This general topic has been of a lot of discussion in my household lately. My partner, let's just say she's been pursuing a career in the arts (as a classical

This general topic has been of a lot of discussion in my household lately. My partner, let's just say she's been pursuing a career in the arts (as a classical performer). Her and I both recognize that the median salary for people in her career path is around $38k/year. She has been conditioned to believe that no one can even attempt to get into her chosen career (many times more applicants than available positions, to use the terms loosely) without a master's degree from one of the top schools, and again through one of the top studios in one of the top schools. The problem here is that once she was accepted, we did the math. We'd be taking on an additional $60k in debt for this two year program, in addition to the existing $40k in debt already accrued. That makes a total of $100k in debt, at an average interest rate of 3.5%. All, for the "opportunity" to get a $38k/year job. Even though she recognizes that the financials simply don't work, she has a hard time with the concept, and still is looking for ways that we could afford it. I've been working hard with her to show her different paths into the market (using more standard entrepreneurial tactics: building a team, creating opportunity one step at a time, building a market for your "product" over several years, etc.) but the professors keep telling her she can't get the job without the additional degree. Sometimes, I wonder if the professors are not simply selling themselves and "capturing" their market. Then again, I consider they're likely not being manipulative, they simply only know the paths they took...