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6 figures looks nice, but you don't always see the debt incurred to get there. I'd venture that most professionals have $100-$250,000 in student loans and credit cards. What's the alternative, finishing medical school in your 50s while you pay your way?
If you venture that, then you'd be wrong...or at least it doesn't have to be that way. But the conditioning lately claims that is the only way to get there. Yes, if you're talking med school, then maybe. But there are plenty of jobs that make over $100k - my hubby and I both have them.
Me: - went to junior college, night school, tele-school all while working - company picked up a small portion of the fees. Transferred to a 4 year State school with a little cash we had saved and went full time. While my DH worked a full time job and we built cabinets and other wood-working jobs out of our 1-car garage. Those were tough years, but we were so proud of what we did. Got a job and I worked my way up the ladder and became a Project Manager, making over $100k. I had a little bit of luck and a little bit of "can-do" attitude to get me there. I don't consider myself especially talented, but I'm a strong worker.
Him: Got a 4 year apprenticeship in Industrial Maintenance....meaning he worked while he learned. He's worked his way up through the years and is now in an Engineering position, even though he never got a degree. He has smarts, the "I can fix anything smarts", not "book smarts". And yes, he has been shut out of jobs because he doesn't have a degree, but he never complains, works hard, and thankfully is very talented!
My point is, there is more than one way to get there, and it doesn't have to be with a lot of debt along the way. Sure, I didn't graduate at 22, but I had real world experience before I even graduated, which made me more marketable than my peers. And my DH earned while he learned.