re: Largest student loan debt you have ever heard...

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no wonder docs are notoriously bad with money, don't see that sheepskin as ever being worth that burden

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There's more or less two kinds with very few shades of grey in between.
In residency, very few do anything stupid and still live meagerly. They're making about $50K/yr on average with an average debt of about $200K.

Then, after 3-7 years of 2-4% annual raises, they wind up with first jobs that tend to be on the low end $150K and on the high end a bit over $500K. Average probably closer to the low/mid-2 range but varies considerably by specialty. You're usually 28-32.


One group still drives beaters and Hondas. One group leases/buys Mercedes and BMW.
One group goes and lives in an apartment or sub $200,000 housing. One group, well, you get it.
The concept of delayed gratification has been pretty extensive, and one group really just can't wait any longer, starts putting their hands in everything and spreading themselves thin because so long as they can make minimum monthly payments, they're ok in their minds. Until they're not or something comes up.

There are a lot more than you'd think from what you read that go and knock out $200K in debt in 48 months or less, live sensibly, save for retirement, etc.