I began US med school well over a decade ago, so my POV is dated (pre-ACA). I dropped out very early into my formal training. However, I still keep up with thr

I began US med school well over a decade ago, so my POV is dated (pre-ACA). I dropped out very early into my formal training. However, I still keep up with three people whom completed grad school; two physicians, and one dentist (all practice medicine, now, except me). Remembering their almost-simultaneous relief as each paid off their final $xxx,xxx student loan... the dentist still has to pay off his "Practice" financing (office), but all texted me upon the first deposits of their "first big-boy paychecks" — proud to finally be tackling this debt. Two of the three have confided to me that "I am smarter than all three of them, having left medicine early [enough to pay off only $109k of student loans]." I always thank medical staff, whatever the rank, for having to deal with the public. My dentist friend admits to never having-considered that his stubby fingers would have to work in tinier mouths (relative to normal hands). C'est la vi.