \n\nA classmate of mine is working at a prison in the middle of nowhere making 180k with full benefits. \n\nI bought a practice immediately after receiving my license. I'm a million dollars in debt now, but I am also making a ton of money. "
  yes_its_him (yes_its_him): "&gt; Most dental graduates these days start as an associate and do make the standard 120k the first year.\n&gt; A classmate of mine is working at a prison in the middle of nowhere making 180k with full benefits.\n\nSounds like society would benefit from a less intensive / costly dental degree that would let someone cover the vast majority of routine cases while charging half as much."
  tigreletigre (tigreletigre): "Initially this sounds like the solution; however, your employees, office, liability insurance, sterilization, equipment, even cheap equipment, materials, supplies, X-ray equipment, etc, etc, cost so much that it is extremely difficult to provide high quality dentistry to the standards that are expected for dentistry in the United States.  School debt is only one factor.  Not to mention "routine cases" are only some of the treatments for a persons mouth.  You have to know so many other things beyond routine treatments to provide dentistry.  I think many people think that dentistry is lots of easy "routine treatments.  It isn't."
  yes_its_him (yes_its_him): "Of course it's lots of easy routine treatments, plus less common other things.  It's just not the case that a typical patient gets a bridge or implant.\n\nYou need one dentist per office with two or three assistants, not four dentists."
  