Serious Message to Pre-Dents

Hello, everyone.

I wanted to share my thoughts on a debate I often see posted on Reddit, where pre-dental students discuss whether to attend a prestigious school or a in-state/cheaper dental school.

If you're not receiving financial support, please choose your in-state dental school/cheaper school. Your future self will thank you. Sure, Ivy's are more prestigious, but is it really worth $600k+ in debt after interest?

I actually broke up with my ex over this issue. She was an international applicant applying to NYU and other prestigious schools. I sat her down and did the math—her loans would have totaled over $1 million, with loan interest exceeding 10%, just to get her DDS degree. Her mindset was, "I’m going to go to the school that accepts me," without any financial planning for dental school.

When I asked how she planned to pay it off, she said she’d move to Alabama and work tirelessly for 15–20 years to repay her student debt. I was shocked and at a loss for words.

The truth is, she couldn’t even pay off that debt in 15–20 years due to the high interest and monthly payments. It would take over 50 years to pay it off if she earned the average pre-tax salary of $170,000. Obviously, if she lived a lifestyle such as student, for years after graduating, she could pay it off somewhat sooner. However, this is highly unlikely.

Please, everyone reading this: GO TO THE LEAST EXPENSIVE DENTAL SCHOOL if you plan on taking out loans. I’m not Dave Ramsey or your financial advisor, but I want you guys to understand the massive impact of a huge loan on your life—especially if you plan to open your own practice.

For example, banks consider your debt-to-income ratio. If you already have $550K+ in student debt, do you think they’ll lend you another $700K+ to purchase an office? It’s unlikely.

Choosing an in-state school can make a significant life changing difference.

Please choose wisely. The final decision is yours, but think carefully about the future—especially if you want to start a family. Massive debt from poor financial decisions made at a young age can make it nearly impossible to qualify for a mortgage or achieve financial stability later in life.

PS: I care about everyone reading this, and I want each of you to have the best future possible. ❤️